The Height of the World
(for Mark)
You have the capacity to feel each microscopic injustice
To dwell on it, to make their pain your own pain
To force the horror your eyes see through processes, revisions
That you can do this and create optimistic work is a staggering thing
Your dichotomy is in this sensitivity; this gaping vulnerable heart inside brute body
With the capacity to kill, to kill
At points I imagine the scale of the pain twists you
It becomes agony
Only in your pursuit of harmony does nature relent her burden, lower her guard
Then you become part of her and the blood on your hands is forgiven at last
At these points you become non human - part fish part bird
Keep your hope, for your path is truly the height of the world