The Well

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 0 W W W. T I K K U N . O R G T I K K U N 79 POETRY The Well 1 Whatweclimbdownintoistheecho ofourselvesonthewellshaftstairswinding backuptomeetus.Butmorethanthattoo, areckoningthatbringsusdown throughthehardmiddleofthings,myrantingfoul andoverblownreboundingoffrockwalls ingutturalsandgrowls.Andastheworldblowsup beyondus,weoverhearCitizenCope leakingfromourgirls’headphones, There’sabattlegoin’onwaydownsouthofBabylon— settingupitsownreverberations climbingtomeetusstumblingdownthespiralstair tothepoolsoclearthatatthefinalturn wealmoststepoffintothewater. 2 Soldiersnolongersoldiers,theircamouflage spreadouttodryonbushesandtrees, theyliedowninthefield,strippednaked tothesun.Goodbones,goodbodies, theylookreadytogetwrecked, lettingitallhangoutintheheart-wound throbbinglatenightsinthediscotheque. Whatwouldn’tlovedotorunmouthandhand overthattanning,sweatingflesh? Justthinkhowithappensbetweenmeandyou, swimmingupthroughtheclearestwater toofferusapromiselikethepromise ofthesaintwhoclaimedonesipwouldcure thewoundedbeforeaswordranhimthrough. 3 Thepoolstirstoptobottom,thecointumbles downatmospherebyatmosphere untilthestairsswimoutfromunder turningmystepsweightless—hownottofeel thejudgementdisguisedinuniforminthestreet, bothtimorousanddeliberate, asifallthebloodiedheartcoulddo initsnecropolisofgestures waswanderamongtombpictures half-effacedbysmokeandmildew. ButwhenIseeyourface,itsperplexedstare floatingnexttomine,Iknowwe’vegonetoofar evertoturnback—andfeelsuchfatalbuoyancy thatblindfaithinourfearmakesmewalkonair. —TomSleigh Jumps_1:Jumps 6/1/10 5:53 PM Page 79 ...