Between attention and attention
The first and last decision
Is mortal distraction
Of earth and air.
Further and nearer.
The vague wants
Of days and nights,
And personal error;
And the fatigued face,
Taking the strain
Of the horizontal force
And the vertical thrust.
Makes random answer
To the crucial test;
The uncertain flesh
Scraping back chair
For the wrong train.
Falling in slush.
Before a friend s friends
Or shaking hands
With a snub-nosed winner.
The opening window, closing door,
Open, close, but not
To finish or restore;
These wishes get
No further than
The edges of the town,
And leaning asking from the car
Cannot tell us where we are;
While the divided face
Has no grace.
No discretion.
No occupation
But registering
Acreage, mileage.
The easy knowledge
Of the virtuous thing.