Raffi Wartanian: Fireplace Talk

A smile can only stretch so far

Before the cheeks tire

And recall time

Submitted to circumstance

Hovering

Over my shoulder

Whispering in my ear

Petting my heart

With razor hands

Cajoling me that peace is but foolhardy

Misunderstanding rampant

Separated by unity (unified by separation)

Unified by separation (separated by unity)

Caught in comparative understandings

Ingrained

To allow oceans to flow

Into seas,

To flow into hearts,

Judging

Needing
Feeding greed

To be a former fantasy

Of a past self

Because there must be some sort of continuity

If one is to make sense of this existential narrative

That’s more fractured than glued together

More bewildering than comprehensible

So much so that we can sit cross-legged by a fire and pretend the warmth is real.

Bring the piano tuner.

Whispers have deafened my ears.

Flames have drowned my eyes.

Waves have shriveled my nose.

Blizzards have ignited my mouth.

By Raffi Wartanian

Amherst, New Hampshire, 12/2009