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Literature Text
breathing zeitgeists ripple by
as they jet across eyesight
a man is crying off soot
and his shoulders shutter
in the stale air of the dark tunnel
it finds an inky beginning
at a ballpoint
furnishing every shadowy teardrop
this is not immortal
simply kept alive
he smokes newports
and has a beard
most find him attractive
he has intimate details
calluses only felt
when holding hands with this man
and simple statements:
american flags,
percolated coffee,
toothy smiles
and knitting eyebrows
to see him now up there
knowing him
how he visits his mother
and kisses her tired hands
asleep by a hospital bed
and you manage just that glimpse
before swirling, this spirit leaves you
and your eyes lay naked
on the popcorn ceiling
what race was he? had he loved? who was hospitalized?
oh how little image survives at the present
but your mind can fill in the blankness
for nominal fees, minuscule prices
as they jet across eyesight
a man is crying off soot
and his shoulders shutter
in the stale air of the dark tunnel
it finds an inky beginning
at a ballpoint
furnishing every shadowy teardrop
this is not immortal
simply kept alive
he smokes newports
and has a beard
most find him attractive
he has intimate details
calluses only felt
when holding hands with this man
and simple statements:
american flags,
percolated coffee,
toothy smiles
and knitting eyebrows
to see him now up there
knowing him
how he visits his mother
and kisses her tired hands
asleep by a hospital bed
and you manage just that glimpse
before swirling, this spirit leaves you
and your eyes lay naked
on the popcorn ceiling
what race was he? had he loved? who was hospitalized?
oh how little image survives at the present
but your mind can fill in the blankness
for nominal fees, minuscule prices
Song for America - Destroyer
© 2012 - 2024 claytonwoolery
Comments5
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I read this yesterday, but had to leave before I could comment. I thought about it for the rest of the day.
I had to read it a few times, honestly. But suddenly, the image of the man hit me, so hard, and I felt out of breath and the air got heavier, and I saw him. I saw his shoulders, and the soot. With this I felt the familiarity, of seeing strangers on the street and wondering their story. Something about them, who they are, why they are, and in yoga I was overwhelmed with the thought that sometimes, humanity is so wonderful, and so baffling. Like, how in the hell are we all existent, how are we all ourselves how are we all interacting and how are we all different? This is what I felt in this piece. This one man has an impact, just as the child on the street who waves at you when you're angry, walking by, can make an impact. Like a homeless man who says you are wonderful when you don't have any money, and you feel so terrible because you want to help, makes an impact.
I feel silly for asking, but I want to know because I love this poem, what you mean by the end bit. I thought it might be that the mystery behind a person is better than delving into all their secrets, getting to know them, but I'm not sure. Anyway, this is really, really beautiful.
I had to read it a few times, honestly. But suddenly, the image of the man hit me, so hard, and I felt out of breath and the air got heavier, and I saw him. I saw his shoulders, and the soot. With this I felt the familiarity, of seeing strangers on the street and wondering their story. Something about them, who they are, why they are, and in yoga I was overwhelmed with the thought that sometimes, humanity is so wonderful, and so baffling. Like, how in the hell are we all existent, how are we all ourselves how are we all interacting and how are we all different? This is what I felt in this piece. This one man has an impact, just as the child on the street who waves at you when you're angry, walking by, can make an impact. Like a homeless man who says you are wonderful when you don't have any money, and you feel so terrible because you want to help, makes an impact.
I feel silly for asking, but I want to know because I love this poem, what you mean by the end bit. I thought it might be that the mystery behind a person is better than delving into all their secrets, getting to know them, but I'm not sure. Anyway, this is really, really beautiful.