On This Basis

Sometimes you look out from

behind the rock to see

what’s going on.

Turns out it’s not much different.

You whiff the scent

and find it just as fine

out in this unaccustomed air

as it had been back there.

Nice, you find both fine.

It seems to me that on this basis

we can say what’s mine is yours,

what’s yours is mine.

.

Confidences

Confidences aren’t always welcome.

Perturbing and disturbing information --

intimations, inclinations guessed at

and put forward as if someone knew

that they were true –

all poured into you –

can mean there isn’t anything to do

but tell the idiot to blow it out his flue.






.

We Don't Think We Can Stand It

We’re reminded we’re alive again!

We don’t think we can stand it.

The soul-quake of it overwhelms.

Oh God, please God: remand it! --

block it out and lock it up

away from everything --

until we lose this constant urge

to shock and shout and sing!

.