Gautam Verma >
Of the Moment that Begins Duration sky a gray-white / arid thing
above tree-top's filigree rising
dark elastic storm-cloud
of starlings
trees
take root in
nest nestled in the crook of an arm fluttering heart's fist in the palm's hollow we drink and we drink
we drink down to gall
trees darken and disappear (the nest carries darkness within it) ah, that this too was of our failing lamp light in the window wanders into the evening like a pewter plated moon balancing branches
A man stands hands held out Who listens? Is the act of his
listening a stance a
posture
What is it that one does when one postures? Position
held
just so arms
apart palms turned out-
ward
head to one side and
tilted as though
listening
What is it that one does when one listens? A tree falls
in a forest the moon's
skein shaken un-
loosens a
keening
a river riving
the body's vast
repertoire
of song
shimmersshimmersshimmers
SIGHT-THREADS SENSE-THREADS from
behind nightbile knitted
time
- Paul Celan
What is a tree? A hut in the heart And what the forest? There
where the tree is
lost
Who listens? An impostor Who cries the night to sleep? –
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