Judson Jerome
UNCLE MORTIMER'S THEORY
Uncle Mortimer had a theory there 's nothing sacred
which he set out to prove
ate his way like a weevil
through family business law church the Masons and three
wives before I got to know him
I don ' t trust you
Uncle Mortimer I said and he said I had good reason
laughing and returning my pewter ashtray from
his pocket to the table
don 't turn your back he said
I like you
then get your hand out of my crotch I said
is nothing sacred?
I suppose that you're inviolate?
very nearly I said at least selective
values said
Uncle Mortimer philosophically are all
subjective you show me any real reason to
refrain from anything or for that matter to
do
anything I'll show you a game the rules
like fences in your head Blake's mind-forged manacles
he said blowing his nose on a flag he carried for that
purpose
I couldn't live without those fences I told him
more likely you couldn't die
I
have nothing
to
die/or
people are always making contracts you poets for instance
twist everything you want to say to make it fit
some arbitrary form people are always building
altars to sacrifice their Isaacs on people
are always organizing clubs to keep other
people out of always drawing boundaries
