Look at this book —
someone’s
torn pages from it — a math
textbook — no mystery
as to what has been excised —
missing the entire
chapter on quadratic
equations as indicated by
a peek at the table of contents —
who would do such a thing — thieves
stealing functions —
And this book —
Organic Chemistry —
missing a chapter called
Introduction to Synthesis — how will
we learn synthesis without a proper
introduction now — who takes such things —
who deprives us of such
knowledge as this — how
we are built into being
from the basics —
Can’t find a full book
of history anywhere —
truncated civics lessons only — they’ve torn
proverbs from biographies and changed
dates, places — how we were before now —
but these books
that display the flowers
typically used in funeral wreaths — these posters
of disarticulated bones, muscles — these ancient
paintings of Heaven opening to judgment of
the corporeal, the material, the easily
touched? All intact — all mounted
in places of great honor — all placed
within easy reach —
as holy books
would be
Dark Matter 