Thursday, June 5, 2014

Les Droits de l'Homme

Yesterday I stood in the parking lot
and breathed and wished
the air were colder, just a little colder,
and let the coat
fall loose around my shoulders.

In younger days, it seems
to me, I did not hurt
because I did not care.

Gliding in slow rounds,
a dance in unending light,
a reel in frost and fairy-light.



O Absalom, Absalom, my son!
I saw you hanging on that tree—



I remember, once,
you ran your fingers through
my hair and I
said nothing to you.
The man alone wants only
to say something that
means something other
than that he is alone.

All we want is a place to be,
a broad and open land.
All we want is to be
received, a little gesture of welcome
in earliest morning.
Come, put the whiskey
on the table, let
me feel that I
am wanted in this place.

We set our eyes toward
a better country
that we cannot see
where there will be time
again for talking
and where the course of time
will bruise no longer.

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