Cemetery Road
 

Catch the crows with their
bugles on the elms above
the Jewish corner. A car rolls
its window down, asks me
whether I’d like to find a map
book. The street lengthens,
drags me by footballers bagging
each other in their brown
and yellow jerseys to topless
or muddy. They roar at the
tenements. Tenements switch
on bathroom lights, search the
skip for light globes or circuit
boards. The Spanish Eighth
looks up at the television, drops
its liquor. Johnston Street East
dodges its taxi fare, kisses a
leather jacket with its pine
record player. Carlton Draught is
forever curry. Belly loses my book
shop alms. Steal a croissant. Beards.
The woodcutters are playing blues
rock at the Labour in Vain. His fore
arms put a full nelson around
Burma’s neck for a TKO. My koan
is therefore something between
the ascetic and the semi-trailer.
Know that an exchange attends any
correspondence opened on the matter
of the koan. There will be no time to share
objects or make sudden gestures towards
whomever you might call master or
guide. No time. He is shaking his brain.
Bartenders fall out of his clonic head.
Clubbed by the armed joggers. During
the day they arm only with mantras
around the cemetery spirits.

State Library
 

Being in the locker room of
the State Library requires me
to happen upon someone. Someone
in the State Library is required for
me to happen upon them in the locker
room. The locker room of the State
Library is somewhere I am required
to happen upon someone. Someone is
required to be in the locker room of
the State Library if I am to be required
to happen upon them. The State Library
is required to have a locker room for
this someone to be happened upon and
for me to be required to happen upon them.
The locker room is required to be in the
State Library for me to be required to happen
upon a required someone. To be required to
happen this someone must be in the State
Library to which the existence of a locker room
has at one point or another attended. Being
there is required of the locker room. Happening
upon is required of this someone. Enclosing the
locker room is required of the State Library. Happening
is required of me. Found to be happening.

©Corey Wakeling