The Jester Speaks ... AGED 14

in one strange dream...

In one strange dream I saw you cry,

know I know I wonder why,
And when I ask you, ‘what is wrong?’
you ask me, ‘what is right?’,
'Fore I can answer I’m swept along
by these words that you recite -

“Its as though all life on Earth
had only just begun,
as though a myriad of lights
combined to make just one,

it’s as though I’ve been passing through
athousand million places -
Behold! I will corrupt your seed
& spread dung upon your faces”
*

In one strange dream I saw you cry,
what is it that you need?
‘Fore I could e’en wonder why,
you began to read -

“I want to know, I want to see -
Everything, 
Nothing.

I want to have, I want to be -
Everything, 
Nothing.

But all I know and all I see
and all I have and have to be,
Someone,
Something.

Only occasionally, in strange dreams
do I witness these extremes,
 When I am all and all is me
then I’m not here so I can see
that I am dead and I am free,

So I can have and I can be,
Everything, 
Nothing.

 So I can know and I can see,
Everything, 
Nothing."

[1988, age 14]

SILENCED

silenced

dull void of sleep between the dreams

won't you swallow all my schemes

won't you let me come into  
  

your silence

*

I built a boast of reeds and birch

to sail into your church

won't you let me come into     

your fire

*

now my boats a burning bush

she softly whispers,

"...shhhhh...."

I'm silenced

*


Josh, 08/2010