In Broad Daylight
In the light, in the fat-tipped fingers
of light flung on earth. Easily seen
by the naked eye, readily identified.
Acts on display, splayed under the sun.
In public, available equally to passers by
and nearly-imperceptible lifters of drapes.
Wide light, amoral, indiscriminate.
A climate best suited to pleasantries
or exhibitionists. Well-lit, unflinching,
the conditions that promote noticing,
awareness. A sequence of events
rendered undeniable, plain as day,
true. An occurrence to be viewed,
witnessed. The authority of surface.
Some very strong images here; I particularly like imagining "fat-tipped fingers/ of light flung". I also like the concluding "The authority of surface."
ReplyDeleteMakes me feel like I am under an examination light...I second Maureen, strong images and I love the concluding line..."The authority of surface."
ReplyDeleteHappy September 1st!
The "nearly-imperceptible lifters of drapes" made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. Excellent poem. Sometimes I feel like this when I am on the internet:)
ReplyDeleteI agree that the "authority of surface" is a great line. I also love "nearly-imperceptible lifters of drapes."
It's great how your poems send me off into a thousand different thoughts after I read them. That is exactly what poems should do.
Ooh, love this one.
ReplyDeleteFrom Therese B. -- I agree with all praise above. Also, the ironies in the poem are skillfully delivered. First irony: the poem is about an event which is highly visible, but the poem never identifies the event. Second irony: the tone suggests that the thing under close scrutiny is not the event itself, but rather judgmentalism about the event. Should we be "broad-minded" about what's done in "broad daylight"? Nowadays anything objectionable done in broad daylight is filmed by cell phone -- all the better if it's shocking, because it will gain a larger audience.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Maureen, the "fat-tipped fingers" really got me, as well as the last line. Such voice.
ReplyDelete