I
We begin:
To breathe
like our mothers–
To waver in our worship
of Gramma,
wondering if periods have turned
into ?s, :s, ,s, :s
–s seeing maybe
only Caps (as in Capital
& Cancer)
space & possibly
the + or the *
as integral
to our efforts
to commune.
II
We sign with initials only
because of time or $,
therefore admitting once
again how early we were
forced to apprehend
Our Father´s middle name
which = Fear.
III
Laptops hum to us
when sleep or love abandons
& we cease to wear aprons
because now the substances
we spill or waste appear
in flesh & not on
artificial coverings.
Eternally prodigal,
we keep screens clear
although loss or obfuscation
of keys remains a risk.
IV
We read more or less
(Sacrificing Russians,
& Catholics, the Orthodox
& the Old).
Similarly, the sacrament
we recognize as True
has more to do
with sex, grandchildren, exercise
or Art,
than with water, wafer & Holy Wine–
Hunger &/or Thirst–
or any number
of the 7 Deadlies
which become personified
& shadow us
like prehistorical beasts.
(Obsessions beget obsessions.)
V
If we die
we refuse
interviews.
VI
If we achieve
Fame &/or Riches
(or fail to)
we deny our Fault,
ever pointing
up, down, over
there,
with hearts covered,
eyes lowered,
moon above unseen,
but recognized,
like an * or star.
