The Tao That Can Be Named...

POEM: "On Oscillation (For Ron Slate)"

Posted in THE POEMS

                   

Now here's a chance signal
a depravity we each discover
rolling over us and under
and through us words
a smart person acknowledges 
the force a smarter person
deals with for good.
While I was reading you
of course I first thought
of my own misgivings
about that terrific punch
memory plants on a weakness
and all its implausible forgiveness.
And the atonement?
I think I'd lighten up.
Do we choose wave or wind?
The matter of another soul
whether it's at sea or not
is in the heart but mate
it's not ever going to work 
the deep screws inside us
aren't really designed to help.
There — we tell a great lie.
It's a very fine poem indeed.
 


©ROB SCHACKNE (2009)

 

19:29 - Sunday 26 April 2009 - post comment


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An Australian poet currently working in China, watching it all get curiouser and curiouser -- some days he thinks there's nothing easy about the Tao.
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