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The Mailer Review/Volume 13, 2019/Always: Difference between revisions
The Mailer Review/Volume 13, 2019/Always (view source)
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looks down and sees Manhattan as Babel | looks down and sees Manhattan as Babel | ||
built on bedrock and whistling in the wind. | built on bedrock and whistling in the wind. | ||
He’d ingested descriptions of Gomorrah | He’d ingested descriptions of Gomorrah | ||
and vowed not to lie with the swine, | and vowed not to lie with the swine, | ||
an earnest but dubious intention, like a boy | an earnest but dubious intention, like a boy | ||
with webbed hands forswearing masturbation. | with webbed hands forswearing masturbation. | ||
Propped in confessional, coin-slot gypsy | Propped in confessional, coin-slot gypsy | ||
working Wakefield’s flock without effect, | working Wakefield’s flock without effect, | ||
his mechanical arm allotted dispensation | his mechanical arm allotted dispensation | ||
for sins that made ''his'' vitals ache, | for sins that made ''his'' vitals ache, | ||
''his'' collared understanding crave the light. | ''his'' collared understanding crave the light. | ||
How to counsel salesmen on fidelity, virgins | How to counsel salesmen on fidelity, virgins | ||
on the roots of desire? Other voices | on the roots of desire? Other voices | ||
had announced his calling, but the scream | had announced his calling, but the scream | ||
that tore the darkness was his own. | that tore the darkness was his own. | ||
So, in the Oak Room of the Plaza, surrounded | So, in the Oak Room of the Plaza, surrounded | ||
by dowagers waiting opulently on death, | by dowagers waiting opulently on death, | ||
his mind turns elegant perversities: | his mind turns elegant perversities: | ||
he is naked, bearer of bread and fishes, | he is naked, bearer of bread and fishes, | ||
plying a gospel of swift return. Offered | plying a gospel of swift return. Offered | ||
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it is always the living who are saved. | it is always the living who are saved. | ||
</poem> | </poem> | ||
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