Almost A Reprieve

 

Almost a reprieve, notwithstanding their silence
comes from Sesame Street. Its commerce one
might say – a contract by infatuation, and they
sit wrapt awaiting news of where they’re going;
today it isn’t Australia Zoo like in the brochure
because the beach beckons – there’s no denial,
it’s in their blood, young wine lilting in genes –
even if we’re merely exploiting the occasion

But there’s no taming them to the ordinaire or
mundane; though their tastes steer sugar-free
they arrange moments tiered against routines
of shredded boredom, conspiracy too deep for
bare-faced rebellion, a place one learns where
the rules presage what it means to cohere
© 8 July 2013, I. D. Carswell