DEEP DOWN

there’s something kissing me
just like you—
it’s just like you and me
turning out wild in life—
i see the deep down
is the same deep down in you—
 
deep down
past the last mirage
of words brushing
the canvas wiggling
life around into
some containable
comedy and tragedy
 
we’re adorning our minds
with trouble and the hope
of the corresponding keys
to get out—
they never were made of metal
but of sun—
 
my point is one of gentleness—
there is no deep down in anything
other than now;
from here is only from here
and the boat of sunshine
is the whole thing we’re all
enjoying whether we know this or not—


John Harper