Obsidian

by Bob Dougherty
(an abstract pantoum)
 
we didn’t know the naked impression
his lean energy was so distracting
I clasped a hand over my foolish smile
as his immortal voice spoke of love
 
energy distracting
his coarse hands were not confused by beliefs
voice of love
and pure affection with no malignant bloat
 
not confused
as I tried to clutch a brilliant moment
pure affection
then his majestic triumph uncoiled
 
brilliant moment
gesturing with his gray hair   he whispered
triumph uncoiled
as structure crumbled catastrophically
 
gray hair
the thorns probed his rubbery flesh
structure crumbled
his fingers of enchantment had broken
 
thorns probed
then muttering bitterly in torn clothes
enchantment broken
to hordes of reporters with feeble questions
 
torn clothes
his legs of bronze and gaze of impotence
feeble questions
Earth devours desolate spirits
 
gaze of impotence
I clasped a hand and began to smile
Earth devours
didn’t we know the naked impression?