Michael Gottlieb
sections from Mostly Clearing
13
who knew
who talked
someone must
that dead man’s curve
that hairpin
where once
we spun out
perchance to persevere
to wait no longer
what its really like
thus
I refute you
house of tears
“it shall be the study of our life to make you happy”
if not who
if not when
if not here
if not us
14
newly arrived
at our shores
the king tide
at flood stage finally
that course of doubt
crashes collapsing
upon its own weight
we are free!
in our lifetime
the once stigmatized behavior
a business model
back then
contingent upon
chucking people over the gunwales
you are better than that
the unchaperoned concepts
now free to mingle
at ease
as you were
all good hosts
know
you can never
have enough
mixer
as we used to say
let your fingers
do the walking
15 AVAST MATEYS
another rower
in this galley
blithely stirring
the solution
chained to all that
a simple syrup
the indeterminate clause
the ever-thorny subject
inducing a reagent
as if
back then
we were
making deposits
at a fog bank
the once inexorable
against present value
what we keep coming back to
not forgot
never gone
16
what did
we have
to lose
what night terrors
gave way to
a backsplash
for our tears
channeling
all those
incautious effusions
‘spray and pray’
for so long
more than enough
what we wanted
before we knew it
the vain attempt
studies itself
in the rear-view mirror
he was the spitting image
wiped from the corner
of her mouth
these were all
fighting words
17
the decent hardworking folk
who people this land
have risen up before
fresh arguments
rested but untested
ranged among the embrasures
the knock-on consequences
we tried so long
to pretend
didn’t apply to us
where we came from
how we wanted
to be remembered
how we
make ourselves decent
the unmanned
who man the guns
ready or not
the return on
that starry coupon
these plighted
18
landing nearby
another
artlessly unaffected
schematic
a surprisingly tuneful
retort
whereas
willingly he submits
to your caresses
a foundational messaging
this destiny belief
inscribed upon each brow
it all eventually
is meant
to come out
in the wash
you too
look good
in white
a kind of summons
for us all
this call and response
may be monitored
I really liked the cut of your jib
19 DISAMBIGUATION WINS BY A NOSE
“it’s better than pie”
this grinding face
this distance qualifier
this shield phrase
a formerly irresolute
affirmation
at one time
content
to vote present
there are some things
we must evidently abjure
if we want
to face you
in the end
withal and within
the faintly luminous
fold of ridge
the front of the valley
grander than
altogether
disambiguation
wins
by a nose
20
a pass / fail
who can it be
who’s never
occasionally
found wanting
taking this
as it comes
we had to bend down
to make out
the almost inaudible sigh
who use to
teach to the test
as is our due
we pace
the streets
unrecognized
it didn’t matter
that it’s a cereal
we called it
Lust for Life
21
seated at a help desk
for the helpless
keeping the line open
abiding despite
daunting odds
they still apply
all the hoary admonitions
the incommensurately obdurate
those gems of misattribution
this
we hold close
that fondly
recalled breakfast
that unswerving belief
in untimely ends
“I miss
miss
you
dearly”
22 AN EYE-WATERING OPPORTUNITY
look smart
eyes right
we always thought
the question
was properly put
convincing ourselves
how much darker
it would soon grow
was always
so heartening
it’s not your fault
it never was
everyone
doesn’t
have to take
their medicine
23 THE SEMI-PERMANENT FIRMAMENT
it was just
those g-forces again
pooling
at our ankles
I thought
I saw
something
in you
this new notational system
no longer cut
on the conformation bias
if you can believe it
those beginnings
how we went about
living our lives
pretending there was
no duty of care
how lucky
are we
still
putting one
variable foot
in front
of another
24 LACHRYMOSE-INTOLERANT
the weight of the years
may try to hold you up
an unusual aversion
handling those princely sums
“they have decided
to go
in a different direction”
it sometimes
comes to this
for decades
a mis-heard
grain of refrain
one day
for some reason
you hear aright
for the first time
it is as if
we have all
suddenly become
lachrymose-intolerant
25
not just
a petty criminal
superficial too
jostling for a better view
restless and eager
a general release
a weekend pass
getting to yes
the poets’
vise-like grip
on that market
the derring-do
the carryings-on
the swimming costume
the unrebuked
there for the picking
our means and methods
lie close to the surface
anyone so inclined
can make them theirs
what
we are obliged
always to ask
are we
fit for purpose
where
we are prompted
to say
it was good to see you
we’ll wait here
I think
you should
have that
looked at
Further selections from Michael Gottlieb's Mostly Clearing will be appearing in issue #52 of Otoliths.
