Excerpt from philosophy grad school

A poem by Penel Alden 

IScraping and rubbingThumbs pressingCounter-directionalAgainst forefingerOn colophon corner and versoDedication corner and versoCreaking forest growthTress groaning under the pressureOf the otherIIConference, and start all over again.Narcissism beyond pride,Beyond the pale flappingOf leaves.Opening from behind,The pressure of thumbs breakingThe paper’s surface,Wet with saliva,Tongue pressed,Slow, anxious, water drop pagesOpening from the rear places,The blank unread places.Seeing, no, imposing self thereIn that textured ivory.Pressed so close togetherAnd cracking at the seams.Face in the waterMoving over the waterOver the face of the waterIIII read somewhere of a passion,A hot welding of living sculpture,Story on the leaf,No, on the page,Black and white—tight formed.Trained hands these textsTrained eyes these wordsWe are bent downReading the sky’s reflection.The buildings are a shaped place,All corners and narrow knowledge.There are words there,Bound between dead flesh.Eyes on text,Ears on lecture,Hands on pencil.But I am always thrown,Knocked, unprepared.Nothing can save me from this:The sun, warm on my face. Featured image (modified) CC0