Imagine a man turning his face to hide his tears
a man whose memory won’t let go
the blur of sand in a pit the shouting
his father’s naked body covering him
his father’s voice
do not be afraid you will live
Imagine a boy in a bitter angry mood
telling of a bully’s abuse revealing his shame
imagine the words that would restore his self-esteem
rejuvenating his spirit recalling him to his courage
What would such a sentence say?
would it be complicated subtle a conundrum?
would it pass the test for poetry?
Maybe not maybe it would sound
strange as Sanskrit
or cacophonous like the inside of a school bus
or flap in the heart like the passage of geese overhead
Maybe it would begin with the pronoun you
you it would whisper gently
what a surprise you are how you delight me