Look Over Me
for Merle Haggard
I’ve got a mind to see the internal world
as those felt and faithful places
ready for the restless form towards grace
the acceptance
of the inaudible male tames the cede from stakes
assumes the cause is free
since it turns to closeness and is overcome
in the broad outshine of the small town
together as it is
as together they dance and promise
to task the boundaries
as together they sing me back home
—Jordan Stempleman
As the Perfumist Goes on Attacking What Cannot Defend
“So much depends on recognitions
and misrecognitions—noticing, rethinking,
identification—identity and
mistaken identities—pairings and partings.”
—Tom Beckett
this growing and endless speech frees itself at next take
gathers the further step past the loss of remains
from the generous
from the awaiting when offered
never to become the native and irrational place again
but those untended places
folded to know they were here
uncertain and no longer materials out there otherwise
out looking for their own
—Jordan Stempleman