MASKS

VICTOR COLEMAN

BLAZEVOX[BOOKS]
Buffalo, New York

MASKS

one
Victim to
symbolisms of behaviour
which no one
fully comprehends
as if being convicted
of helplessness
in functionally
powerful societies
where an individual's ego
is semi-consciously
thrown back on itself
demanding
more and more novel
affirmations of
historic truancies
from an official
socialized self
to become
an obsession
about the normal in art
Outrun only
by those taken in
by the superficial
rationalizations
& frequent changes
who reach over themselves
to nullify
the very purpose
of bare legs
on summers modern women
Cosmetics and methods
of wearing the hair
with no preliminary
critique
is often utterly historic
the charge
of economic waste
leveled against
the public mind
has little effect
and no legitimized

caprice is felt
as a sort of
socially unintelligible
form of individual
tyrannical entirety
unconscious
of the emphasis
in such societies
on the sanctity
of tradition
to be more strictly
psychological determinants
of their designs
which above all
must depart
from a puritanical societys
growing impatience
with the outward
forms of sex curiosity
permanently outrun
by the vivid changes
in discretion
*
two
Valuable and curious
were the secrets of nature
and the origin
of its bodies
which a privileged
and private man
obtains for himself
and his family
in times of simplicity
a poverty
fair in its features
adorned
with that age
full of innocence
and romantic transitions
as if a higher
spiritual power
revealed itself
upon the earths surface

10

and the richest

of these principles
glad to carry themselves
in imagination
to the years lived
to return again
to a life loved intensely
though separated
from the object
of a passions ardour
Crossed the sea
with ease
many strange monsters
and all sorts of men
with cosmic offerings
an earth rich
in subterraneous treasure
wild, inhospitable
and immense plains
companionship takes leave
the fertility
of a wise old
preachers genius
shows enlightenment
and wealth of age
with coarse garb
to conceal
a beautiful form
love more lasting
towards the break of day
with images
of this fancy form
as a soul grew calm
in imaginings journey
accompanied by that
peculiar feeling
that fills the breast
upon a
never to be forgotten
first announcement
of death
our last separation
will remain

11

three
Little
crimson pyramids
of seeded strawberries
spilled through the perforated shell
this vulgarity
is the only fact
in a century
that cannot be explained away
so lets have coffee
in the music-room
My wife and I
never told a man
what such action really was
having done it
more than once
This man is entitled
to spill a little crimson
or be called
on good intentions
which represent fatality
the beautiful
lessons of romance
which first attracted me
Always remember to sob
once a loved ones
distinct perfume
brings subtle memories
to stroke the head
of a curious Java
A largely untrue story
told me years ago
with wild adoration
content now
with anyone who supposes
she will someday marry
a rough carter
A wild adoration for you

12

the dominant
motive of his art
something told him
what was going on in town
has not been
there for days
It must be
delightful to be seen
in San Francisco
a city possessing
all that it attracts
this little crowd of
shabby-looking people
listening to some vulgar
street music
*
four
Old women
and their daughters
pressed around him
with hearty curiosity
They infested a lady
from the capital
willing to teach them
the recipes
for many pleasant dishes
As a voyageur of wonder
the enterprise
of the sacred tomb
to divine
the Unknown exactly
as the presage
takes form
An inhabitant
of a higher world
in the midst of
deeply interwoven leaves
which gradually open
to present
a beautiful flower

13

in bud
Point of departure:
The emperor led us
into the land of the morning
where charming maidens
appeared
to us of the West
if we guide our words
skilfully
a beauteous
captive tumult
dies away
The absence
of its nature and effect
a clear longing remains
encouraged to
devote himself forever
to the marvel-working cross
and a joyous life
of field and camp
They learned that
His heavenly birth-place
was in the power
Cruelly maltreated
gazing with
sad countenance
the evening was serene
The sun
longing after solitude
made its decline
enticed
by a golden distance
which stole
into the wall
all
the coloured splendour
and solitude
with frequent banquets
beside the tumult of war
and the chase

14

knew no other pastime

except a brimming beaker
Kindhearted ladies of the castle
welcomed him
the evening was serene
the sun began to rock
*
five
To vex
or startle
from hostility
desire that is
pure fear
perhaps
overstated
After meeting strange men
sometimes even after
talking to women
the virtue of confidence
when coming
to insert the rhyme
having found it
will be hard
to convince us
we have been less
than a cat who eats
the medicinal grass
in the garden.
As I dream of eyelids
that do not quiver
before the bayonet:
all my thoughts
have eased.
Protection as adorable
as those young
imagined queens
who have
so little sleep
Every ear and minds eye

15

a voluble daredevil
who goes romancing
through a romping lifetime.
The wickedest people
are but bold children
but one is never judged
her only fault a habit
excelling in the representation
of women who stir pity
because they need desire
Romancing through
her romping lifetime
to the dawning of
the Judgment Day
and all about her
certain men
whose art is less
opposing virtue
than compensation
for some great poetic lie
between elaborate
brightly lit buildings
and sceneries appearing
in a moments lull
A fat, ruddy
nude woman
lying upon
a Turkish carpet
making matches
from start to end
scrupulously accurate
in all their statements
In his art
he made known
to delight his ear
the lineaments
of mans flight
from his blind struggle
in the network
*

16

six
He came as if invited
astonished
not dreaming
the true festivitys
about to begin
a drama
daring again
to look upon
the unknown faces
introduced
as an entire company
He prayed to the listener
for another song
from the king's chamber
inquired as to his
glowing cheeks
hovering over
the young mans head
so that his
tresses swam
gently down the stream
His delightful astonishment
increased
when his mother's voice
awoke in him
a love of high escape
from all
traces of memory
consecrated relics
all past facts
will prove
a wiser future
never to be forgotten
The first announcement
of death
terrifies us
with a nightly vision
directly viewed
as their very essence
in varying

17

connexions
to carry
a child in her arms
Revealed amidst
an outspread collar
within which
delightful astonishment
his singular intent
now becomes a
satisfying world
an inconceivably
interior communion
as the stream
from the fountain
spreads out
into a single
overhanging cloud
a child
to will
the bright spark
You might say
this is really
a masterpiece
an accident
the Twenty-third Psalm
a damned horse!
Not the gods and goddesses
the devils, bats
and sewing machines
A profound angel
and a sad one
An excellent composition
with the wings
supported by umbrella ribs
and a motion
that is part of him
while the rest

18

stands stock still

turning human
with the proper trail
though not
to let it grow
or add
the horsey expression
without making
the animal laugh
Everything with form
has invisible substance
so light
less than nothing
but a tissue
never a pile of dirt
wearing
or washing away
at least
not in our time
Whats
a mountain?
Deciding to obey
no longer
well go out and eat
it will all
blow over
when we draw blood
Art is false religion
If you want
to see angels
go to the top
and slap on the colour
Interesting data
is labeled

19

the equivalent
of nothing
a fraud
like stopping
to strike a balance
in order to add
the weight
patched up to look
hypothetical
*
seven
The trees began to wave
emitting a hollow sound
from a great depth
beneath the earth
Much adorned by
the distance they sought
lifes silent companions
had been stung by charm
unable to remember
or follow your train of thought
so well they took
sufficient escort
when obliged to move
willingly through life
infested with robbers
youthful maidens
will render your name
Alone as a stranger
the delight of a company
overrun by wild men
avoiding all retired religions
made to order
for a civilization
that brought forth
tender affects
and the arts of peace
changed a raging flood
into a waltz
streaming from a fountain

20