Song of the Marginal Man

 

1.

I have a friend at court

He defends my

Periodic narcosis

Gutter ball marginalia

Sublet parasitism

Doloroso hymns

Bleated long

And low

2.

I feel oblivious

To the cacophony of

The common crowd

The cold-hearted

Prosecution

Instead

I follow the wings

Of the honey guide

3.

The song of hands

Striking ewer and basin

Freshly drawn water

They

Dance for the morning sun

Plaster ceiling is a silver screen

For sun’s  bath laughter

 

Guest soaks in the meaning

Before undressing


So Much Glass to So Much Steel

 

Behind a clear, glass veil

Facing a snarling, spitting sea

And the dim shadow of Georges Island

I spent nine dollars

From Mother’s retirement cheque

On gelato down at the bay

Birra Moretti in a coffee cup

And for a frat boy twist

Greek fries with chopsticks

 

Outside this farmer’s market

A distant cousin with payot and a suit of sky-by-night

Nods his head and fedora  in a courtly fashion

To the bag boy and his toil

 

And the train enters and do-si-dos

With kindred spirit trains

To the strain of whistles blown

For dream time



Swimming Pool, Water Park, Snow

 

Life guard out in an apple orchard

Nice shorts there out in January cold

Lifeguard tower covered in frost

Interrupted step by step

With flip flop indentations

Shouting to displaced Jamaicans

Who did not make it home

Get out of the water

Followed by one, two three short blasts

 

The Jamaicans eye one another,

Convince one another to humour their fine

Life guard, and feign fatigue

 

They beg for assistance out of the invisible water

Exemplified

By snow-covered earth

 

The lifeguard and his distressed swimmers make it to shore

There is mollification

If not exultation