I Used To Be Empty

568

Something's up in ruined space

the happy lamp is broken

the halls and doors in this shattered place

are jammed with war

down there in sunlit rooms

of spoken sometime whim

a sometime head is seized - a past returned

excited arms beat back the voices

telling us you were in the ruins

a part of the useless stampede

you rushed around in darkness finally

fleeing through an open door

but who pays for all this sorrow?

Who pays for wasted night?

569

Your coat's in water

your talk is torn

your eyes are leaving

your want is witness

your anger shows

your heart now empty

your head is too,

your distance shrinking

a call for wanting

the wind now screaming

a relentless payment

blow by blow

talking talk

amid rising damage

and broken hands

570

from this morning mountain rising

this silent air down here

I hurry to part the tilted light

it sideways swiftly points to the water

urging, striding those voice's ghosts

draw this boat upon the rocks

and hasten now from the railing

running from these teachers clutching

envelopes of empty promise

leaving nothing to our sons and daughters

leaving nothing but disgrace

leaving now drenched and incognito

spilling sorrow all these open years

the point is all this leaving

the point is all this rage

turn the bow into the wind

now truest sailing can begin

now the harder distance is to be travelled.