Big Black Lonesome
// Elizabeth Savage
is a cross between regret for the buck
dead out of season and the ripe old
age poisoning the streams
you fish all night soaking
a young man’s clothes. It is the expression
“a cross between” caught
from a lazy grown mind
that would suture the world
cast in the comfort of its own
vocabulary. You don’t want
ever to be frightened in the woods
noise is not important
but they have something for you, kid
Listen, you ever been crazy? You’re better
off not thinking about it. Rule
the spirit and take the city
the bad part and the part that is worse
will wait for you, restless —
mix it up with being lonesome
God won’t mind if you get off
his lap, favor culture
over religion. Pick out somebody
you never lie to. Know wounding
after all is really only an accident
Talk quiet
everything’s got its compensations