#610 - the uses of light

 

3.ix.21

610

2.245

the uses of light

 

have I told you about the uses of light?

 

it comes from the very beginning

and think of it entering a room

(unconscious fumble)

 

bend it in a prism

I often bury my head in the day

perhaps one feels less then

and yet

 

the uses of light are legend

see me for instance

 

it illuminates a manuscript

it comes through a nerve to the brain

 

and it’s fast

can bend a straw

here before you knew

 

this brilliant tip

is everyone’s language

 

sometimes biblical

sword glint

 

light kills

it sets to wobble

can be converted

(soldi, denari, liri

= £ /- d)

 

is it a wave?

is it a beam?

is it a photon stream?

 

take fire

get about with

garden in spring

and the autumn leaves falling

reflect it in a pond –

skies of the stuff

more than you might guess

 

microwaves

and gamma rays

and radio waves

are light  

 

consider a bushel from under which

glimmer and shimmer and shine

 

I can’t remember how a camera catches

but I have my dad’s old meter

and I have a book that knows

 

so swim in it

as far as here

 

grow a bulb

and flash

 

there are times you’ll have to wear special glasses

 

still on a hill

there is hope

 handy stuff!

 

you’re dreaming

eyes shut

and where do you think those pictures are from?

 

or think of the tunnel

end of which might seem awfully far

 

roll over

keep turning

 

it’ll run out of puff one of these days

but for now

you can get still get plenty

from your nearest star