of course | Louise Akers

of course

intellect craves​​ 

meticulous ablution, soft applause at the reception​​ 

of the metaphor you thought of

for regime change.​​ 

and the distinction of one regime​​ 

from another may depend on current, length of interval,​​ 

unlapsed ventilation and the possibility​​ 

of sheltered egress.​​ 

it’s the tiny things that constellate, well,​​ 

network, i.e.​​ 

the lately observed impulse of an elm​​ 

to fortify her close and greener kin.

impulse like the paris opposite​​ 

a precinct, like a corollary of running, mutual​​ 

pleasure—​​ 

but while the better metaphor may be mycelial,​​ 

what can we do with grammar? voice is just​​ 

a metaphor for stimulus—​​ 

the rushing interval—the likelihood​​ 

that i turn/am turned again​​ 

toward you.​​ 

(the turn:​​ impulse into​​ pulsepulse,​​ 

and the ethic​​ 

of forgiveness finds its context, sits​​ 

uncomfortably there,​​ 

like the feeling of a shape i’m pressed against​​ 

but can’t imagine, the question​​ 

deflected by my eagerness​​ 

to stay.)​​ 

an august like​​ 

a studio, a copse retaining​​ 

heat and light despite​​ 

it’s listless spread, and any shape​​ 

therein elides—again, the rushing​​ 

interval—and blood​​ 

from what was once​​ 

a​​ perfect welcome soaks through​​ 

and through an aorist please stay.