Perfection
With the Dutch precision of an old master
or the concentration of a tool
with no soul
perfection is possible. It may be
photographic realism
or an edge so sharp
it bleeds. It may be an aria
that flies, or a cadenza straight
from the subconscious fingers of a soloist
whose bow is strung with lightning.
For those who never come close
the consolation lies
in the journey; the lifelong meditation
or daily discipline
on the yoga mat as the limbs
become liquid and flow
through the poses without ever
moving far enough east
to slip through the knot
and leave the body behind.
David Chorlton is a transplanted European, who has lived in Phoenix since 1978. His poems have appeared in many publications online and in print, and reflect his affection for the natural world. His newest book publication is Shatter the Bell in my Ear, his translations of poems by Austrian poet Christine Lavant.
Amethyst Review 