Bad Examples

The bad examples of obscure philosophers
and the shadows of old session-men
pass fondly through quiet studios
wondering how they held that rhythm
and speech or stopped that thought

Hanging on the wall there’s
an engraving of old Venice that
looks like a beached whale

They all shuffled their talents
as if they were dealers at poker
those ancient merchant seamen
with their eyes always on the opposition

They passed through libraries
caressing spines with embossed titles
but those see-through eyes
couldn’t open a single book

The words stayed stubbornly
in the allotted places
never to share their bitter flavours

Maybe I am a replicant
and so these memories bright as tulips
are really made of plastic?


Grant Duncan 25.5.09