The Mind’s Eye (poem)

The Mind’s Eye

Poured into America

Through parting industrial fog of moist

Over fen of broken fill still an alternative

To the unwelcome choice

For second rankers rags

Clothe well enough and rainbows of all stripes

Enchant condemn the love of color if you must

Polluted strata layered between spheres

Wash bands across the day for toilers here

Breathing or with lungs oppressed

Sunless disappointment the poison expert walks

Neurons tell the story of a factual white cat

A reasoned white cat winks from her windowsill

Where fingers cannot prove her real

But a mythical white cat to the mind’s eye looks as good

The psyche keeps its store to rummage in

The you that you believe to be you

Then had been

The toe your sailing gait went stubbing

Go alone with your enthusiasm to the leaf burst and mist beading

Imagination’s slumlord court order bearing

Means to doze away your sentimental rubbish

Leaving a common shaft of lowered status

The Mind’s Eye

Rattus

(2018, Stephanie Foster)