JACK STRAWS


Chaos is a kind of structure, and fear--
fear is the glue which binds the whole


Consider a life composed of sticks
piles of which are shaped


as traps, weirs, cones,
domes, scattered or ordered


some are high-piled risers
others folded, badly fastened


Time will tease them apart
stick by stick, this then another


leaving a hole, a space
where light fills in


the sum reduced by one
then more light within


blue, soft, opening up 
freeing to the fewest forms


To the essence of a man 
amazed that he can stand


with so much removed
the little left him serves


to give the game its risk
to fill the game with life