these things do matter
for Nathan Brown, after reading Two Tables Over
1
the secret
is painting halfway
between irony
and compassion,
beautifully
lost so locals
with real jobs
who never forget
where they are
will have reason
to love
2
and if you hear a voice
say you’ve gone too far
if you get to religion
pass on
mysteries of love
that made a friend
die twice
empty another museum
of fear with some old story
or other
3
write it in a poem
of Yeatsian architecture
lyrically poignant
posturing
4
leave the house
see who happens to be
next to you
play words
by ear
leave trails of them
for birds still
learning to make love
Steven Schroeder, Chicago
Nathan Brown. Two Tables Over. Cheyenne, OK: Village Books Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9791510-9-5.