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

SUZI KAPLAN OLMSTED

Things I Cannot Write About, Even If They Are True:

The way the light comes in the windows

at first glance dappled is the only word possible

but later

the way the sun is being filtered

by grime

outside San Diego haze

plus car exhaust

and inside alcoholic despair, desperation, old cigarette smoke

Phil’s shoes clicking on the floor

The comforting continuity of 12-step rituals

Rarely have we seen a person fail

The maddening drone of self-obsession

I missed what you were saying

I was thinking about myself

Again

11/3

[Originally published in NHS 2006, http://www.poetspath.com/napalm/nhs06/Olmsted.htm.]