#377 - two related poems which should probably be one - when I meet people who cannot see me & the corner you paint me into

 

11.i.2021

377

2.11

two related poems which should probably be one

 

 

when I meet people who cannot see me

 

I have to wonder where they are    

often I ask then

‘what are you up to?’

and

‘how do you do?’

they are always suspecting sarcasm

quickly change the subject

 

fearful I am there just might be

and truly I do fear for them

much as religion for a soul

but it’s not like that

must imagine

and will we meet in heaven then?

no, I think just now

 

some say, old friends

and call me by another name

from lives and lives ago

 

I should clarify

I was building a house of dust back then

and even now

by stranger signs

 

I know that they will never find

where I’m safe hidden    why

because they will not look

 

some know no better

 

think prideful is of me to be

suppose they’re right

je suis ainsi…

 

what iron heart I’d have to have

to put a childhood by

 

it’s only the least of the waking remains

edge of the trip

 

in time

and stepping off

in all my own eternites

 

like the vine before the blade

and were aside of all familiars

fish that we were

and wings will be

 

come all paws to a stillness and sniff

 

but after the encounter, less

with those who make a sneak of me

some blind Cyclops hurls the rocks

get under sheep and go

 

fought no ideas

wrought image none

haven’t done a thing

still smug to a whim

 

where no one will tip me out of these tricks

I’m less than   

call this then safe passage

 

it’s like from the last shower

having to come down

or sent, as from school

 

cannot help brink passion though

come

stand sturdy as a fact

I AM   

and all these moments

gathered, missed

 

still summon up the parts

like radio

and silence is death

supper and sing

 

I’ve been in the mirror too

you won’t get out of that

though heart in head

some days come there

no one to know

squeeze, whimper, pluck

stand back

 

hail and as if on the street

with whom do they discourse?

it’s so we make the weather with

 

see picture and remember when

is this all to expect?

 

how once sat around a fire

and far

a bottle a blanket, some strings

still wonder who to be

before we’re gone at last

 

both cheeks

and they will ask of my deaths

 

when I come across such people

by accident or willingly

and won’t you? yes!

must not forget

 

still, simply

I keep wondering  

who is it they see

 

 

 

 

 

 

the corner you paint me into

 

little poem for those who can’t see me

 

 

it’s where the walls meet the floor

I’m felled , or someone was

ask will a sun shine so far?

 

I fold the walls in  out of the book

paint them as I go

 

but corners are eternities

like cul de sacs when they’re at home

without the rounding though

 

other insects crawl

careless of my feeling

 

so I make a little fire inside

hefty the sledge of the hammer

you weigh before a blow

 

no one will see us ahead of our time

simply haven’t the gear

 

but I go where will

cling to a little raft, high seas

I go to the ancient world

a toga, nothing under

 

come below a question mark

harbour in passing and kangaroos too

 

you’ll take these for my signs?

 

tight writing, finer and finer print

come away pointedly

meaning I lose all dimensions

become a singularity

 

that’s how a corner is

 

it’s one hat each

and there’s no feather

 

this is the toughest part of a room

seldom occurs in nature

where a cave goes on

lightlessly

and less

yet someone’s to survive there  

 

bones!

a wall absorbs

bring all eyes here

works vanish in

 

they’ll never ever read what’s given freely

and so I must be safe

 

I think the teacher sent me

cap bigger in shade cast than fits    

it’s down and it’s further down still

where those most cunning mice

must lead me far and away