“Statues in the Park”

Statues in the Park

Toward the end of the day & wishing
again for daylight. What’s discernible is

evening’s impending gloom. If we’d admit it,
this is a sad occasion:

us perched at separate ends of a park bench;
block-headed statues in the dark looming

behind us holding so dearly to one another.
This is what makes art. What art makes of us:

models for statues battling stubbornness.
We try to one-up the other without too much effort,

since that would lessen the impact
of the plan. Which would be what, exactly?

To wax sullen in the afterglow of day gone awry
is to hold our tongues as best as we can.

As for these statues, they bear no resemblance
to any human frailty; though their actions speak

as much about truth as any whose skulls are shaped
to resemble childish drawings of perfect squares.

Perhaps this suggests there is kindness
in our obstinacy — each of us somehow regarding the gift

of winning as if it were the daily courier
arriving with news the earth is no longer a viable place

to live. An absurdity, yes; though a game two men can play —
holding & holding on, as if forever, to silence,

fearing what becomes a man who
clings only to what’s left standing.

Tagged: Book Excerpt, Poetry