Page 9 - silent_secret
P. 9

THE  TREE  AND  ME






              When I  fall  a  thinking
               My  half-closed  eyelids
               Reflec1t  the  pitiful  faces  of  my  forebears  although  I
                                                 try to  avoid  them.
               The  inherited  sadness
               That I  see reflected in the mirror hanging before me
               Makes  me  tremble  with  I  know not what.       ,
               When I  make one of my rare visits home
               I  shake  aJt1  the sight  of my genealogical tree :
               I'm afraid the  withered  branches
               Would  claw  out  my  spinal  column.
               In  a  sea  of  poverty  and  tears
               Looking  for  me  sit!s  down  my  itree,:
               Having  pounded  its  finger  inst:ead  of  grain
               Having  a  suppurating thorn in  foot
               Wiith  no  money  for  post-gastrotomy tonics  prescribed
                                                    by the  Surgeon
               With  not:  even  dry  leaves  to  shed.
               My  necktie  and  jack2},
               Are  cruelly  shamed  ini'.o  seH-pity.
               The  red  road  dust  smelling of the grave
               Comes  floating
               And  tears  my  Bloody  Rogue's  charmed  circle  of
                                          perfume  surrounding  me.
               Even  the  howling  brat  falls  silent.
               In  the  mirror  before  me
               Hang my exotic experiences -   a broadsword a cobra's
                                                              hood.
                         I:n  my dream drama
               The  ghost  of  my  progenitors  rises  wi<t:h  extended
                                        hands  from  the  string  bed
               And  embraces  me  in  a  flood  of  tears


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