Instruction

Were you surprised to learn
that you could swap
an ‘i’ for an eye,
and ‘a’ for an apple?

That’s the lure.

Later, you may
want to pray.

*

You may be left
to think your way
from moment to moment

without being told
what a moment is,

if it’s something solid.

*

The mad hear language
speak itself
and are humble before it.

They receive instruction.

*

The child in her crib
turns her head restlessly,
says, ‘aaah, aaah’
like an engine left running.

Ceremonial

They change arsenate
to arsenite
and back. They
pant.

*

To capitulate
is to give in;

to recapitulate
is to repeat
in brief.

*

Fuchsia shadow;
dangling beads.

This
is my
body,

          which

*

They pass one
atom
between them:

‘Take and eat.’