Grayness
for Forrest Read
slate tiles, deep gray
and sky-chipped,
offer themselves to
the weather on
top of a lecture hall.
minds in a skyscraper molt genius
like crated chickens stacked on a semi
leave feathers in the wind.
fetal, pale gray
and cancer-worn,
the teacher offers
his last self
to those who listen:
"I have spent my life
reading Pound.
There are worse ways
to spend one's life."
Copyright James Phoenix 2017
updated 5/7/2017