face 07/16/96

these polyurethane smiles

these paper doll dresses
these hangers from some closet
i denounce them
but will one day mournfully employ them
yet on a grander scale
not to fall
not to resist arrest
i will take part in the game of memory
but not in this small town
for the limits are endless
i will train my abstractions
to be the circus of a larger land
where reality forces this kind of chess
not where the people avoid reality
hidden beneath their front doors
dodging a neighbor’s ear
dodging their own thoughts
foolish and petty
they succeed in their minute world
afraid of going outside
from the home’s they’ve fashioned
from their tongue dances
and their shaky hands
eager to blaspheme
while they bow to donation
and scream their opinions
bought at the dollar store
what will come of these people?
what face shall their children kiss?
what do they have?
what do they need?