Cliff Poems
Suburban Ignorant (Change of Pavement)
Sleep in a bed with your child
and let love run wild-
survival is blood instinct.
Last night I walked around a humid neighborhood of hutongs
where the residents keep their curtain doors open.
I looked in and everyone appeared peaceful as the dreaming always do.
Behind closed eyes I wondered what memories were stirring-
the street smells of stick fried chicken, smoggy sidewalk construction projects,
held family trials and tribulations-and what further angers had fallen-
Do they hate me?
I moved on along,
unthreatened unharmed
back to that night's home.
This night
I am in a new bed with two boys and three men
surrounding and snoring in their angled underwear.
I eavesdrop on their faces
which appear absent of concern
but I fail to understand-
I cannot listen or speak the language of any soul
except my illiterate private and frustrated own.
Oh language barriers
Oh meat cutters
Oh separate consciousness
Bleed all our muscles into a wine cup
chilled underground and turn the lamp off
Tell me in the dark what you want.
and let love run wild-
survival is blood instinct.
Last night I walked around a humid neighborhood of hutongs
where the residents keep their curtain doors open.
I looked in and everyone appeared peaceful as the dreaming always do.
Behind closed eyes I wondered what memories were stirring-
the street smells of stick fried chicken, smoggy sidewalk construction projects,
held family trials and tribulations-and what further angers had fallen-
Do they hate me?
I moved on along,
unthreatened unharmed
back to that night's home.
This night
I am in a new bed with two boys and three men
surrounding and snoring in their angled underwear.
I eavesdrop on their faces
which appear absent of concern
but I fail to understand-
I cannot listen or speak the language of any soul
except my illiterate private and frustrated own.
Oh language barriers
Oh meat cutters
Oh separate consciousness
Bleed all our muscles into a wine cup
chilled underground and turn the lamp off
Tell me in the dark what you want.
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Suburban Ignorant (Change of Pavement)
Suburban Ignorant (Change of Pavement)
