A mind deceiving the eyes
presented by a past image
the lens of make-belief is challenged
long I have asked
questions of what is true and real
questions to understand and serve
a bigger picture to reveal
What is true?
What is real?
questions to discern
trompe-l'œil, or the real
the power gained by designing
and controlling a story
most days I get to wonder
the difference between I and me
the difference between tragedy and comedy
the uncanny closer to the real
something I can feel
sensed and embodied
consciousness
(as spiritual matter) not a dense
but vital matter for people starving
from a lack of conscientiousness
linked between desire
affection for the senses
thoughts begging for attention
belief businesses really hurt
reality always a hit
always in reach
the kind of life
you wanna live
what is the business of
helping others and doing good about?
though the correct way to go
last I looked, we were all born with the right to be
and with such a knowing, people still go on fighting and killing
instead of living, loving, working, playing
the silent things no one dare speak
the conflation of value
with imaginary currency
though shame and guilt
are useful feelings
once mantracized are pathologized
"if I just love myself more"
everything will be alright
or are whores of the self-loving sort cleaner?
one thing made into another
through the power of an, as - an - is
love is care, care is love
love is love, care is care
though one often becomes the other
as labor delivers
one thing to the other
and so the wars are not about class
but who works and who pays
who pretends to be free
and who works as a slave
all inner and outer experiences await
in the life looking for you
awaits your work to bring it to be
with your own hands and body.
Mari Amman, Los Angeles, California, 2016
Trompe-l'œil