I hide here in my private cellar
Ich bin der hellenkeller
Banners flapping in the wind: my ears at half-mast,
ever banned from hearing the world’s sighs,
they do make handy pegs though in this square boxed earth
to perch my lead spectacles upon
to keep all the winds from off my eyes,
to keep out all the brightest lights,
to keep my fingers finally free,
two fingers clutching my testicles,
two fingers pinching my penis closed,
right thumb a-plugging my anus,
left hand chain-linked across mouth, across nose
to keep the breath of wind inside,
to keep from reaching out
of hands or breath or sound or mind
into this our spectacle of hope or rage.
.
Duane Vorhees
.