analysis (9-26-05)

finally i have determined that
what it has meant to me
to live by poetry

is that i long ago gave up feeding
my bones in favor of
my eyes and ears

and when i eventually needed the bones
all i could do was hear me crumble
and see me fail and fall

but the view on the way down was perfect
my slow collapse resolved me beautifully
into a helpless cautionary tale

get thee to the gym
and give up the pose
while you still can kids

no one with any sense that they might have a choice
should ever have to do the things
you need to do for this to be your life

honestly
living by poetry is a load of crap
and you are better off without it

leave it to those of us
who are dragged to it
kicking and sobbing

leave it to the dead-eyed ones
the sharp-eared ones who give up
form for function

the ones who are called
to fail at living
in favor of noticing living