DOUGLAS COLLURA

THE TRUE SUBJECT

Change dust fingertips collect in the bottoms of my pockets.

Today George Bush spoke about the narrowing of the human mind.

Not his ostensible subject but this was his true subject.

Meanwhile, limbs blew apart.

Meanwhile, I kissed someone in a doorway below street level,

her blouse stretched over my hands.

I passed a man with a beard so long it was a carpet.

I passed a hooker at the corner of Christopher and Greenwich

who contained so many sexes, she should’ve been able

to both charge and get deified.

Gods popping up everywhere, take one

if you please not too seriously please,

the voices in your head deserve more respect than that.

Me, I take everything too seriously

from cuffs on trousers to whom I take off my trousers with.

It’s not important, it’s so important.

Today George Bush spoke about minds so narrow,

wealthy men use them as coin slots.

This was not his ostensible subject this was his true effect.

None of his people attend the school of hard knocks,

all of his people must have attended the school

of hard knocks on the head to become so self-deluded.

Me, I’m not self-deluded, only obsessed.

I dive in and out of my computer, walk up the hills of pavement,

enter the East Meadow to join thousands who want to escape

what will take place over that hill somewhere.

A woman hugs her knees on an outcrop of granite.

Children leap rock to rock as if discovering a new land.

I’m in and out of the sunlight with a woman

who’s desperate enough to write a poem more than occasionally.

Today you have to be able to tell your enemy from your enemy.

Today you have to be able to spot bullets from invisible rifles.

Today George Bush spoke to the American People whoever he is whoever we are.
 

(doug isn't much for bios)