The obsession to perfect brings to
focus nausea destitution selfish traits
with reckless ways, compound pains
beyond share an idea of completing
a lock jaw of the cognitions
to look what at what can be felt
in a morass even when alone at supper
measured slices of the moon
mourning for one year was enough
then felt easy without sweet food at breakfast
deaf to strains of music, without evening cushions
dressed for an alternative to indulgence
the active and contemplative life
moderated answered by years of mourning.
study that cannot accompany action
collaboration with construction
flowers concede to berries
concede to bird baths
wind rush blur of horizon
in this place thought without distance
the relation of compass and set-square
procedure as part of the process
held to discard the trivial
in favour of the twisty
a plumb-line swings in the half light
becomes that which always wavers
or wobbles in the calm of a fusion
an opera imploded diversion
Allen Fisher
Allen Fisher, proceeds from the garden, verso 5, after Dante, Paradiso, 2021