Head Smashed In

by Fred Wah

the “I” might be simple
located down the line
to fall to wake up
the old log trips
limb is to stub as bark is to chain

don’t think social norm or lex
leg is on the cliff too
manna on the bushes
not up nor way back down
extra universal joints

clothe nothing with preps
the syntax is no bone
how fine grammar dies
the larch hurts more than
Law capitalized meaning

self-vex your self so salt
tongue acrid and stuck
middle voice emptied
this bruise these stones
the way out Plato said?

simply to enter head
elbow tenoned soft
wood market smash
trade talk for action jump
on this empty venture