Excerpt from “A Rather Public Statement” by Tony Connors
Finally, let me assure those
Who imagine me lending a willing ear,
That my lopsided appearance
Is congenital,
And should not be interpreted
As a leaning
Towards anything
Other than the ground.
I don’t walk, I bounce
Only my subconscious is depressed.
My leanings so far resemble a see-saw —
The balance of years is shaky.
Reminiscence creeps up on me already
Like an unwanted cold in summer.
These lines were formed weeks ago
But a link in communication broke
Between my mind and my pen,
And they never got written.
(Like you I wrote letters instead)
I am breaking the ties
Between my childhood
And the new land.
The idea excites me.
A new perspective threatens to overtake
My carefully cultivated views of life.