"In paradise all clocks refuse to chime
for fear they might, in striking, disturb the peace."
– Joseph Brodsky, "Lullaby of Cape Cod"
Not yet a nation, worried what other nations might think,
we send show horses off to the world, our more or less
refined. One stand out steed, tasseled & pimp referenced
for you're Ok awards (a player who tenantlike knows them, look
how he bouncing with pedigree!) through shires, rows of trees
will bear the standard: our forked up best from bush lots of aspire. So,
you guys, harnessed at home, lucky if working,
best stop complaining; some day the wild coast fevers, wounds
stitched up for now, will squish death creeping. Don't sweat
our stadium amps & champs; and, look, kites commissioned for the sky!
They do declare our borders, shores (the sluices open wide)
can handle business runnings (private vice on the side.)
Our cropped over State's from Empire…godfactors…the numbers
to rule and so forth…What?
for a breaking volcano? an island beach? swop our waterfalls?
…surely you joke. Seal off
the cynics, sphincters for weary elitist viral lies. Like the forest
green we screen playactors by appointment and party ties.
(Yo! terraqueous furies, our nemesis; cart wheels of progress, the field.
The game's for left right bipeds in dressage and dray. Ph.drivers wanted.)
You watch, the stream of faithless, pipered rats en route to rivers
will make a U turn, haul deliverance through Arrival days.
Till then, home rules apply:
cheek by bowl, vices hide;
ground fast looming, pull up, tribe!
(Yo, comrade! want not what you need not.
The force is not with you. Abide.)
-W.W.
NOTIONS FOR A NATION
A space other than the room we
are sitting in, talking about the
Other we will never be but are.
A club we are dying to join
for which we must produce credentials
impossible by our own standards.
A Promise whose spirit of Real
Estate keeps trickling out our fingers
to wrap itself round our hands and feet.
A land stolen from other tribes
we give some back to so they'll have no
excuse for not cleaning up their act…
……………………………………..
(from "Fabula Rasa" by Brian Chan)
FARJOURNEY CARIBBEAN 