RIC S. BASTASA

because the past is rude
and always angry
at me i also learned to be
one like it

it is always the anger that
energizes me
and day by day the anger grows
and spreads to every layer of
my skin
to every nerve
to every cell of my body


i do not look in the mirror
to see my anger that burns me
it will be too
frightening

time knows
it always knows what to do with anger

somehow there is another angle to anger
something that negates it
consuming nature

it makes an island
that is sufficient upon its own resources

it has strong trees
white sandy shores
virginal in its decision for isolation


one day a visitor comes asking to stay
for a while

all it can see is the goodness of the place
the peace of its isolation
the fertility of its
suppression.