How Lyrical? Poem by RIC BASTASA

she chops what should have been
seen as a straight line, and we who believe in her
think that there is something strange

i think, deep in my heart that
it is ugly, but those that surround me

believe that what she does like the way she
holds her glass, putting red wine in it, and spitting out

something bitter, is lyrical...
'this is art' she says,

i am attuned to something direct and clear and logical,
and i stand up and say

'that is the ugliest thing that i have ever seen
and i am telling you
i detest it, i dislike it'

i leave, and i tell the world that there is something wrong
with her.

the world claps its hands. the people bowed.
they say, she is beautiful and everything she does, no matter what,

like her spitting at me,
is beautiful, a work of art, a mark of history.

i sit here asking still some questions to my hands.