when it shoulda been a
slashed canvas
worse, a gash
with your finger in it
harpooned
as through blubber
as through night
into meat
ill prepared for journey
you kept
plunging
into jewel
. . .
I never been
to Newark, New Jersey
and I don't intend to
yet it coulda been
living between inverted commas
and quotes in quotes
the apothecary's phlegm
in a phial boiling
. . .
OK so there's a window open
behind the curtain
so the hem of the curtain
moves with irregular breath
and I know in the
fell sunshine beyond there's
a three dimensional rock
solid green scene
washed by
a recent downpour, blazing
tell me
to get outa bed and be seen
. . .
in this typical city
I stand in the shower
stick my tongue in
the hot stream
and leave it there
I'm tempted to say
try it
you'll see what I mean