Vis-à-Vis

 

snarling friction point proves grace
grace makes her own ashes
ashes exist as jargon foregone
foregone pulses long-gone.
we each abide privileged seconds
seconds thread indolent crux
crux tightens vehement statute
statute defends dizzy regime.
drenched behind dull wheeze
wheeze rivets transient bliss
bliss held in rusted stars
stars wary and snarling.

 

Sam Barbee has a new collection, Apertures of Voluptuous Force (2022, Redhawk Publishing).  He has three previous poetry collections and is a two-time Pushcart nominee.