by Doug Martin
LATE NIGHT WITH MANDELBROT
"Until fractal geometry became organized, my life followed a fractal orbit."
Benoit B. Mandelbrot
On the night before your late birthday, it is always necessary
to suggest a sorrow to the deer about to lose its life
to the bow of a farmer's daughter,
to the cauliflower sleeping sadly in aisles
in grocery stores across these states,
and to the mountains which are not cones,
but what you live for, after the astronomers name
a planet after you, after a fractal life.
After giving you
honorary membership in Ontario,
the United Mine Workers have all gone home
to their wives, the young boys in America
have all gone to die overseas.
On Soapography, two actresses are discussing
everyone's personal heaven, and in another room
you can hear a woman who is your dead mother
combing her hair in a doctor's smock in a dream,
as you wait in your chair for something complete,
as you wait for that last instant message from God.
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First appeared in Indiana English (Vol. 28, No. 2, Spring 2006)
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Oh, I love it, Doug! Those cauliflower sleeping sadly, the dead mother combing her hair. So lovely.
This is beautiful - such lovely simplicity combined with vivid imagery.
This is amazing. You should also post that one you got published in Lake Effect.
This is gorgeous!