inside the porch

we buried the last dictionary---

those fellows left us no choice---

hiding credibility

must be performed with purpose

behind the old man stands a crazy tree

its tentacles searching for air---

another man shows up with an axe

and chops off the old man’s toes

a child sees the tree tipping over

falling ontop of the two men---

nothing remaining but branches and budding possibilities

my lesson:

PUT

YOURSELF

D

O

W

N

ONCE IN AWHILE

I have heard of certain old men who still believed in Truth---

perhaps as long as there are trees,

there is hope

1969

Paterson