Transparent Words - Poetry

 
Poem
 
By Duane Locke

 

AFTER READING POEMS IN AN ACADEMIC
QUARTERLY,
THIS SPRING, I DECIDED TO WRITE POEMS IN A
POSTMODERN STYLE
 
What happened today
Was more disastrous, devastating
Than it was two weeks ago before it happened.
It would have been better
If it had not happened at all.
It was better two weeks ago.
 
It is always proper and timely to praise something.
So I will praise
Three weeks ago.
I cannot recall any events in my personal life
That took place three weeks ago.
So let us now praise three weeks ago.
 
Perhaps the praise is false, misdirected,
For if I could remember,
It might have been worst than what happened today.
Yet, my praise of three weeks ago
Might be an understatement.
 
Language is never equal to meaning,
Or the meaning is never equal to language.
We talk although our neighbors do not heed.
We do not even heed,
We just talk language.

 

Pg09

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