THE OBJECT AND THE BODY

It sits within my palm and fingers,
there is a feel.
With a flick of the thumb
there is a sound
and a smell.
With a flick of the thumb,
there is a sound
and a sight.
With a flick of the thumb
there is a sound.
It sits within my palm and fingers,
there is a feel.
I place it on the table—away from my body,
there is a sound.


This poem appeared in Muse of Fire,  October 1997.