A Simple Man

7/22/96

A simple man came to me
and ignited the world with
his sounds of merriment 
as the grinding around him
groaned and whistled 
threatening to distract 
him from his doing.


A simple man came to me,
while catching a fly in his teeth,
sucking the very marrow out of the 
heart of the matter,
and irrigated the garden with 
his dance of ecstasy,
and the pressure around him
heaved and ripped, 
threatening to trip 
him in his dance.


A simple man came to me
and drenched my clothing with
his fluid of life,
as the strength within him
ebbed and waned,
threatening to teach
him about his life.