Friday, January 5, 2018

APPROACHING 0

As winter's cruel late 
afternoon light 
floods each poorly curtained window, 

fills and 
somehow
dims the kitchen—a gradual void 

of value, 
pace, and direction 

leaves you 
with not even your 
own distinct shadow.

Darkness.
This must be how planets come together. 
This is your cue 

to simplify feeling, 
consolidate meaning,
and wrap your core up tight in their patinas.

You have layers now. You're still you—but
encrusted.

Gradually you are moved 
to boil water,

to light imaginary cosmic cigarettes 
straight off the finicky gas burner,

to start practicing 
smaller 
smaller, 
ever-smaller

reorientations toward perfection.