H e a r t S o n s & H e a r t D a u g h t e r s of A l l e n G i n s b e r g

N a p a l m H e a l t h S p a : R e p o r t 2 0 1 4 : A r c h i v e s E d i t i o n

RANDY ROARK

Two Gentleman of Verona (1594-1595)

The mind is a minefield.

It whispers stories and conspires,

yammering about past times.

I’d rather an April sun

that entices me to stay

until I miss the tide—

a conversation with a stranger,

the silhouette of a valentine

in a moment of disarray,

or maybe a chameleon

everchanging—something that

is now what it will always be

the way what is remembered

is all that remains of what’s vanished,

the silt that once was stone.

Just so, take this ember up—

blow on its carmines and auburns

until the last few moments before dawn.

[Excerpt from The Shakespeare Poems by Randy Roark. Originally published in NHS 2012, http://www.poetspath.com/napalm/nhs12/.]