Never On The Moment Poem by Tom Courtney

Never, never on the moment
Have I spoken words so potent
traced my footsteps called to mind
scorched my memory tried to find

Just the perfect measure section
part of my whole predilection
Yet and yet I seem to falter
bloody-kneed before this altar

Imagine saying my conclusions
Falseness rightness, all confusion
Guide me forward steady me
Form the awful remedy

Now that turns me to the womb
Nor could I but choose this tomb
Or want this shredded bones and flesh
and find me heaped upon the trash

I warned me never take the step
but I was proud or blind – inept?
I was caught up in some history
water flowing deepening mystery

Blackened muddied I must be clever
or I’ll be speechless now forever
I’ll tremble, screech and cry and quiver
but then I’ll stand and so deliver

From deep within these hallowed words
a poetry of lurid curds
of sodden grasses rotten logs
of steaming passions mighty bogs

To surmise what is everlasting
through the sowing, reaping, thrashing
Churlish words for tender ears
for timid heart and blinking tears

And I at best can only tell
such a story very well
The truth of it is up to you
for conscience dictates what is true

And you will say I think I see
if in fact he spoke of me