Fort-Da

Stupid as a movie star, I was

someone else’s idea: So I went all formal

and took everything seriously. Now I have learned

that this is ordinary object impermanence,

this divided soul. This fort-da, this yes-no,

this him-and-him-and-him-and-him.

A regular chorale of past and future errors

swells beneath my feet: This is my theme song

in every picture, each gaudier than the one before,

with the pencil lines around my eyes darker,

soon I will be the lone and lorn raccoon tossing lire

to the randy boys of Rome.

Once the money is gone who will bring it back.