A Door Shutting
I spit down into the toilet
as the corner of my eye
catches in the slanted mirror
the door shutting silently
behind me,
and losing
my balance I see
in a small moment
your feet leaving.
Four o'clock, the white
fence of your face. And I am still
the same man who climbs
every tree
before setting in with the axe.
Parable of the Fallen God
1.
Things have been shifting around in heaven
The god of mildness has been singled out
for removal it's no great surprise
he's getting old these things happen
Perhaps the others see in him
the first faint signs of senility or else
caught him doing something odd
refusing his share of the wine at dinner
bathing in the river with some measure
of reluctance they push him out the door
Goodbye old friend
The trip earthward is quick and uneventful
he lands somewhere in the mountains
with a dull thud
2.
See him standing in his yellow sweater
he does not remember that he was a god
none would guess it either he is quite
innocuous the mail carrier of a small town
near the border he drinks only on holidays
he keeps a vegetable garden
really he has become very reliable on earth
a friend to many a man you can turn to
for help in a pinch Only
he knows something is missing:
when his boots are soaked through to his socks
when he sees the silver glint of a watch chain
in the magpie nest
3.
The day he dies is like any other a Tuesday
or a Wednesday who can remember
and asked to describe his face
all who knew him would stare dumbly
in heaven he has been replaced by a young upstart
who holds the position with much pomp
and ceremony he has not yet discovered
how boring is a life of eternal watching
coincidentally on this day he decides
to check in on his ancient predecessor
but looking down through his tiny window
sees only a raised patch of sod
