the return of the ring, the problem of the ring, in praise of uselessness, da/a-da
by Maxine Chernoff
[ poetry - march 04 ]
[the return of the ring]
a fault-based
approach
ends in a break-up
(of rituals
and rites,
their permutations)
did, for instance,
the parties
have
a hasty proposal
nothing
in common
hated in-laws
a hostile child
disagreeable pets
a view of what
went wrong
in the promise
makes us believe
in fairness & truth
(though Roman law
says
he gets
the ring - she
a penalty
for reneging-)
the rule of life
as rule of law
you break
it off
you lose
the gift
unless she's
at fault
(and leaving town)
which might mean
trickery
and cover
of night
(I picture Mae West
or a film
noir blonde
with sultry eyes
and a cash
register mind)
"give back the ring
get on with your life"
is common sense
(minus
insult & rage)
both parties
walk
away
from the scene
like dancers
who slump
after the dance
yet
we hope
to learn
from things
a lesson
transmuting
gold
into grace
[The problem of the ring]
[to give without falling prey]
even in refusal
a gift is destroyed
(history as amnesia)
to minimize betrayal
seek ingratitude
(says the seer)
"I give you a world
and emptied
I return it
a seeker of emptiness
my without is
not hidden
but beyond
being
beyond myself
and my fetters"
the gift is not
alms or begging
counterfeit or debt
orgiastic mysteries
replaced
by the null set
the nothing
the liturgies
of ambiguity
the magnanimity
of blind refusal
[in praise of uselessness]
to name
the unnameable
(sprach Zarathustra)
"you great star"
you who
give anything
of love
"though the artist withholds"
& the wise man
has no
personal friends
(his presence angelic
his face
honey)
so Zarathustra
tosses the ball
which is nothing
which is
values
& transvaluation
you, prophet,
squandering wealth
"with a thousand hands"
becoming a robber
in "bestowing love"
you give
that which you are
in owning
yourself
becoming
another
owning nothing
[da/a-da]
to take and
receive
in language
and space
a calling
of ancients
a root of gratitude
the ripe
ears of grain
("her snazzy
new Lexus")
so suitors invite
the sale of guests
the anger of gods
returns as destruction
at the sacred banquet
the feast the damage
the shapely urn:
each thing we build
we also break
