More Poems by PoTai


                  The List     (written in 2007)

I came upon a list called DO

that seemed to be a great show

of those who lost the battle with insanity

but won over by their vanity.

Now I swear to those sharing the fate

that DO is poetry incarnate.


Boasters running amok

saying "you've all the luck

to listen to such a humble one as I

and if you don't you'll surely fry

in the oven's God has for those who are impure

so hop in the showers before you die."


Jesus came seeking his family

all dressed up for the part

with robes for all who can't see

well enough to know who he art

who he claims to be.


The prevaricating purveyors of perfect obedience

shouting that humility is the only way

to avoid the death sentence

and to "spare oneself such a loss

follow me and I'll be your under-boss"

which really means that "I am your leader...

under God, of course, he's superior."


Among the gaggle appears Robby Browning re-incarnate

who'd married Nut, like unfortunate men orate

lost the ability to write poetry

even in the frequent excursions deriding PT

who enjoys writing horrible lines like these

admittedly proving Browning can't be he.


Two Dewey's don't mean schizophrenic

both proclaim cooks of a wisdom-picnic

and one or the other takes great offense

when the crowd has lost all common sense

in not understanding who's Luciferian

saying he's a heavenly vegetarian

who got a bum rap from the secretarians.


Like life and all words of wisdom

bad prose must die in utmost confusion

hoping to show forth the comedy

in pathetic lives that would be misery

if they couldn't be talked about poetically




Before the Mirror


Before the mirror there is.

In the mirror is an image

of that which is

is known.


Has there a need?

for the image to be?

No, the image never is

nor will be

but is just an image

by which

we are seen.


Who is the seer?

And who is the known?

Not the image

but we

me

who is before

the mirror.


We can't see our own

face

but by the mirror

that we fail to know

yet worship

as if the

image

is before the mirror.


We are the joke

and the joker

who worships

the world

as if the joker

is off somewhere else

except the one

before the mirror.


That day will come.

It will be

when we

me

comprehends

the one

only one

before the mirror.


I came to see

and to comprehend

the mirror

who is after me

And who took me in

with it's reflection

the image

the beast

that is not

yet is

before the mirror.


And it is wonderful

perfect

because I understand now

a little more

about what is

before the mirror.


I can tell

the best jokes

to myself

because I am the one

who comes to

comprehend

what the joker meant.


The mirror

is my creation.

So that I

won't have to be alone.

I am

before the mirror

and at the same time

in it.


But now

I need to get clear

realize

which is really

me

Stop my foolishness

my infatuation

with the image

in the mirror.


And go on

to dream

a new dream

that is better

more wonderful

than I've imagined

thus far.


Life is wonderful

more than I imagined

for today

I imagine anew

wonderful

so that

I might

find life

that I always had

and have

but sometimes

didn't know.


The mirror

is good

even though

I created

monsters

beasts

that I saw in it.


For now

there is

only

one

that is

was

and will be

before the mirror.


The ego

that puffs up

that says

'I am God'

is foolish

in saying that

because

it's just in the mind

I am alone

in worshiping myself

like all beasts do.


Who will worship me?

Asks the beast

None except

me

and in doing that

it's the image

that is seen

and not known

as if it's real.


It isn't

real

It's an image

that came after

the one

before the mirror.


Life after Church


Is there life after I leave the church?

asked the little girl.

Yes, there is life

before and after

said the father.


But after church, what will become of me?

Asked the little girl.

You will be

like you always have been

said the father.


But I am worried that I am lost!

exclaimed the little girl.

Why?

Don't you trust me?

asked the father.


But my friends, they say I am lost!

exclaimed the little girl.

Who will you believe?

asked the father.


Will you lead me?

Asked the little girl.

I have been doing that

all along.

said the father.


But, I am afraid.

exclaimed the little girl.

Be not afraid.

said the father.


What will I do now?

Asked the little girl.

I will lead you, just like I've always done.

said the father.


Why did you lead me to the church?

Asked the little girl.

So that you might understand

said the father.


Shall I leave the church now?

Asked the little girl.

That's for you to decide.

exclaimed the father.


For now, it's time to grow up

from being a little girl.

And find the life

that was meant for you

explained the father.


I will still lead you

and go before you

in life

that you might know

and understand

and live

joyously

forever

and be

like me.

said the father.


What I have

is yours

and it's always been so

and will always be.

said the father


You don't yet understand

but you will

comprehend

and be

as I am.

Be not afraid

for I am here

as I've always been

Just for you.

said the father


When you grow up.

I will be here.

Like I've always been

here

before and after

always.

said the father.


And you and I will

share the joy

that is ours.

said the father.


In the Garden


Eve went and ate nine figs

And made an apron of nine leaves

All that seemed to rise up

maybe better if she'd heaved.


She dreamed she'd been enlightened

But maybe she was had

because she still proclaims

that none of it was sad.


Adam looked upon Eve

Decided he couldn't do without

So he too ate those nasty figs

He too began to shout.


Both were booted from the Garden

Out to the dreary land

And now they go about

Stamping in the sand


Adam looks upon Eve

With those eyes of desire

Trying to get that apron off

That to Eve is strongly mired.


And the two of them went to create

a multitude of children

The men act like father Adam

Chasing their women


Nine days do they mourn

two more than the seven

that appeared to be enough

to create their heaven


Could creation ever meant

to bind Adam so tightly?

That's ok, he's convinced

that he lives rightly.


Maybe if he upchucked those figs

nine of them in all

and put off those nine leaves

to be free of the Fall.


And see what it really means

this metaphor he lived

he'd understand what it is

that the serpent give'd


It wasn't life at all

but death that he embraced

it was an image in the mirror

a illusion he faced


It was a dream he fell for

could be a great mistake

it was nothing real

it was completely fake


Now is the time to wake up

Time to look beyond what seems

And see the real Adam

who stands beyond the dreams.


And to laugh heartily at the joke

that he played out so seriously

when he failed to see

the hidden mystery.


It's an act, Adam!

An act that you believed was true

And now is time for a new dream

a greater one, anew.


And Eve will come along

back to the garden again

where she was in the beginning

before that former sin.


Nine figs in all to eat again

and nine leaves for a sign

Now a new dream to get lost in

But a better one this time.


It will get much better

than what it ever was

because it goes around again

it's what Adam does.



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