TRUTH IS ONLY A WORD (a collage poem)

     for Pat Nolan, Hunce Voelcker, Ellen Appel

First line says, and first line knows. 

And first line reasons why. 

On second thought, no on third line. 

Truth is only a word. 

Oh comfortable, a comfortable thought. 

The dog of the week spreads her paws 

like a chaise lounge and barks effervescent words, 

like bubbles that tickle the mouth 

and explode into multitudes, 

as prisms reveal the many colors 

that compose only one.

II. Stage lights blaze, blue poets 

read in green and red tights.

Words swirl, amplify, drift down.

All is lovely, and lithe.

But the mime forgets his lines, 

and was said to have committed suicide. 

An empty room.

III.Where did Hunce go? 

Ellen Appel questions, she questions.

Who was the white goddess we slept with?

She is the mock monster. 

She is here with you sipping a beer. 

Where did Pat go?… Hunce… 

Ellen questions the white goddess.

There, there. I sit next to her, sipping a beer. 

Her breasts fading like the foam. 

Frothy mouths, breathing deeply. 

As usual, I’m close to the end, and therefore

seeing the most, wishing to claim all. 

Late night cabaret, light bar 

still holds her hooded bulbs up. 

Bubbles up through the smoke, 

leveling the voice, leveling the line.

The last line is only to reason why. 

Truth is only a word.

7/13/1981, Garbo’s