R O B E R T  M C G O V E R N

Fool's Song

from Fool: Selected Poems

I sit by myself

     And toy with my words.

With the sound of my voice

     I finger my pain

And play with my joy

     Like a boy alone.

His nakedness hurts

     With pleasure of self

He prays will explode

     With love of another.

I stiffen my words

     In silence on paper,

But the self remains

     In hope that another

Will melt my ghost

     With our voices together.

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