Eileen Tabios
From The Ashbery Riff-Offs
—where each poem begins with 1 or 1-2 lines from “Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror” by John Ashbery
Witnessed in the Convex Mirror: Authenticity
False disarray as proof of authenticity—
one is tempted to snort. But there is much
to learn from assassins-for-hire, such as
the enforced dependency on others
to create rationale: an aggrieved person
(client), a target (target), and money
(price). The lesson is not about client
target or price but one of dependency:
a context where one is not in control
Disarray? It’s inevitable, but also false
before a bullet or an arrow or a missile
enacting their rationale with a trajectory
straight and non-discriminating. Any
ensuing disarray—tears, someone
becoming mere meat, glass shattering
perhaps another’s onset of relief—act
as evidence of the authentic, in this case
the murderousness of a kill. Now, what
fresh hell shall result simply when one
awakes? Perhaps you sit up from bed, turn
and lower your feet to the floor to insert
them into the waiting warmth of felt slippers
Perhaps as you stand, you crush the bug
that had slept under its found felt blanket
Perhaps as you walk towards the bathroom
you smear the bug’s corpse against a
wooden plank. As you perform your morning
rituals, there is no thought of the bug and
the small, russet painting its blood helped
create on the floor. This is your life: you begin
the day. To live is to wake. To live is to act
It’s out of your control: you enact authenticity
Eileen R. Tabios has released about 50 collections of poetry, fiction, essays, and experimental biographies from publishers in eight countries and cyberspace. Her most recent include The Opposite of Claustrophobia (Knives, Forks and Spoons Press, 2017) and Amnesia: Somebody’s Memoir (Black Radish Books, 2016). Forthcoming poetry collections include Mantattan: An Archaeology (Paloma Press, 2017). Inventor of the poetry form “hay(na)ku,” her poetry has been translated into eight languages. She also has edited, co-edited or conceptualized 12 anthologies of poetry, fiction and essays as well as served as editor or guest editor for various literary journals. More information is available at eileenrtabios.com.
SUBMIT to What Rough Beast via our SUBMITTABLE site.
If you want to support the mission and work of Indolent Books, consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Indolent Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity.
Join our mailing list to receive news, updates, and special offers from Indolent Books.