This poem is-- we talked about in this class today.
It's almost called "Gold Leaf."
Despite what a reviewer said, which
is that it's all one extended sentence,
it's actually one extended fragment.
I hate it when reviewers don't know
the difference between a sentence and a fragment.
It's like the people who confuse grammar with syntax.
No.
So, yes.
What can you do?
Throw the magazine to the ground.
"Gold Leaf."
"To lift without ever asking what animal exactly it once
belonged to, the socketed helmet that what's left of the skull
equals up to your face.
To hold it there, mask-like.
To look through it until looking through means looking back.
Back through the skull into the self that is partly the animal
you've always wanted to be.
That, depending, fear has prevented
or rescued you from becoming.
To know utterly what you'll never be.
To understand, in doing so, what you are, and say no to it.
Not to who you are.
To say no to despair."
Seems a good thing these days to say no to despair.
Hard, but good to try.