When We Do Not Possess Ourselves, We Possess Ourselves

WHEN WE DO NOT POSSESS OURSELVES,
WE POSSESS OURSELVES



Ahead,
so much absence that won’t be absence,
because

no present,
no farewells, no fangs, no farmyards,
no finches,
no voices
So I think,
“The turkey vulture does not collect
vouchers, or make vows.”

The wallet in the drawer
puffed with pictures
that when looked at by the finder
will not be seen, no
relationship to
the others’ tears.
Gone are the thin, purple leaves
jumping from the vine
twisting around the yellowing boards
of the pig pen.

No relationship to others’ omens,
others’ occupations,
others’ oaths,
to the changing colors of the okra bloom.

Only the unfinished can
fashion fringes and centers.


Duane Locke

Posted over on Arbutus