three poems from 'i see you on my arm'
1. Touch my eyes -
I shall see no evil.
Touch my ears -
I shall hear no evil.
Touch my mouth -
I shall speak no evil of the world.
Now touch wood -
A green leaf uncurls beneath your finger.
This is the kind of luck I wish you.
2. Behind my back
I make Paper -
You make steel.
Steel cuts Paper.
Behind my back
I make Stone -
You make Paper.
Paper wraps Stone.
Behind my back
I make Steel -
You make Stone.
Stone blunts Steel.
Paper and Paper are equal
Stone and Stone are equal
Steel and Steel are equal
Steel cuts Paper
Paper wraps Stone
Stone blunts Steel
With my hand behind my back
I make Rain -
Behind your back
You cup your hands.
3. I see you on my arm:
My arm of contention
My arm of indelicate action
My arm of disillusion
I see you on my arm:
My marrowed arm -
My arm of swastikas
My arm of evil, evil, evil
My arm of the predictable colour-
black.
I see you on my arm:
My weather arm -
My arm of hope
My arm of doubt
My arm of disarray
My arm of both the opening
and closing
I see you on my arm:
My arm of dust
My arm of death
My arm of earth, to earth.
I see you on my sleeve.
Page(s) 95-96
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