A Man

Cohen
mutters
words of Suzanne,
a singer who must
die -
and of traitors.

A tub fills
slowly
and a man -
naked,
kneeling,
water steaming, rising
over thighs
and a thousand voices,
from a thousand elders
ring -
answers
to the silent questions
in his head.

"A man
is strong, is silent. A man
is thoughtful; considerate. A man
is quiet - and cautious. A man
is strong, a man is courage
and virtue.
A man
is slow to wrath, swift
to act.

A man
shows
no weakness -
no
emotion."

And a man -
strong, silent Bones -
naked,
kneeling;
retches - weeps;
water steaming, rising
to the belly,
silent tears hidden
in heat's fog -

Thinks
of the words just writ,
loses
himself in the agony
of Paganini,
and is
not
a man
according to voices
of his past.

_(04-12-2010)