Sunday, January 3, 2010

the end of it [2002]



‘…this fear,
an ever-present awareness of yet another intimate failure
is simmering, fast approaching boiling point inside
the steam rises – a mixture of bubbles and aura smoke rings like mini-Saturns from the brightly glowing, pulsating lump of lava that has nestled itself far too comfortably where my third chakra should be
accompanied by the wretched stench of disappointment
with a hint of words you can never forgive someone for saying
it is my breath of life

I watch what I’m wearing, mind what I say
aware that I might find you high again today…

I haven’t forgotten the last time I sat in this courtyard
breathing in Nag Champa and blowing out self-esteem
watching as it dissipated in front of my face
no strength to draw it back in
[and yet I savour the droplets that hang from your words
carved out of ice and lined up like the natural progression of things on your front fence]
today, I spread out 10 yellow towels on the soft spring grass
one for every year between our ages
(although for no particular reason other than that’s just how it is)
I found my favourite black marker and I covered them all with the things I’d be gaining and those I’d be giving up
no attention paid to which was the greater
nor pause to listen to my inner voice – screaming
warning me to not let the darkness in
I just wrote them
hung them on the clothesline in the sun to dry
and stared at them until my eyes went out of focus

I watch what I’m wearing, mind what I say
aware that I might find you high again today
& one little piece of insignificant information could be the end of it…’

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