Long Way Wrong

Long Way Wrong
For George Oppen

1

Wrong way all along.

Who could say it?

"Confess."

What is expected tends to forget
Its own expectedness

Thus it disappoints

And we forget what
The fuss about confessing
Ever meant.

2

Suggestions, limit one per complaint

"Confess now, before my temper is
Gone for good."

So.

If something lost, to be found,
Must seek presence
And foundedness
We lost already the way we sought
And backwards we must go forever.

3

"Jesus wept."

Tissue paper for under a dollar.

Have you
Your face
On currency found?

One must be mad to think such things.

"Or brilliant."

But often I hope
That as in all difficult moments,
We tread the turbulent currents of numbers
In solitude

With vigorous ease

And weep.

4

"Perfect" is more than a word.

It's a curse

Like "Man" or "Woman" or "In" and "Out"

And without a single doubt in mind
I shake.

"Too late."

For whom?

5

Difficulty continues
To be our national shadow

To beat or be beaten

Holding sway

"Pride is a sin best punished by death."

So it is.

6

Napalm precipitates
Without our knowing
Without our understanding
That "Napalm" is more than a word in a poem

It is not understanding.

"Conflict, you mean?"

Perhaps that's what I mean.

But still I hope that what we mean
Will one day be clean

Enough to hold sway

Instead of that casual grin.