American Poetry Review, The, Mar/Apr 2009 by McGrath, Campbell
To drape the damp beach towel of language
upon the aluminum lawn chair of meaning
is neither more nor less admirable
than laying it across the chaise lounge of non-meaning,
to say nothing of abandoning it in a sodden heap,
soaked with pool water and grape Fanta.
Once the egg of meaning has been smashed
the mystery lies revealed: to smear
the walls with yolk is extraneous, and impolite.
Too often the wit of disjuncture
resembles a puzzle made of lettuce.
Driving to work I cross six bridges and a causeway
en route to the mainland: still, when the drawbridge opens,
I am surprised again at the sight of water.
You cannot teach a person to be a whale,
but you can bring them to see the beauty of whales;
you can present whales to their attention,
whales in their actual selves, and so the lesson is learned
chaise lounges
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