2032. EXPERIMENTAL #3. 'And To the Wife of Bath'

'AND TO THE WIFE OF BATH'

(part 1)

This battalion loves you, this entire army of subterfuge

is here at your feet. The fir trees are waving in the wind,

for you. Let's not pretend (any more) that you do not see.

All this love amasses at the silliest of borders : where the

rivers twist and the men decide who owns what, or shall.

We may decamp for the night, our little entourage. But I

cannot, by myself, think of other than you. I cannot see

without you. I want to suck your toes, caress your limbs.

Oh God above us, how has it come to this?

-

I am not alone, mind you. There are fourteen men right now,

just like me, under darkness and night, thinking of just you.

Granted, all this is crazy, but so what. Listen! Listen, as I

spoof to be a contender in some future, modern age. How

different all things will be: I shall see you (naked) on the

back of decks of cards. Somehow, this occurs, as men hold

the cards, sitting around strange tables. Others, it seems,

are viewing you in pictures that really do seem to be moving.

How time elapses whatever may have occurred, I'm afraid

I simply do not know - nor the time or place I find myself.

-

We had no schooling, remember; everything we did we did

ourselves, lance and hammer. Sword and driver. Whatever

did not die, we bludgeoned until it did. Oh, Wife of Bath, now

please can you here help me? I am rigid, and alone.