Benjamin Gorman's Shared Poems

When we awaken
from our vigorous dreams
of increase and appetite
all that will remain
of the world that spawned us
will be photographs
peeled like onionskins
from the land and
ashes of the life
we have
consumed
in our
pursuit
of more

There is something ominous
deadly
about the waiting bed
covers turned down
pillows resting:
mechanical supports
camouflaged as
tender nursemaids,
like the piers
that support a house
built above ground;
awaiting the building
the body
their promise to hold up
to do the work of resisting gravity
that infernal pull
soft but structural supports
nonetheless.
I stand naked, consider getting in,
lowering my body house onto this
soft support
but I hesitate.
thinking of coffins.

She's teasing the old man
her skin buffed to an alluring glow
oh yes she's lookin good
she breezes by him
slooowly
lips a-pout, hips swaying
swaying
hypnotic
she knows she's lookin fine
liquid violet backdrop
makes her creamy skin
shimmer

He's watching
only his head turns
slowly as she passes
banked ember eyes
under jutting brows
he knows she shines better
with an audience
and he's perfectly content
to be one for her—
he and the millions
like us
watching
it all unfold
from below

In school
they say
we pass on what we know
to those who arrive unknowing
not the sum of our knowledge
but that portion we deem
important
we sift the mountain of experience
with pans and screens
seeking nuggets
weigh them in scales ir/
rational
choose those reflecting
the light of our present
infatuations

But this mountain is growing fast
not long ago a hillock
now a Himalayan range
tomorrow a planet
and you can argue
what's important
what should be included
(we do, O how we do!)
but fact is
you'd want to teach
your kids at least as much
as you knew, more
if you're not a seeker of Eden
hoping your children
will populate a perfect garden
where all they need to know
is how to find fireflies
and to laugh when
the moon chases
them running,
running

One more show
Just one to go
The final try
The final throw
One more chance
To nail this show.