from Summer insular



Eat      Stare at a computer
screen        Some of what I do

to face the dead time of each day
(to face the day)

see myself
through to home

the books
the lying

out of myself
(the attempts to)

on these pages—
A life lived largely

in      I mean of
spare moments



*


I am aware
from whom I borrow

(steal outright)
and don't

No need
to name names



*


Another painting:
six large shoreline rocks

no shore
no sea



*


I have few
if any

allegiances
to place

I like it here
that pigeon

neck bent
cleaning its wing

on the fire escape rail
neighborhood kids

gathered on the corner—
where else



*


These negotiations
between the mind and what it sees…

the mind having little else
to see      to exert its energies on

except itself—
regardless of what its gaze falls on—

sees mainly itself
that is

creates a space
it labors to fill

voices
sound in



*


Today
stronger than usual

which isn't that strong
but enough to allow me

to move through the day
with some cheer

I feel good
like I'm right

to see things in rudiments
basic facts: outside

it is hot and sunny
a nice breeze blowing

In here
the cat sleeps

in front of the air conditioner
soundly      It is quiet      I am

at ease (even if
uneasy about that)

The connections between
things occur

become apparent
instead of being

sought out
then shaken

down for all I think
they should yield

I'm finding the fissures
in things I've been looking for

places to squeeze
myself into

(Or do I mean onto)
Today is merely a day

lacking           like all days
the distance of history

the meanings and definitions
attached to it at the end

of an as-yet-undetermined
period of moving along

The end is not near
(not today      at least)

Nor a new
beginning

Little but preparing
for tomorrow is getting done

which somehow is enough
for today      it seems



*


I've always clung
to things—

ideas      crumpled up
pieces of paper      love      whatever












Justin Marks' poems appear in recent issues of Absent, La Petite Zine, and Soft Targets and are forthcoming from Bedside Guide to No Tell Motel – Second Floor, the Outside Voices 2008 Anthology of Younger Poets and Tarpaulin Sky. He is the author of two chapbooks, You Being You by Proxy, (Kitchen Press, 2005) and [Summer insular], (horse less press, forthcoming in 2007).






                       BACK