At last the house has made a moon
to lope around, erratic orb, your
seasons come on with that other’s sun.
Inside the room, there is a room
where the wearing of the day hangs
weary up again by night. In that room,
a universe the size exactly of a man, and
loss a little larger than your heart.
10. The Room Is Dreaming
the room is dreaming
outside itself
it cannot contain
or rescind
locked inside too long
there’s no more outside
no matter
how much room
the room has or
what room you’re in
the doll can make you
think the room is everything
can make it so tight
even the body has
no space left inside
can make it so large
that being dissipates
nothing in here
nothing out there
but something
always escapes
her needling
her hacks
turn on her
in her dreams
the doll demands
impossible recompense
from creatures who have
never done her harm
demands the last
rib bone and pin
she gets on
like a ratcheted clamp
to get her off
you have to
lose some skin
the doll is dreaming
she is looking out
but her mask is always
looking in
sizing her up
cutting her
down to size
no room large
or small enough
in the end
…………………………………………..
…………………………………………..
a stack of paper
not so robust but
under your hand like
a tight sheet on a
hotel bed, somewhere
you can go into
and close the door,
an envelope,
letters you don’t send,
the guardian of words
and wishing, the end
of all you’ve said
the room is dreaming
outside itself
it cannot contain
or rescind
locked inside too long
there’s no more outside
no matter
how much room
the room has or
what room you’re in
the doll can make you
think the room is everything
can make it so tight
even the body has
no space left inside
can make it so large
that being dissipates
nothing in here
nothing out there
but something
always escapes
her needling
her hacks
turn on her
in her dreams
the doll demands
impossible recompense
from creatures who have
never done her harm
demands the last
rib bone and pin
she gets on
like a ratcheted clamp
to get her off
you have to
lose some skin
the doll is dreaming
she is looking out
but her mask is always
looking back in
sizing her up
cutting her
down to size
no room large
or small enough
in the end
o
o
o
o
o
© 2012
Accidental Antenna 