Perma Sonnet

 

Off on off on on on on on off on
the voice, the buzz when the ears close, the chords
flap, trip on the me-sign, signify? non-
person, whose name, writ(ten) on time, in words
not water, splits in ten in time, giving
pih-ee, tih-uh, rr-mm, ah-nn, ss-nn
(last nn syllabic, rr a tap in my
idiolect). Who gave time 's graces? Try
space: the Nebeneinander cleave, living
together's tough. Voice, place and mann
-er vie for mind's eye's fovea. Why? See this
brass/stone/sea mess with fire, melt/alter/boil;
this parchment burn; text's ashen light uncoil;
a mouth in space spread for infinity's kiss.

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First published in Mirage #4/Period(ical) #34, September 1994

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