Thirteen

Thirteen

The wicked walk on every side

when the vilest men are exalted.

Today, the thirteenth, that's 

where I live, a place to forget, floor 

our regime's master says he won't 

build. "Shame if some thing 

               some things your

                              happiness."

Today's the thirteenth card, Death, 

from here I commune with the spirit. 

          How long will thou forget me, 

O Lord? how long will thou hide thy face

      from me?

Today I'm waiting for my big toe

to fall off or my heart to stop, my ears 

to clog, my shoulder to halt,

to the next world. 

               "Shame if something 

     happened to your longhouse, 

your potatoes, tomatoes, squash, corn."

How long shall I take counsel in my soul

having sorrow in my heart daily?

My neighbor has a hanger on her door

knob from the electric company. 

Her Scotties bark for relief. 

     "Be a shame if something 

happened to you, too, or happened 

          to your salmon, 

     happened to your buffalo, 

happened to your bad lands,

to lodges, streams, lakes, moose, 

               beavers." 

Hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine

eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.

My mailbox is empty. My script's ready.

My doctor's appointment's set, and I've 

ordered Depends cause there're no public

restrooms in Quincy. "Be a shame if some

                    thing 

          happened to your language, 

     your babies, your manitou."

I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart

shall rejoice in thy salvation.

I've got new socks though they squeeze

my toes tight and threaten the master,

too, his feet swollen in his two big shoes,

yet our lives echo the master. 

          "Be a shame if some

               thing 

     happens to your new hotel, 

new tower, new motorway, 

          new you."

Those that trouble me rejoice

          when I am moved.

I feel a cough coming on lack of breath,

of my daily bread, my empty belly,

my empty hands. The pine cones fall.

The train leaves the dock. All my cousins

dead like the thirteen tribes. Thirteen

colonies struck. Those who brought

cotton and cane forgot and buried.

                         "Be a shame 

if some thing happens 

     to your cherry

                    trees, rose garden, 

          arts centers, medicine."

I will sing unto the Lord, because he

hath dealt bountifully with me.

When they burn me in the oven, will my 

smoke join others rising to mix so many 

atoms aloft. Will my ashes join the soil 

or the Charles or the sea. What do I care. 

I'm happy to serve.

                    "Shame if something 

some things your

               happiness, too."

 

[assemblage]