After All
How
after all
that’s happened
flies
still fly
windows
be damned
birds nest
do
we still have
the shade
of our shadow
to keep us cool?
Doubt
Oh, the certainty
with which we speak
about Kabul and bailouts.
Oh, the certainty
with which
maps unroll waves
curl under leave
words gasping
for new words
should
should
not saltwater
in our mouth.
Go Not With God, But With The Handy
Go with
soap
warm water.
Go with
a spoon.
With
shoes. With a chair.
Beer.
Books. Bricks. A band-aid.
Go
with
penpaper.
With
memories
riddles
a rhyme.
With two oars.
Go with
candle.
Dry
matches.
Pep Talk
I accomplish things.
I fill bottles with water
wash starch from rice
spin lettuce sometimes
spinach
to help it dry.
I slice a thin piece of cheese
put it on a cracker.
Feed it to my wife
who is doing three things
at once
I am learning
her seconds are longer than mine.
I boil water
turn tofu so it won’t burn.
I fold the damp dishtowel
tuck it into the oven’s handle
thankful for the work
the leftover heat
from the oven will do.
I lock the door.
Check the stove
turn off lights
as cobwebs form
dust gathers dust
I am learning
what Argentine ants know
nothing stops
other things
from happening.
Cyrus Armajani
