— lines written while contemplating Jimi Hendrix’s first album (Are You Experienced?) —
New metaphors of elemental fire
are what the children need to make them sing
and, in their songs, to conjugate desire.
For it’s the task of every youthful crier
to catch them in his net and then unspring
new metaphors of elemental fire.
All day the young ones never seem to tire
but strive to have their way with everything
in which they can discern their own desire.
Beyond a certain age, as death draws nigher,
we wonder if it’s possible to swing
another toke on elemental fire -
some groove or path or method to inspire
our happenstance and keep it happening
as in old age we fan our old desire.
The children gather round, as we retire,
to chant, in rounds of Love and hymns of Spring,
new metaphors of elemental fire
through which they seize and conjugate desire.