The Secret Lives of Things

I am thinking of
the lives of Ferris wheels
and how the world revolves
because of the dream
of a barber sleeping
in his chair.

My meditations are such.

Now I am thinking
about the arguments
of scissors
or the disclosures
of curtains
or the epics of children
playing in clouds of pollen.

Have you ever thought
if somewhere there is
a librarian who only falls
in love with men named
Dewey?
or if stairs
contemplate the meaning
of varying degrees of
footsteps?

Maybe not.

I once over heard the deliberations
of empty rooms wondering what
they can do to dwell more consciously
in the spaces they enclose,

and eavesdropping, I've listened to
the murmuring of windows
trying to be less vulnerable
to the gaze of strangers.

This world is filled with such things.

Like the time I was involved
by accident
in a contest of streets
everything was moving underneath me.
or being accused by a debate
of church bells for not
believing
in the providence
of empty chairs.

Have you ever wondered
about the dreams of hats
or the tragedies of suits?

Or more importantly,
the secret lives of your fingers?
How they remember your life
in small gestures like the path
of stars displayed in a child’s hands?

I have.