POETICA – Emma Gazley
NEIGHBORISM
Look for the people doing good
—look even when they are selfish
and when good is not perfection,
and when good is not good enough,
and when good is not what is expected,
and when good is uncomfortable,
and when good is challenging.
People are good and they are not good.
Can never be good and can’t help but be.
Can do good, usually messily,
without much hope or success or reward.
They are right next to us, they probably
disagree with us about so many things.
They probably have bad habits or bad breath.
They have disappointed and confused us.
And they have tried to do good.
And they have been courageous.
And they have neglected themselves
or those they loved at times.
Or they cared too much about the bad.
Or they cared too much about the good.
Or they cared too much about being
an authority on what is good or bad.
Or they cared too much
and are not sure
how to care anymore.
Look for them;
perhaps they are looking for you.
LICE
the comb comes out, then the bleach
a treatment or two in between
a shaving, a trading, a shearing
they get everywhere, concepts
the unprecedented gall of ideas
-you will be told what to say-
-and then what to think-
the hierarchy of who bites first
does everything have rights
does living mean anything
does death mean nothing
the hierarchy of who dies first
—you will be told what not to say—
—and then what not to think—
the brush, the keratin, the beach
a test or two, crab shell endeavors
a market, a making, a living
everywhere, conflicts, persuasion of the sentient,
preference, the gut punch nuking of want
—you will be told what to do—
—and then how to be—
the limerance of what takes hold
does everyone matter
does being beget meaning
does eradication deserve worship
do living beings equal profit and/or sovereignty
the nibbling of who gets most longest
—you will be told what not to do—
—and then you will cease to be—
