-a tight-wire stretches from nowhere—to eternity—-
upon this terrible strand—inching along—balances
———a man with a parcel———————————
a black-lacquered—brass-handled-and-hinged—satin
-padded——yet—empty—box?——-certainly not!——-
—-or a nine inch tall—by four inch cylindrical—-
push-on-lidded—cookie type—tin of imitation brass
———-a name and a date—without——within———-a
——flaky—-yellow-grey—-mortal ash———————-
the man is perspiring—perhaps—-cursing—-smiling-
——-p r o j e c t i n g mentally ahead——-remini
—no—-if for a moment——the man re—moves—his—-
attention———from the parcel—and—-the wire——-
no——-surely the man remains focused upon the task
at hand——-and——-un—-clearly—-un—der foot——
perhaps the parcel is ticking—-tick—tick—tick—-
perhaps not———perhaps the lid will—spring open!
—-un-expectedly disgorging the contents of the box
————-the box!?——-what box?——lid?—————-
above the man—the sky—-the ceiling—-the vault of
heaven is crystal and diamond-etched—or flat white
upon this terrible strand—inching along—balances
———a man with a parcel———————————
a black-lacquered—brass-handled-and-hinged—satin
-padded——yet—empty—box?——-certainly not!——-
—-or a nine inch tall—by four inch cylindrical—-
push-on-lidded—cookie type—tin of imitation brass
———-a name and a date—without——within———-a
——flaky—-yellow-grey—-mortal ash———————-
the man is perspiring—perhaps—-cursing—-smiling-
——-p r o j e c t i n g mentally ahead——-remini
—no—-if for a moment——the man re—moves—his—-
attention———from the parcel—and—-the wire——-
no——-surely the man remains focused upon the task
at hand——-and——-un—-clearly—-un—der foot——
perhaps the parcel is ticking—-tick—tick—tick—-
perhaps not———perhaps the lid will—spring open!
—-un-expectedly disgorging the contents of the box
————-the box!?——-what box?——lid?—————-
above the man—the sky—-the ceiling—-the vault of
heaven is crystal and diamond-etched—or flat white
—-in any case—-the man can—can not—raise his—-
jut chin with——out——losing——his sense—of——
the sun is a spotty looking glass—a buttered sauce
pan—-or—a masked god—-drooling filmy gobbets——
the man concentrates upon a critical——just beyond
the tip of——that which has position—but not—mag
—-ni—-tude——that which has position—but not—
duration——the salient feature of——his own blunt
nose——the shortest distance between two——to fill
the lines between——-the spot at which a policeman
is——puffing in short——a dot—a jot—a whit——a
snatch——ir—-r e g u lar barely dis c e rnible ga
sps———————of melody———————————
below the man is—-the world——-as seen from a——
————————————————————————---
———————god’s eye?————————————
——————————————————-cumulo——-
————————————————————cirrus—-
————sky——————————————————-
——-scrapers——————————————————
——————————microwave—————————-
jut chin with——out——losing——his sense—of——
the sun is a spotty looking glass—a buttered sauce
pan—-or—a masked god—-drooling filmy gobbets——
the man concentrates upon a critical——just beyond
the tip of——that which has position—but not—mag
—-ni—-tude——that which has position—but not—
duration——the salient feature of——his own blunt
nose——the shortest distance between two——to fill
the lines between——-the spot at which a policeman
is——puffing in short——a dot—a jot—a whit——a
snatch——ir—-r e g u lar barely dis c e rnible ga
sps———————of melody———————————
below the man is—-the world——-as seen from a——
————————————————————————---
———————god’s eye?————————————
——————————————————-cumulo——-
————————————————————cirrus—-
————sky——————————————————-
——-scrapers——————————————————
——————————microwave—————————-
————————-towers————————————-
———————-electronic surveillance—telecommuni
cations and———-power lines——————————-
————————————radar station——————-
————————————————————————
———————————————-oil refineries—or—-
—-wells?——burning———————burning debris—
—————-anti-aircraft gun emplacement——————
————————-++ scud missile launcher++———-
————-correction————-minaret———————-
———————————————————razor-wire-
fences——trenches—————soot-black and tanned
———visages—————————————————-
——————————-open matchbook——————
—Shawmut Indian on cover with red eagle feather—-
——-three green safety-strike matches missing———
