the living carry on by being fluid
trying too hard is another way to confess
the blueblack uniform of service
if inside is let in and there places change
the general stance over here is based on the unshakeable belief
everything we do is against the crippling light
immigration is always editing
i know no love without teeth
& have the scars to remember
here I stumble
to approximate the durations of others, to appear
of the same time as though of space
wouldn’t I too
be godlike
Or else this dark could be our shelter in the time of long dominion.
And though we are not well suited to the perspectives it opens it is an awesome thing to see. Once you can see it.
*
(Source Texts: Jenny Xie, Jose Olivarez, Jehanne Dubrow, Gertrude Stein, Sawako Nakayasu, Sean Thomas Dougherty, Chiwan Choi, Aditi Machado, Mary-Kim Arnold, Rosmarie Waldrop)