Adam Fieled (Logan Square, Philadelphia, USA): "To Jenny"
Shuffled into an order, shut down, shuttled
into rooms, tiny or cavernous, left befuddled
at how random the show is (as you know, it is
a show, nothing behind it), but still your wits
may get you through it, the deals, bargains, work
pushing pieces around, under two feet of murk—
now all this, world you see before you, of a city
beleaguered in uncertain years— physically flinty,
empty streets, bars, parks, stores, arrays displayed,
wares no longer needed, blouses, dresses, weighed
against investments more to the point: food, paint,
& City Hall never changes: both sublime & quaint.
You want it to be a stage: fit for a Mummer’s Parade.
You place the tiara on your head. Your eyes give shade.
They are good, your eyes, you picked them up somewhere.
The shock of Rittenhouse Square: people know you there.
What’s in your mind is that you are waiting: where’s the cue?
The footlights make a haze. You’re clear, sharp, see through.
The irresolute point of this is: I know not where it’s going,
either. Phoenix bird from ashes, Gabriel’s horn blowing,
I can’t see the telos, how you can own the stage rightly.
I only see the tension build, build, bleeding you nightly.
I learned how to stage manage a long time ago, learned
how to set stages generally. I’ll wait to see what part you’ve earned.
© Adam Fieled 2008
into rooms, tiny or cavernous, left befuddled
at how random the show is (as you know, it is
a show, nothing behind it), but still your wits
may get you through it, the deals, bargains, work
pushing pieces around, under two feet of murk—
now all this, world you see before you, of a city
beleaguered in uncertain years— physically flinty,
empty streets, bars, parks, stores, arrays displayed,
wares no longer needed, blouses, dresses, weighed
against investments more to the point: food, paint,
& City Hall never changes: both sublime & quaint.
You want it to be a stage: fit for a Mummer’s Parade.
You place the tiara on your head. Your eyes give shade.
They are good, your eyes, you picked them up somewhere.
The shock of Rittenhouse Square: people know you there.
What’s in your mind is that you are waiting: where’s the cue?
The footlights make a haze. You’re clear, sharp, see through.
The irresolute point of this is: I know not where it’s going,
either. Phoenix bird from ashes, Gabriel’s horn blowing,
I can’t see the telos, how you can own the stage rightly.
I only see the tension build, build, bleeding you nightly.
I learned how to stage manage a long time ago, learned
how to set stages generally. I’ll wait to see what part you’ve earned.
© Adam Fieled 2008
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