11/14/2021 Anchovies
Enlightenment Poem
–
we have all been brothers, hermaphroditic as oysters
bestowing our pearls carelessly
no one yet had invented ownership
nor guilt – nor time
we watched the seasons pass, we were as crystalline as snow
and melted gently into newer forms
and stars spun round our heads
we had not learned betrayal
our selves were pearls
irritants transmuted into luster
and offered – carelessly
our pearls became more precious and our sexes static
mutability grew a shell, we devised different languages
new words for new concepts, we invented alarm clocks
fences – loyalty
still … even now … making a feint at communion
– infinite perceptions
I remember
we have all been brothers
and offer – carelessly
Lenore Kandel, 1966
Enlightenment Poem
–
we have all been brothers, hermaphroditic as oysters
bestowing our pearls carelessly
no one yet had invented ownership
nor guilt – nor time
we watched the seasons pass, we were as crystalline as snow
and melted gently into newer forms
and stars spun round our heads
we had not learned betrayal
our selves were pearls
irritants transmuted into luster
and offered – carelessly
our pearls became more precious and our sexes static
mutability grew a shell, we devised different languages
new words for new concepts, we invented alarm clocks
fences – loyalty
still … even now … making a feint at communion
– infinite perceptions
I remember
we have all been brothers
and offer – carelessly
–
Lenore Kandel, 1966