Talk to Anna

(This poem was published may 2002, shadow voices)


Anna's conversation mixes respect and mockery so that
You can’t talk to her without also knowing
Her father, who loved to read and drink,
A man who broke free without running away.

There was a talking devil in her house.
Read Socrates and shudder when you know
The defeat of a thoughtful child's intellect.

There is delight in hard practice.
Much that you can do deliberately covers up
Having known a talking devil.
You can apologize when you are sarcastic.

She adored a twenty year old man.
He had mastered being young in grooming and talking.
The skills you once wanted are known to him.
I mean that he pretended to be exciting.

She is one of us; she wants friends and love.
She falters being with people.
She knew a talking devil.
She knew a pretending devil.


            Paul Anthony Hutchinson
paulanthonyhutchinson.com
pahutchinson@icloud.com