...leading to speculation;
though here are no rich pickings -
these rooms are barely inhabited even
by the lean steps we identify as ourselves -
nor mineral expropriations
to be tinkered into rounded anecdotes,
illuminated emblems of our mythic,
presentable selves,
candles to nosism*
singularities to moths astray.
In the chromatography of unguessed choices
no one need match our beaded patterns
(a maybe dance may have a raincheck end,
gentled by Perhaps
no matter how wrought upon
within pursuing traditions
with the finest of palettes)
that time is more than a harvester
gangling over stubble
reaping more than through
a midden* flame, opportune
more than through
a series of insect gestures stilled in amber
embalmed by fateful consequence.
That you can never
tell me now of how we differ
to my waking face nor share
a nestling silence,
each slow
season of a wave shifts a salty
pebble penitently rattling, my
innards lolling in self-construed
stocks of a limiting language, imputing
to an ambient play, so warring and so
undeciphered, our needs.
...............................
*Nosism from 'nos' meaning 'we' - the conceit or pride of a clique or the practice of using the royal 'we'
*Midden - a rubbish tip close to a settlement...often used in archaeology.
YOU ARE READING
Tapestries
ПоэзияPoems from 1978 onwards. These poems are in a different style from the later MajorSeventh, the earlier ones often with more of an Eastern-influenced cadence. Later, they vary a lot in form and style.
