End To End Poem by Kurt Philip Behm

That first book
That last book
That next book
That other book
Beginning and ending in the middle
—they all turn out the same

The first book
The last book
The middle book
The forgotten book
Memory plagues that already said
—only to be said again

The first book
The last book
The borrowed book
The successful book
Images recreated
—as words jump page to page

The first book
The last book
The closing book
The memory book
An orchestra calls a final waltz
—its conductor off the stage

The promised book
The distant book
The transforming book
The forever book
Sameness trapped a clone of time
—as difference strikes again

That finished book
That published book
That famous book
That holy book
All critics choking in the dark
—light burning end to end


(Villanova Pennsylvania: February,2014)