BELLS
by gm
Gary Barwin
stars originate from
the same place as bells
what should I be thinking about?
apparently May 6th
is World Naked Gardening Day
if a school were a uterus
someone writes
the politicians would protect
the children inside
a cupped hand
a mouthful of water
snowball the shape of a hand
after 9/11 I remember writing
something sarcastic
intended to be Zen
a poem about not being able to find a sock
I pissed off the poet
George Murray
but I realize it’s true
anytime I’ve lost a sock
someone’s being shot
even when I haven’t lost one
once my son went with my in-laws and the rabbi
to the lake
Tashlich: dropping bread into water
casting off sins
why am I doing this
my son said don’t believe in it
what about making the world better?
the rabbi asked
yes my son said yes
my son and I
late autumn
walking under the golden leaves
on my desk
a stapler, paperclips, some books
laptop open to American news
