79. And Tender Too?

for David Houssart

Wakey! wakey!
loud rumbling
dogs akimbo
I’ve got
susurrations aswell
I’ve I’ve
seen that
I know
some do
the dark
the strangeness
then this
dread of
imitation most

time to
write it
all down
a flash
a paradise
illumination then
this rumbling
again – it’s
trolley time

off it?
off her?
remember her?
come round
loud steps
we’re dancing!
all with
Gracie in
the streets
rainy streets
of Rheged

not disordered
never so
no matter
we thought
we’d be
we’re here
all ways
at last
sorry today
Essex marches
the dogs
look friendly
we move
freely now

hold on
when young
let go
when old

we shouldn’t
buy things
some say
but make
it all
our selves
a creed
for only
the lonely
this sunny
shopping centre
it’s all
eternal delusions
so what
we are
bubbles only
no more

memory is
dust is
old songs
dreaming again
half heard
expect less
no less

sweeney blag
desirable risk
openplan bank?
no solution
no one
asked us
the criminals

a tapir
in the
flesh itself
more babies
more songs
all eyes
just look

hold on
move around
hang loose
& light
when young
when old
the same
let go
what holds
you not
its opposite
yeah?
      yeah
sure thing
we guess
sure thing

78. At Last – All the Wonder of Tapirs

that strangeness
yes, that strangeness
            then this

 
a paradise of sea & boats
– what do we know about this
   & why did it change?

 
circumstances do
come round again
stick w/ the seagulls
& do what you do
improve each day
& improvise
            near the end

 
this is all
such a long way
from where we
thought we’d be

 
all mammals together
why can’t we just
hold on to that?

 
like bubbles
tenderly
         & in wonder
no more

 
don’t you like watching people?
tenderly, tenderly
no gross expectation

 
A solution is seen as desirable and is actually anticipated
but it must come from the collective enterprise of the audience
Umberto Eco, The Open Work, translated Anna Canacogni, (Harvard U.P., 1989), p 11
 

tapire sind komplexe gesellen der sorgfalt.
wie sie so einhergehen auf niedrigen beinen
mit ihren viel zu zierlichen hufen –

Monika Rinck, “disembodiment”, from Verzückte Distanzen (zu Klampen Verlag, Lüneberg, 2004) (sourced from http://www.greatworks.org.uk/poems/awe4.html

 
hold on
when young
let go
when old

 
leave dispute
beyond question
bear us
like time