perceptions into the urbane

Life Studies                                       






1.


Hours stand around the clock
To be "struck"; yes, our time gets a little shorter
And we have a new bump or contusion
Or "hard knock" or two to show




2.


The cars stop and start up again
They are full of gas and shiny
And terribly expensive Look! in one second
Those two will crash, seriously injuring both drivers




3.


A game of chess is in progress
How precise and powerful the movement of the pieces is!
White is sure to mate in two moves
But no, he has bungled it




4.


Two boys are robbing a young man
One of them holds a knife against his throat
While the other takes his billfold and overcoat and umbrella
Now they hit him in the stomach with the umbrella




5.


We turn the pages of the book of poems
But our pleasure is short-lived: the poems
Are by a terrible poet For this
We have paid two dollars and forty-five cents!










                                                           Peter Schjeldahl






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