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Moth Wings

the circumstance of his birth
had somehow become joined 
to the circumstance of his life
raised on cowboys and Indians 
when no bigger than a twig
alone on a little mattress
talking to limp cloth animals
explains much of this
chromosome damage no doubt
a chugging tractor discs the soil
a mile away growing unheard
as sleep opens its music box lid
my rapid pulse is transformed
and becomes visible as black spots
which begin to grow together 
eyes begin to move independently
floating face up I think they are open
wishing they were lanterns instead of
window panes unable to blink back the view
held open by the weight of two images
the great mound of bones and teeth
scene of rituals unspeakable
sordid affairs and so ordinary 
if they tell you there's no describing it
they'd better have a blank expression
victims of gravity searching for a place
where the war between the odds and evens 
has not yet reached 
wondering who invented tables and chairs
and calendars on the wall brittle and torn
by a wall climbing sun
pages flutter like moth wings
whispering parts of speech syllables
a screen door bangs dogs bark
crossing the linoleum a trail of ants 
water drips in the sink
a moon rises over mobile homes
drawn in a circle against the dark
red flares line the highway at night
vagrancies outstrip the vacancies
with charlatans on every street corner
in a fervent denial of perception
before the rubble of the holy ziggurat
burnt offerings burnt heretic
having learned how to learn
he began to teach how to teach
finding fresh chewing gum 
stuck under the diner counter
when is an idea dead and useless
you'll need to be able to spell dog and cat



From "Engine of Didactic Beauty" available on Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/nhfk6dr

Artist Portfolio: http://walteralter.site11.com/

Copyright © Walter Alter | Year Posted 2017

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