}} Proxies |

Poetry at Sangam

SangamHouse

 










Proxies

Instead of showers,
there was a storm and instead of
lightning, there was a smokestack
through the sky.

Instead of a chair,
there was a table, and instead of
dinner, we measured the gauge of
a hole in the wall.

Instead of abstraction,
I had to pick something concrete, and
instead of a chair, I chose a table
but the table sat empty all night.

Instead of affection, I chose work,
and instead of working,
I sat in bed and complained.

Instead of bedding,
we took a bath, and
lightning struck the water tower
while we slept.

Instead of the table I went to the tower
and instead of striking
I slept in the weather.

Instead of concrete,
the sidewalk was paved with holes, and
instead of sleeping
I needled the night.

                        From A Machine Wrote This Song