STEPHEN SANDY
Denial
Adam said Penelope was just in denial
that was all, we all understand;
her inability to think it was him
after all those years, the test of the bed,
consider all that business about
an olive tree, maids carrying the mattress
outside her door for the poor fellow.
Denial afflicts us all because
who wants to believe what has
happened happened and
nothing can be done even though
so many years have gone by and we
are completely different
and they are completely different
having fought all those battles and
lost all his men again and again
before losing his gear including
loin-strap and fleece jacket;
acclimated self to so many seductions
holding on through so many storms
sea salt in scrapes, in limbs bruised blue.
Conclusion
Musee des Beaux Arts
Icarus: his two white legs
sticking out of the
sea, making a victory sign.
