A Litany of Requisitions.

A Poem by Joshua Lean

I never knew that I would own the world.

The dancing ire of the wind.

The ground under my feet and the sound of flapping wings.

They came to me as if bearing gifts.

Reminding me with outstretched palms that the hour had come.

When I must straighten every crease and fold my soul back in its box.

Lest I breach the terms of my lease.

With failing heart I bade farewell to the smoke and the wasps.

And thanked rain and moondust for days well spent.

Because one man will die and two will stand.

The earth will groan and tomorrow will fall.

But in this shaking river,give me your eyes

And tell me that all my illusions were real and all my passions genuine.

Tell me that I deserved my tenebrous days.

Tell me that my complacence was justified.

Tell me that I spoke enough.

Tell me that my words were good enough to pass as truth.

Tell me that I was of sound mind.

Tell me that I dreamt well.

Tell me that I was whole.

Tell me that I was a fine cook and that I put just the right amount of pepper.

Tell me that I could feign all the virtues I lacked,and I could feign them well.

Tell me I wore every vice to perfection.

Tell me that I had a kingdom of locusts and that I was a good king.

Tell me that I painted every dawn.

Tell me that I courted a pretty girl,maybe,even two.

Tell me that Emeke was good with his hands and that Caleb somewhere along the line learnt to speak french.

Tell me that I walked with all the gusto imaginable.

Tell me that I made the best of my hours.

Tell me that all the exams I failed were ridiculous.

Tell me that I remembered every name and every place.

Tell me that I owned a horse and that it was faithful.

Tell me that I had a leather jacket and that it smelt like arsonists’ hands.

Tell me that I never waited for time to tell or heal any wounds.

Tell me that I was the only one that could cause a face to smile or frown,so much so that I ran a monopoly.

Tell me that all my questions had answers.

Tell me that I got everything I wanted when I wanted so I never had to learn patience.

Tell me that when I was wrong I was wrong enough to be right.

Tell me that I had all the cakes I ate and had them whole.

Tell me I was the object of some desire.

Tell me that all the times it mattered,I combed my hair.

Tell me that I got rid of every dog,every last one.Tell me that I not only raised hell but I hired my own devils.

And that I was revered all the same.

Tell me that I danced every dance.

Tell me that I sang every song.

Tell me that I read every book.

Tell me that I planted every tree.

Tell me that I lived till there wasn’t much left to live.

Lie to me.

© 2013 Joshua Lean

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~ you are a phenomenal phenomenon... that's all i'll say... i speak less in my comments these days... but i do stick to the truth (the kind that is not open to interpretation but prevails at the level of a fact as in it can't be contested)...
~ thank you for sharing this incredible piece of poetry on this site...