by Spencer Eckart
On Purpose
Why is it that all things beautiful
scatter under observation?
Each of us carries this secret,
that we're so in love
with the whole terrible mess,
that if asked to trade places
with anyone, we wouldn't.
I don't know if that's what God is,
a mechanism for creating a moment
that is so deeply meaningful
that it forgets and remembers itself
infinitely and forever.
I am so sure
that whatever I am
is having this experience
on purpose—
and one day,
it's going to kill me.
I Am a Verb Without a Subject
We have every reason to be afraid. Our bodies are rapidly deteriorating. All evidence points to a singular end to ourselves and everyone we've ever loved. And yet, some ancient voice inside me says, "Do not be afraid," and so I am not. We will meet again as new creatures, unpeopled. So it says. There's something I was trying to remember about wanting, but it slips away when I look right at it. I take my bitter medication. It tastes like what it is.
The Truth
I am the animating force
Housed inside me
all the planets
In a word
authenticity
is the only religion
I refuse to use the word
crestfallen
We are all the same thing
Everything is one thing
Saying it isn't enough
Sometimes I wonder
if knowing it is
Wolf Supermoon in Cancer
I just moved here like 7 years ago
I bought a ticket
in spite of everything
This is what I mean
Life makes everyone crazy
And what the fuck is playing it cool
Everything is a beautiful miracle
~
Taking the scenic route
through a graveyard
Little gusts of wind
sending up leaves
like hurricane
Full moon
cradled by black clouds
Another ford pickup truck
barrels past
I am who I am
but who's that again
****
Spencer Eckart’s debut collection, BLUE HERON INN, is available now from Hesse Press.