Sunday, May 17, 2015

77


Henceforth I will more admire Thee by Thy sufferings. When the plural of suffering is not itself. The “s” is not superfluous or fluid as this morning's rain, helicopter buzz behind gray cloud(s). When is the plural singular? Radhika yelled “traffics!” from the back seat. Next to Hotel Street, a man sits on a slab of cardboard, resting his back against brick; his clothing is as white as his beard. Twenty paces past, I see his eyes in a woman's face, turned toward the triangular park. It's one thing to see, another to be witnessed. My gaze, gaza'd.

--17 May 2015

3 comments:

Janet said...

Sufferings are all one? vs, singular pluraled--his suffering is all ours. oh, back & forth. gaza'd gaze is good. Nice twist from Radhika in the back seat to sits, resting his back. You could do more on "traffics!" Keep keeping your eye on the homeless...

susan said...

Yes I'm sure I've written about "traffics" before in another context. I knew then that my daughter was not a patient character!

Karen said...

Not quite but a little OT: have you read the book Behind the Beautiful Forevers - ? on one of the many slums in India. Incredible, and I feel you're writing the Hawaiian, poetic version.