lilacs
The diminutive lifer saluted. As did the lilacs – brought to the camp via Istanbul. The lovely lieutenant relented. Bandaged her thoughts. Which burnished the shine on her medals. Together they limbered the hours. The lilacs a pliant liqueur. Then flaccid. Detached. Pursuant to war, they shipped out to plunder the roses.
LET IT ROT FUGUE
“… only by lying down can humans become the measure of all things.”
—Luo Huazhong (username “Kind-Hearted Traveler”)
i.
some bend toward explanation. say: life
is eccentric. so: look on the bright side. say: put on a happyface.
ii.
i sit at the abyss. in bathtub slippers. expectations too much of a good thing.
for example: the banana peel that breaks the leg: “inevitable.”
iii.
it rained last night through sirens, the pulse of helicopters. in my mind i shuffled through
images that start with “c”: cat, candle, cake … crow … circling the trees
through shape of leaves. calling … maybe he knows my round face. the length
of my shoulder. the angle that hefts the pack that carries
the weight of the plans i abandon.
iv.
what does it matter if i let the thief of inner worlds play havoc? if i acquit
the shadow (which lets me know what light is)?
say: rape. murder … (just a shot shot away)
v.
war digs trenches for the dead … i don’t have to maximize potential.
vi.
i get up. pad into the kitchen. make a cup of people’s tea.
tell myself that i don’t have to leave this ease. this lying down that seems
a revolution.
vii.
i linger in the luxury of my depression. i’ll never show the hand
that feeds the dead bird in the kitchen.
in english most of he-be
from Wikipedia’s “Most Common Words in English”
his will
his would
his by at this
and not for
you (i do) as don’t
as with
as in
for it with
him with his
in that i have
not but if
what of?
because because