previous page contents next page
sections from Mostly Clearing
13
who knew
who talked
someone must
that dead man’s curve
that hairpin
where once
we spun out
perchance to persevere
to wait no longer
what its really like
thus
I refute you
house of tears
“it shall be the study of our life to make you happy”
if not who
if not when
if not here
if not us
14
newly arrived
at our shores
the king tide
at flood stage finally
that course of doubt
crashes collapsing
upon its own weight
we are free!
in our lifetime
the once stigmatized behavior
a business model
back then
contingent upon
chucking people over the gunwales
you are better than that
the unchaperoned concepts
now free to mingle
at ease
as you were
all good hosts
know
you can never
have enough
mixer
as we used to say
let your fingers
do the walking
15 AVAST MATEYS
another rower
in this galley
blithely stirring
the solution
chained to all that
a simple syrup
the indeterminate clause
the ever-thorny subject
inducing a reagent
as if
back then
we were
making deposits
at a fog bank
the once inexorable
against present value
what we keep coming back to
not forgot
never gone
16
what did
we have
to lose
what night terrors
gave way to
a backsplash
for our tears
channeling
all those
incautious effusions
‘spray and pray’
for so long
more than enough
what we wanted
before we knew it
the vain attempt
studies itself
in the rear-view mirror
he was the spitting image
wiped from the corner
of her mouth
these were all
fighting words
17
the decent hardworking folk
who people this land
have risen up before
fresh arguments
rested but untested
ranged among the embrasures
the knock-on consequences
we tried so long
to pretend
didn’t apply to us
where we came from
how we wanted
to be remembered
how we
make ourselves decent
the unmanned
who man the guns
ready or not
the return on
that starry coupon
these plighted
18
landing nearby
another
artlessly unaffected
schematic
a surprisingly tuneful
retort
whereas
willingly he submits
to your caresses
a foundational messaging
this destiny belief
inscribed upon each brow
it all eventually
is meant
to come out
in the wash
you too
look good
in white
a kind of summons
for us all
this call and response
may be monitored
I really liked the cut of your jib
19 DISAMBIGUATION WINS BY A NOSE
“it’s better than pie”
this grinding face
this distance qualifier
this shield phrase
a formerly irresolute
affirmation
at one time
content
to vote present
there are some things
we must evidently abjure
if we want
to face you
in the end
withal and within
the faintly luminous
fold of ridge
the front of the valley
grander than
altogether
disambiguation
wins
by a nose
20
a pass / fail
who can it be
who’s never
occasionally
found wanting
taking this
as it comes
we had to bend down
to make out
the almost inaudible sigh
who use to
teach to the test
as is our due
we pace
the streets
unrecognized
it didn’t matter
that it’s a cereal
we called it
Lust for Life
21
seated at a help desk
for the helpless
keeping the line open
abiding despite
daunting odds
they still apply
all the hoary admonitions
the incommensurately obdurate
those gems of misattribution
this
we hold close
that fondly
recalled breakfast
that unswerving belief
in untimely ends
“I miss
miss
you
dearly”
22 AN EYE-WATERING OPPORTUNITY
look smart
eyes right
we always thought
the question
was properly put
convincing ourselves
how much darker
it would soon grow
was always
so heartening
it’s not your fault
it never was
everyone
doesn’t
have to take
their medicine
23 THE SEMI-PERMANENT FIRMAMENT
it was just
those g-forces again
pooling
at our ankles
I thought
I saw
something
in you
this new notational system
no longer cut
on the conformation bias
if you can believe it
those beginnings
how we went about
living our lives
pretending there was
no duty of care
how lucky
are we
still
putting one
variable foot
in front
of another
24 LACHRYMOSE-INTOLERANT
the weight of the years
may try to hold you up
an unusual aversion
handling those princely sums
“they have decided
to go
in a different direction”
it sometimes
comes to this
for decades
a mis-heard
grain of refrain
one day
for some reason
you hear aright
for the first time
it is as if
we have all
suddenly become
lachrymose-intolerant
25
not just
a petty criminal
superficial too
jostling for a better view
restless and eager
a general release
a weekend pass
getting to yes
the poets’
vise-like grip
on that market
the derring-do
the carryings-on
the swimming costume
the unrebuked
there for the picking
our means and methods
lie close to the surface
anyone so inclined
can make them theirs
what
we are obliged
always to ask
are we
fit for purpose
where
we are prompted
to say
it was good to see you
we’ll wait here
I think
you should
have that
looked at
Further selections from Michael Gottlieb's Mostly Clearing will be appearing in issue #52 of Otoliths.
posted by mark young at 8:33 AM
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