XI


sometimes i fear that language cannot even hold us up now
there are so many words given constantly about everything
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XI.


i.

i listened to
the ambling news

i listened
about the black mans
breath
cut off
again
in the midwest

i listened 
about the rubber 
and gas
for tearing, watering
for tearing, ripping

i listened 
about the speculation 
of new vision
of allow
and
corral



ii.

hands up
hands off



which
is it



iii.

what can one do
trained
this way

so it is

the solution
boils bubbles
escalation
toils
troubles

a witch
would never



iv.

tactful
tactical

having or showing sensitivity in dealing with others or difficult issues
relating to or constituting actions carefully planned to gain a specific military end



which is it



v.

who wants 
to spend their
days
sharpening
skills
they hope to 
never
deploy?

did i say deploy? 
did i mean envoy?
oh no, 

employ.

when those
(s)kills
aim for
control

by promise
of violence

one must
change logic
change truth

in order
to keep order
and
justify
their use



vi.

performance.
bravo.



vii.

put on
a uniform
adorn in
kevlar, swish
leather, stick
metal, clip

sure

but really
it is the ego 
from id
thicker than
that plexi
shield

that 
little 
navy outfit 
is attitude 



viii.

you can study
and eat popcorn
in the glow glory
of the movie

i wonder if you
watch
CBS 
taking notes

you are not
much of a notetaker
though



ix.

what is the difference 
between 
your costume
and theirs
i hear it is 
an upside
down
american
flag

what is the difference 
between 
your prop 
and theirs
i hear it is
a bullet

what is the difference 
between 
your set
and theirs
i hear
it is 
the clouds, the rain
the weather change

with no foreshadowing

confuse
god
and
director
all you want

you get 
no script

the people
in the street

are here to live
to hear their heart 
beat

not be
an extra 
in your drama



x.

it seems one
can become
quite
famous now
for
a moment
for
acting
a cop



xi.

a modern
Hamlet's
dilemma

to shoot or not to fire
to watch or not to burn
to change or not to combust

one always wants to deliver the 
coveted
soliloquy 
there one is
the star the
sun

something one 
does not much consider
is 
the actor
practicing
how
when 
where 

to
give take move
air



how long can you
keep
your inhale



i...ii...iii...iv...v...vi...vii...viii...ix...x....xi

i...ii...iii...iv...v...vi...vii...viii...ix...x....xi

who really
goes to heaven

ones breath is completely theirs
this air is completely shared

it cannot be 
contained moved shaken
but you have 
demonstrated 
quite clearly
how it is
taken