"ACID" BY: MARY OLIVER IN THE BOOK "DREAM WORK"

"ACID" - A POEM BY THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR POETRY - MARY OLIVER

"ACID"

IN JAKARTA,

AMONG THE VENDERS

OF FLOWERS AND SOFT DRINKS,

I SAW A CHILD

WITH A HIDEOUS MOUTH,

BEGGING,

AND I KNEW THE WOUND WAS MADE

FOR A WAY TO STAY ALIVE.

WHAT I GAVE HIM

WOULDN'T KEEP A DOG ALIVE.

WHAT HE GAVE ME

FROM THE BROWN COIN

OF HIS SWEATING FACE

WAS A LOOK OF CUNNING.

I CARRY IT

LIKE A BEAD OF ACID

TO REMEMBER HOW,

ONCE IN A WHILE,

YOU CAN CREEP OUT OF YOUR OWN LIFE

AND BECOME SOMEONE ELSE --

AN EXPLOSION

IN THAT NEST OF WIRES

WE CALL THE IMAGINATION.

I WILL NEVER SEE HIM

AGAIN, I SUPPOSE.

BUT WHAT OF THIS RAG,

THIS SHADOW

FLUNG LIKE A BOY'S BODY

INTO THE WALLS

OF MY MIND, BLEEDING

THEIR SOUR TASTE --

INSULT AND ANGER,

THE GREAT MOVERS?

BY: MARY OLIVER

FROM: THE BOOK "DREAM WORK"

COURTESY OF THE LOCAL LIBRARY