Pharaonic Parapraxis

Before it slips into the mortal and amoral coil
of blank forgetfulness, one hopes it finally relaxes –
like a Pharaoh loosed from all his wraps
and obligations: perhaps looks back, as Pharaoh

might, before he squirrels away into the bright
abyss, to see if he can catch what will become
of some of his innumerable quantum bits
and slips-of-tongue beyond the coalescence

which afforded them Pharaonic personality.
Today recalls the enigmatic Sphinx, not Shelley’s,
but the cartoon version with the jelly belly that
you dreamed last night – the frightful sight of which

awakened you – as terrified as you had been
of clowns when you were baby-round and didn’t
know why grownups put on lurid makeup. Today
recalls the shake-up of an absolute aloneness.

Consciousness, that funny thing! – so full
of goofy paradox – Pharaonic parapraxis!
Before it slips into the mortal and amoral coil
of blank forgetfulness, one hopes it finally relaxes.

.