charley mccarthy

[Doreen Peri]

(charley mccarthy - 2004)


charley mccarthy was a puppet with a wooden head.
the best we can do is to pray or say some chants
or rants or incantations which will leave enough residue
from the fire so we both know our entire being will
be there instead of some chance ventriloquist voice
thrown from one corner to the other side of commitments
regurgitatted like escaped meanings.

if you stick your hand up me
and attempt to make me speak
with your palm, i will comply
with a long enough sigh to make my
voice become a moan and when the sun
comes up and my voice becomes the tone
of forever, i will become your slave.

i am but a knave creating ignorant stanzas.
yours then mine then mine and yours.
never how we planned. always extravagant,
me the eyelash dancer, you, the gritty soldier
ready to fight perchance with nightfall,
each call of commandment recognized,
accepted.

charley mccarthy was
an operated vehicle,
funny as fucking hell!