and so on

2009

i have fought the intertwining

heads of smoke and filthy wool

and the rank sweat of the dirty laborers

flowing in the streets through

crosshairs of bagels and yarmulkes

and i have glimpsed the eternal expanse of

sea to shining sea

hidden by the pricker bushes of progress

and fled downwardly to the pebbles and crabs

digging for a tunnel to lead me home

and i have tasted and tasted and tasted

the filth of emperors, absorbed through

my wide open pores the truth

of apple juice and kindergarten flag

salutes

and i have harvested

the forever flory of a life from

the womb scarred by coat hangers and

diseased intruders

and here you are with me,

here as we catapult across the thicket

of details and fine print

to make our meeting with the

tortoise shell lawyer