BY DR. AGONSON
I see how clearly I should see,
but still I look away.
To be’s a frightful thing to be.
I want to run but stay.
And bare, more naked soul, there’s none, than when I write.
We have black blood of ink and hearts of paper white—
The last, another gift: sometimes a true insight.
So stab the pen into my veins!
The nib will reach my heart.
The coming joys and coming pains,
each shall play their part.
Heads or tails? Joys or pains? Left or right? Man and wife.
Exquisite is this now, and terminal this life!
Refine my tongue for truth and make your surgeon’s knife!
This poem was inspired by a conversation I had with Spencer Askew. We were talking about my new book: While the Elephants Danced
Tale Told 