The Hawk West Desk Window 9:26pm
I once had someone ask Me
“Joanna, are You A Perfect Person?”
I answered with The Perfect Answer
“Sometimes.”
I have always been
in A State Of Perfection
I have always existed
and The State Of Existence Is Perfect
when I die I will have
The Perfect Death
I will fly away to the stars
My Spirit will impregnate
again
the egg of someone new
and I will grow once more
into A Being with A Mind
into A Human with A Destiny
different from
My Own
The Tomato-coloured Couch 6:32pm
My First Incarnation
was as a sperm, strong
pointed
My Second was as a zygote
settled, growing
My Third was embryonic
at sea, close
My Fourth was as The Newborn Infant
face lifted to Mother
My Fifth was as The Astute Girl
Who wowed adults
and wanted to be a ballet dancer
My Sixth was as The Teenager
Who wanted to be a helicopter pilot
and do art on the side
Then I grew, focused, into A Young Woman
Who wanted to live in Nova Scotia
and married a man who would take Her there
to be near Her Mother
Her Mother Who Died
and left The Incarnation
of The Spirit
from Which The Flesh had
sprung
The Tomato-coloured Couch 8:30pm
It’s been a Winter
of dying dogs & Dads
& a dear old Mother-in-law
settled into Her Husband’s
room of departure
in a tiny hospital
with, I’m guessing
the same fiery sun
going down in front
prompting Me to curtsey
The Tomato-coloured Couch 5:11pm
I have craved Fame & Glory
as badly as any
suicide-ed poet
— I have made attempts
on My Own Life —
but more-so have I
striven to live
as I do now
when My Work is being read
every day & every day
I am not dead
The Hawk Queen Bed 9:40pm
This Book Is Black
and I am waiting to be born
out of The Murky Red
into The Light
afforded All Of Humanity
allowed to live
–
This Book Is Black
and I will come out
to Speak My Name
and be caressed
not by The Hand Of God
but by The Human Hand
of My Mother
–
This Book Is Black
and I will grow
to protect My Spirit
and when I die
I will be born again
into The Space
occupied by the width
and breadth
of My Mind
It Will Be Bright
My Future Will Be
Forever Bright
The Hawk Window Seat 11:22am
I Am Advertising My Self
But I Am Not For Sale —
I’m Free!
–
The Hawk Living Room NOON
She Cried, “I AM IN LOVE!”
& Then She Died
Joanna Gilman Hyde 