pantomime

watch me 
while i act out
the precise spot
where i was
a moment ago, worrying 
about who knows what, 
but watch me worry 
back to that spot
where lots of things 
might have happened
but didn't, did you watch?


watch & guess 
what i'm doing now,
leaning forward, into this day
of sweltering heat and humidity, 
and see if you 
can say that word, 
sweltering, and repeat it fast, 
until you wonder what you're doing, 
what it means & what this meaning 
is i'm making for you now, 
out of air & arithmetic


if you are clever too
and guess my game
and cannot forgive me
this new awareness well
that's okay, it really is,
but from now on watch
me come & go, out of hands
and shoulders through knees
into snow, but not snow really,
just the cool of it, its blind
whiteness, then you'll know


i am here now
but only so



© Copyright 2000 Peter Chapman

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