Thursday, August 1, 2019

COURT WHISPERS


My father and God find a quiet corner
In the court of the last Ming emperor
To have a long discussion.
The courtier ghosts give them space
Convinced that to one of them
They owe their existence. Still,
The ghosts watch surreptitiously
God raises a spread-fingered hand;
My father cocks his head. (Some words
Entering from the right ear
Have meanings other than they would
When entering from the left.)
The courtiers will report to the Emperor:
God has urged some course of action;
Nat Silver is considering it.

No comments:

Post a Comment