The glass was a smeary mosaic of squiggles, signs
of invention and accident, the willed finger
and bead-trail, volitional or determined lines
criss-crossing a palimpsest. Older he stood longer
until the face that ogled him from the mist
was nearly unrecognizeable, a white-bristled
mistrusted uncle, and thoughts of romance fizzled.
At times like those reality was best,
the close four walls, a skull divested of visions
of Celias and Lucastas and Corinnas,
rain-stippled breasts, inviolate vaginas;
but still the hand, slave to the body's passions,
described outrageous curves in watery scratch
that nothing in the shape of words could catch.
3/09
of invention and accident, the willed finger
and bead-trail, volitional or determined lines
criss-crossing a palimpsest. Older he stood longer
until the face that ogled him from the mist
was nearly unrecognizeable, a white-bristled
mistrusted uncle, and thoughts of romance fizzled.
At times like those reality was best,
the close four walls, a skull divested of visions
of Celias and Lucastas and Corinnas,
rain-stippled breasts, inviolate vaginas;
but still the hand, slave to the body's passions,
described outrageous curves in watery scratch
that nothing in the shape of words could catch.
3/09
