Erica Jong - Paper Cuts

Erica Jong - Paper Cuts

Endless duplication of lives and objects.... br -Theodore Roethke br br I have known the imperial power of secretaries, br the awesome indifference of receptionists, br I have been intimidated by desk & typewriter, br by the silver jaws of the stapler br & the lecherous kiss of the mucilage, br & the unctuousness of rubber cement br before it dries. br br I have been afraid of telephones, br have put my mouth to their stale tobacco breath, br have been jarred to terror br by their jangling midnight music, br & their sudden blackness br even when they are white. br br I have been afraid in elevators br amid the satin hiss of cables br & the silky lisping of air conditioners br & the helicopter blades of fans. br I have seen time killed in the office jungles br of undeclared war. br br My fear has crept into the paper guillotine br & voyaged to the Arctic Circle of the water cooler. br My fear has followed me into the locked Ladies Room, br & down the iron fire stairs br to the postage meter. br br I have seen the mailroom women like lost letters br frayed around the edges. br I have seen the Xerox room men br shuffling in & out among each other br like cards in identical decks. br br I have come to tell you I have survived. br I bring you chains of paperclips instead of emeralds. br I bring you lottery tickets instead of poems. br I bring you mucilage instead of love. br br I lay my body out before you on the desk. br I spread my hair amid a maze of rubber stamps. br RUSH. SPECIAL DELIVERY. DO NOT BEND.


User: PoemHunter.com

Views: 1

Uploaded: 2014-11-10

Duration: 02:07

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