Hymn

Leave the damn things alone. The turkey’s gone cold. Leave the damn things alone. beneath the canopy needled by drizzles, a woman stands. she has nowhere to go it is good to rain she has nowhere to go. The turkey’s gone cold. “am I supposed
to believe in love and happiness?” “if the turkey was brown and sizzling out of the
oven candles were lighted faces were chubby and red as boiled crabs hugs were tightly and longing, then it is o yes to love and happiness.” Leave the
damn things alone. beneath the canopy rain stops she has to go somewhere but where? “to hear the way you talk, I just want to drown my face in the tub.” “why don’t you dribble bubbles and foams drip down your soaked shirt and play the idiot while you’re at it?” hell, the turkey’s gone cold. there’s noah’s flood she was offered a place with pigs and chickens in the ark. She says no thank you I’d rather float my head face down. The damn things. Why are they there at all? “I can’t find them glasses! I can’t find them!” “So you lose them and you find them so you lose them one more time and again when will you ever learn?” there’s cold turkey
lain cold. she has nowhere to go she has to go somewhere is the rain to cease? Dear lord, the world wants punishment save the few as you please but don’t save me she prays. Leave alone. don’t touch don’t preach. keep your holiness to yourself. The turkey’s gone cold.

(2004)