Honestly, it was hard to read his poem. The rhythm was beautiful and at points, he strikes gold. . .

Around white carbon corner lamps bugs of all sizes are lifted elliptic, solar systems. Big hardshells bruise themselves, assailant: he is fallen on his back, legs squiggling. Parents on porches: rock and rock: From damp strings morning glories : hang their ancient faces. The dry and exalted noise of the locusts from all the air at once enchants my eardrums.

But the spirit. . . it’s so hard to try and feel into a slow “American heartbeat” in hindsight, which perhaps he touches at the end in the confusion of a dream.

After a little I am taken in and put to bed. Sleep, soft smiling, draws me unto her: and those receive me, who quietly treat me, as one familiar and well-beloved in that home: but will not, oh, will not, not now, not ever; but will not ever tell me who I am.

The whole time I was reading the poem Childish Gambino’s song Feels Like Summer was playing in my head.

I feel my difficulty in connecting to this piece is to try to resurrect an American. . . childhood innocence in a different age while knowing that innocence. . . that heartbeat wasn’t for everyone and even for those who it touched, it has also led to the present which feels so much more fermented with time.

Feels Like Summer:

Woo, ey
Woo, ey

You can feel it in the streets
On a day like this, the heat
It feel like summer
I feel like summer
I feel like summer
You can feel it in the streets
On a day like this, the heat
I feel like summer (ey)
She feel like summer
This feel like summer
I feel like summer

Seven billion souls that move around the sun
Rolling faster, faster, not a chance to slow down
Slow down
Men who made machines that want what they decide
Parents tryna tell the children please slow down
Slow down

I know
Oh, I know you know that pain
I’m hopin’ that this world will change
(Ooo, I hope this world will change)
But it just seems the same
(It feels like the same)

You can feel it in the streets
On a day like this, the heat
It feel like summer
(I feel like summer)
I feel like summer
(I feel like summer)
I feel like summer

Every day gets hotter than the one before
Running out of water, it’s about to go down
Go down
Air that kill the bees that we depend upon
Birds were made for singing, wakin’ up to no sound
No sound

I know
Oh, I know you know my pain (woah, no no no)
I’m hopin’ that this world will change
(This world will change, yeah)
But it just seems the same (woah)

I know
Oh, I hope we change
I really thought this world could change
But it seems like the same

I know
Oh, my mind is still the same
I’m hoping that this world will change
But it just seems the same
I know
Oh, I hope we change

P.S. Good to see a new article from you. Thanks for this window of perspective!