The Mirror

While the carrots sang arias into the holy earth and the snowmen turned into bronze weathervanes, I underwent a removal, tearing my skin off me, plucking out the eyes like Ping-Pong balls, squashing the shriek of my heart like a phone off the hook — and as these phenomena occurred, a fool walked straight into         me. He was named Mr. Rabbit. My own voice spoke to people, anyone, friends, strangers on the street, saying, "I am Mr. Rabbit."  The flesh itself had become mad and at three mirrors this was confirmed. Next it was bad Friday and they nailed me up like a scarecrow and many gathered eating popcorn, carrying hymnals or balloons. They were three of us there, though they appeared normal. My ears, so pink like powder, were nailed. My paws, sweet as baby mittens, were nailed. And my two fuzzy ankles.  I said, "Pay no attention. I am        crazy." But some giggled and some knelt. My oxygen became tiny and blood...

Remember that night, after the card game We went bumping down the road drunk insulting each other. You said things so vicious the next day you apologized. But I could not recall a one of them. I was robbed. Yours for that most momentous of words: "Vindication"— it is the labyrinthine word. All hail to Mighty Æschylus. Beat the devil, beat the devil, beat the devil, Beat the devil, beat the devil, beat the... (Hear the train Drive steadily on Towards nowhere) [From: Burke, K. (1968) Collected poems, 1915-1967 . Berkeley: University of Caliornia Press. p30]

In the offing: "Holy, holy— Anoint and sanctify." About the edges: "Pray, beseech, give alms, atone by suffering, Penance and repentance. "My fault, My gravest fault, My most momentous, impious, sinful moment." Seek absolution In the Absolute. Aristotle: "There is cause for alarm If either injustice or outrage virtue Has power."                 * * * Vengeance, retribution, Imprecation, malediction— "Lament, lament, But may the good conquer." Guilt through the doing of forbidden things, Guilt by forbearing to do forbidden things— And hope by grief to rid the self of grievances. Estrangement, defilement, sacrifice, Filth, evil, Each idiot, with his special idiom. I knew a man, well-heeled in sadness, And you would be surprised. A stinkeroo he was, and as a guide Exceptionally dirty, a pestilence In his offensiveness. Victim, martyr, guilt, wereguilt, Debt, redemption (that...

Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven? Did I sing—too loud? But—I can say a little "Minor" Timid as a Bird! Wouldn't the Angels try me Just—once—more Just—see—if I troubled them But don't—shut the door! Oh, if I—were the Gentleman In the "White Robe" And they—were the little Hand—that knocked Could—I—forbid?