Preface To a Twenty Volume Suicide Note
By Imamu Amiri Baraka
Lately, I've become accustomed to the way
The ground opens up and envelopes me
Each time I go out to walk the dog.
Or the broad edged silly music the wind
Makes when I run for a bus...
Things have come to that.
And now, each night I count the stars.
And each night I get the same number.
And when they will not come to be counted,
I count the holes they leave.
Nobody sings anymore.
And then last night I tiptoed up
To my daughter's room and heard her
Talking to someone, and when I opened
The door, there was no one there...
Only she on her knees, peeking into
Her own clasped hands
-------------------
Dragonfly: Any of various large insects of the order Odonata or suborder Anisoptera, having a long slender body and two pairs of narrow, net-veined wings that are usually held outstretched while the insect is at rest. Also called regionally darner, darning needle, mosquito fly, mosquito hawk, needle, skeeter hawk.
Poetry: The art or work of a poet.
Prolixity: Excessive wordiness in speech or writing; longwindedness
oh, but i maintain (as you would, i think) that even inside emptiness is presence.
ReplyDeletexo
erin
Dearest Dragonfly, I've been absent from blogging for way too long. "Stuff" happened, some of it truly awful, but I AM coming back to my blog. I'm so glad to see YOU'RE still here and doing your wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
xox