Rae Armantrout

The Subject

It’s as if we’ve just been turned human  
in order to learn  
that the beetle we’ve caught  
and are now devouring  
is our elder brother  
and that we  
are a young prince.
 
        *
 
I was just going to click  
on “Phoebe is changed  
into a mermaid  
tomorrow!” when suddenly  
it all changed  
into the image  
of a Citizen watch.
 
        *
 
If each moment is in love  
with its image  
in the mirror of  
adjacent moments  
 
(as if matter stuttered),
 
then, of course, we’re restless!
 
“What is a surface?”
we ask,
 
trying to change the subject.

Other works by Rae Armantrout...



Top