phone number scrawled in number-two lead pencil 74
2-09——something—something—————————-
——————————————-several wads of chew
ing gum and foil-backed paper—————a Canadian
—dime—date not visible—————————————
———————-electronic surveillance—telecommuni
cations and———-power lines——————————-
————————————radar station——————-
————————————————————————
———————————————-oil refineries—or—-
—-wells?——burning———————burning debris—
—————-anti-aircraft gun emplacement——————
————————-++ scud missile launcher++———-
————-correction————-minaret———————-
———————————————————razor-wire-
fences——trenches—————soot-black and tanned
———visages—————————————————-
——————————-open matchbook——————
—Shawmut Indian on cover with red eagle feather—-
——-three green safety-strike matches missing———
phone number scrawled in number-two lead pencil 74
2-09——something—something—————————-
——————————————-several wads of chew
ing gum and foil-backed paper—————a Canadian
—dime—date not visible—————————————
——————spent—-38-caliber slug————————
———-a tuft of human hair———-no——-correction—
——————more like a caterpillar nibbling?————-
-sorry——————a simoom———————————-
——a z i l l i o n grains of s a n d ————
occasionally—the nape-less man fal—ters——-teeterin
g like a—————————————————————
———-a tuft of human hair———-no——-correction—
——————more like a caterpillar nibbling?————-
-sorry——————a simoom———————————-
——a z i l l i o n grains of s a n d ————
occasionally—the nape-less man fal—ters——-teeterin
g like a—————————————————————
————————————g————————————
————————————l————————————-
————————————i————————————-
———————————mps———————————-
——————————-e s of———————————
——————————the w or——————————-
—————————-ld b e lo w—————————-
—————————ign i t e f u—————————
————————ses of n a u s e————————-
———————-ati n g f e a r————————
———————spa r k s s h o o t———————
——————-th r o u g h h i s——————-
——————ext r e m i t i e s——————-
——————cro s s i n g t o and——————-
——————fro m a c h a r g ed——————-
—————— whi r l i ng c e n t er ——————-
———————his na v e l f e e ls at———————-
———————-onc e h o t ly tight————————
————————-and cold unrav—————————
——————————ell y au re——————————
————————————v————————————
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————l————————————-
————————————i————————————-
———————————mps———————————-
——————————-e s of———————————
——————————the w or——————————-
—————————-ld b e lo w—————————-
—————————ign i t e f u—————————
————————ses of n a u s e————————-
———————-ati n g f e a r————————
———————spa r k s s h o o t———————
——————-th r o u g h h i s——————-
——————ext r e m i t i e s——————-
——————cro s s i n g t o and——————-
——————fro m a c h a r g ed——————-
—————— whi r l i ng c e n t er ——————-
———————his na v e l f e e ls at———————-
———————-onc e h o t ly tight————————
————————-and cold unrav—————————
——————————ell y au re——————————
————————————v————————————
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
the swing-bridges of his overstrung roads———knees
—-elbows—-ankles—-wrists——-seem to be—-collap
—where is headquarters?——what were his—-orders?
does the heel revolve——clockwise——or count—er-
——-he can——he———-can not be———certain—
a sharp combination of alarms—bells—sirens—buzzzz
zzzzz——snares——-dis———con———-cert s——-
—————————————————him——————
fevered right ing attempts with in the tiny labyr inth
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
tri gger hi ghly sensitive stopcocks that shutter and
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
shuttle infin i t e s i mal quantities of l e v e l ing-fluid
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
around a tightly coiled semi-circular inner chamber
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
firing mercur i al neuron impulses who flitter across
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
burning skeins of i n visible dendrites skipping over
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
synaptic canyons with incalculable internodal speed
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
—-elbows—-ankles—-wrists——-seem to be—-collap
—where is headquarters?——what were his—-orders?
