You’ll do fine
By it—just remember
To approach
It with caution,
Even though
That unsettling flickering on
And off that refuses
To keep still and let itself be
Snuffed out does not look
As threatening
As the quickening shadows
It keeps on casting.
All the junk we thought
We needed on the way,
But with nothing
Lasting of value beyond
A precious uncertain morrow
Every day.
Believe me,
Nothing to believe in is
Nothing to sneer at—
Just think zilch
And you’ll see how
Grim it is to grin,
And your curling upper
Lip unable to bear it
By tucking it in.
Hell or high water,
I’ll keep shouting it
Till I’m blue in the face:
I’m not going to keel over
And die till I see all three
Of my intimate followers’
Bulging bloodshot eyes
Green with envy, ogling
The body of my work
And me
In my final resting place,
Period.
Nothing remains
The same: It’s been said so
Many times it’s old-hat,
Oblivious to change—
Keep on trucking light
Just the same, tread
Water if you have to,
Always use your given name.
