Three poems for White Wall Review

1.

With all this talk of walls; a lack of comprehension

of how borders. Irrelevant, perhaps. A durational performance

is landscaped, crisis. What

is he on about? Some guy agonizing

over generalities, lies, responds

with venom, violence. Escalating. Between earth

and earth, a grave

the size of fear.

2.

Toronto, what have you. The future Bishop, John Strachan,

to Thomas Jefferson’s complaint

of British forces burning America’s Government House,

the Library of Congress: Can you tell me, Sir, the reason

why the public buildings and library

at Washington

should be held more sacred than those

at York?

3.

Tributaries, lakefront. Heartland. I could hear

you breathe. History responds, erases,

rewrites. Governs. Surrenders copy.

A door unlocked

along the Gardiner, the Don Valley. Are you

island or centre? A photo finish. All those

northern roads. Cold at the mouth. This hearth,

this written word.