does the heel revolve——clockwise——or count—er-
——-he can——he———-can not be———certain—
a sharp combination of alarms—bells—sirens—buzzzz
zzzzz——snares——-dis———con———-cert s——-
—————————————————him——————
fevered right ing attempts with in the tiny labyr inth
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
tri gger hi ghly sensitive stopcocks that shutter and
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
shuttle infin i t e s i mal quantities of l e v e l ing-fluid
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
around a tightly coiled semi-circular inner chamber
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
firing mercur i al neuron impulses who flitter across
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
burning skeins of i n visible dendrites skipping over
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
synaptic canyons with incalculable internodal speed
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
locking and un locking boiling violet rivers wel ling
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
swelling and thrumming elastin culverts glor i ously!
——all simulating——upon the merest filament of——-
auditory nerve—— g r e a t l y a m p l i f i e d
—-the gentle implosions———found nestled so———
harmoniously within——a paper nautilus—r e ticulated
helmet—or——queen conch———i n v o k i n g———
peach bloom and aquamarine tints of tidal alga song
—————————lathering a top—————————
the cerulean rhythms of crab classical bottom music
————————————————the man————-
attends———-he i s captivated——he i s t e r r ified
————————————————————————-
distinguishing the richly complex patterns of shell
and jewel—-symphonic——com—po—si—tion—-tym
panic modulations——multi-stringed vi—bra—to——
tremulous oscillations of pause—segmented worms of
———————w a r m a i r————————
so held within the strictest of metron o mical limits
he pictures—a winged seraphim—or—a peaked lady?
—-swags—-curlicues—-scrolls—and—tendrilled folds
of ancient quivering flesh——secured with steel——-
baleen—-and mighty cotton fiber—-hung with—beetly
jet pendants——and melancholy——skillfully tooted-
bugle beads—-a green clouded—-swallow tail—like-
fan of——shim m e r i n g b o m b a zeen—or—a-
golden kashmir sapphire-eyed cat-ornamented sistrum
——waving——-in her rune—marbled claw——to a—
———youthful hero on a smart parade horse———
——gems of fine sweat aglitter its steamy flanks—-
—tautly pumping to a martial drumbeat—-rearing—
—-against—the maddening pressure of—its pearl—-
-studded—-collar-piece and bridle——-furiously——-
yet———-r e m o t e l y——-as seen——trough———
——-and———c r e s t i n g——-through—-a——
——————r e——fr a c t o r y t e l e s c o p e—
or perhaps—a——dusty—rusted z o e trope—-f l u t t
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
————————————————————————-
swelling and thrumming elastin culverts glor i ously!
——all simulating——upon the merest filament of——-
auditory nerve—— g r e a t l y a m p l i f i e d
—-the gentle implosions———found nestled so———
harmoniously within——a paper nautilus—r e ticulated
helmet—or——queen conch———i n v o k i n g———
peach bloom and aquamarine tints of tidal alga song
—————————lathering a top—————————
the cerulean rhythms of crab classical bottom music
————————————————the man————-
attends———-he i s captivated——he i s t e r r ified
————————————————————————-
distinguishing the richly complex patterns of shell
and jewel—-symphonic——com—po—si—tion—-tym
panic modulations——multi-stringed vi—bra—to——
tremulous oscillations of pause—segmented worms of
———————w a r m a i r————————
so held within the strictest of metron o mical limits
he pictures—a winged seraphim—or—a peaked lady?
—-swags—-curlicues—-scrolls—and—tendrilled folds
of ancient quivering flesh——secured with steel——-
baleen—-and mighty cotton fiber—-hung with—beetly
jet pendants——and melancholy——skillfully tooted-
bugle beads—-a green clouded—-swallow tail—like-
fan of——shim m e r i n g b o m b a zeen—or—a-
golden kashmir sapphire-eyed cat-ornamented sistrum
——waving——-in her rune—marbled claw——to a—
———youthful hero on a smart parade horse———
——gems of fine sweat aglitter its steamy flanks—-
—tautly pumping to a martial drumbeat—-rearing—
—-against—the maddening pressure of—its pearl—-
-studded—-collar-piece and bridle——-furiously——-
yet———-r e m o t e l y——-as seen——trough———
——-and———c r e s t i n g——-through—-a——
——————r e——fr a c t o r y t e l e s c o p e—
or perhaps—a——dusty—rusted z o e trope—-f l u t t
e r i ng——————-s o f t l y——————
his lungs expand like an——a m b e r c a r b o y
from an egg like gathering of molten metal————
he smells——-singed lashes———petrol smoke——
garlic—-persian apples and a hint of—-lilac—soap?
——a dryness———-deep in his throat——he swall
ows———no———-he—-is——un——-able—-to——
——-he——-fends——-a spi ry—-yearning in the pit
an exquisite barbed pull—-sweet null—lip tide suck
then a tart wave of battery acid thick as motor oil
bitter as chard blood—bu r s t s !—-upon the bare root
com—pelling him to—throw wide his fear sick—maw
and—-r a s ping violins?—-pristine silence—-or—-no
the sky is now missile and drummond-blaze on taffeta
heaven—vault of—is a lavender glass vase—brooding
upon a fresh grave slab—hair -lines—of lachrymal ice
the moon is a custard——forced smile of caramel slag
spilling onto ground zero—the stars—-bright shard—-
points of rapacious bicuspids—ranging sighs—-blown
kisses——-arched by cinder -lace—-mantilla draped
figure—slender turbines circum volute—-re volved on
fire-churning axle—-Arabian night—-hour-glass-warm
his lungs expand like an——a m b e r c a r b o y
from an egg like gathering of molten metal————
he smells——-singed lashes———petrol smoke——
garlic—-persian apples and a hint of—-lilac—soap?
——a dryness———-deep in his throat——he swall
ows———no———-he—-is——un——-able—-to——
——-he——-fends——-a spi ry—-yearning in the pit
an exquisite barbed pull—-sweet null—lip tide suck
then a tart wave of battery acid thick as motor oil
bitter as chard blood—bu r s t s !—-upon the bare root
com—pelling him to—throw wide his fear sick—maw
and—-r a s ping violins?—-pristine silence—-or—-no
the sky is now missile and drummond-blaze on taffeta
heaven—vault of—is a lavender glass vase—brooding
upon a fresh grave slab—hair -lines—of lachrymal ice
the moon is a custard——forced smile of caramel slag
spilling onto ground zero—the stars—-bright shard—-
points of rapacious bicuspids—ranging sighs—-blown
kisses——-arched by cinder -lace—-mantilla draped
figure—slender turbines circum volute—-re volved on
fire-churning axle—-Arabian night—-hour-glass-warm
as fast shadows—dip—rise—stitch the needle’s eye
——————————————-
white-hot sons gun in storm rip the roof off babylo
——————————————
on the shredded pavement a sheik skin lies the torn
parchment of peace——————————the parcel
wobbles——-within a———-weak—-en—-ing grip—
———somewhere————-thirty-seven candles flicker
—-and—-perhaps———-at the very last instant he
—————————-catches himself!——-or does he?
——————————————-
of course——————-it is certain————————-
—a taut-line stretches——-from hour to——-hour——
upon this turbulent thread——pedaling along—winces
—————-a bon o bo on a ba na na bi cycle——————————-
——————————————-
white-hot sons gun in storm rip the roof off babylo
——————————————
on the shredded pavement a sheik skin lies the torn
parchment of peace——————————the parcel
wobbles——-within a———-weak—-en—-ing grip—
———somewhere————-thirty-seven candles flicker
—-and—-perhaps———-at the very last instant he
—————————-catches himself!——-or does he?
——————————————-
of course——————-it is certain————————-
—a taut-line stretches——-from hour to——-hour——
upon this turbulent thread——pedaling along—winces
—————-a bon o bo on a ba na na bi cycle——————————-
