for Barry
way out in space
out so far
that if a man went that far
& came back
to talk about it
he’d be younger
than his grandchildren
…that far out in space
a red giant implodes
slow grey clouds rumble
in gale-warning wind
over the lens of Palomar
but when the game isn’t televised
there’s always the radio
play-by-play
& if perchance we fall asleep
listening to the twink & sparkle
we can catch highlites
during breakfast
in the daily
computer read-out
—complete with boxscore
& current standings
such is the thoroughness
of scientific tech…
what are you doing now? :asks Billy Ralph
Wamba does the funky chicken in the street
(the famous James Brown version
with obvious adjustments
for Wamba’s physical structure)
what planet were you born on? :says Wamba:
I’m trying to get to the other side
she said: he said: trying is lying
:says Billy Ralph reflecting:
in a championship softball game
bases were loaded
one away
two runs behind
last inning
I was up
(batted clean up all year)
a strong wind
blew in from left
the pitch was inside
I tried to go to right
& popped to 2nd
shock
picture of myself
as a hero
(I didn’t know I had it)
—cracked—
my cover was blown
nude
& more embarrassed than anything
the scene replayed
in my head
for years
if only I…
if only I…
a red giant
becomes a white dwarf
this transition is nebulous…
Wamba dances
hears the time-changes
in the situation
1,2,3,…1,2,3,…1,2,6,9
punchline turns
into personal confession
confessor is locked in
a different time
he has made a choice
gone to the movies
pays his admission
sits down
enters the time-stream
& rides…
outside the theater
a riot goes on
he is involved in the movie
conscious of little else
he zooms
he pans
he cuts to…
hears exaggerated click
shoe to floor
movie becomes a lens to focus
changing scenes outside
…he can leave at anytime
way out in space
we reach into
the hive of swarming
nebulae
searching for sweet honey
radio telescope
(via satellite)
zooms data
down to Earth
for interpretation
1 scientist substantiates his theory
another
with a new theory is excited
it’s in the stars…
both will become controversial figures
there can be no politics in science
a scientist must maintain
objectivity
—that’s what it gets paid for
Wamba dances
feeds confessor a new question:
is light a particle
or wave?
Billy Ralph strikes a match
scratch of friction becomes suck of combustion
hot glows yellow flame
sulpher scent
appearance is always the same
drip on a stick
“matches”
Billy’s face lights up
once darkened portions of his features
have definition
street lights :go on
his visage is even clearer…
what is truth? :asks Billy Ralph
my flesh is completely new
every seven years
but the waves I feel
change all the time…
when I was in little league—
the argus boxscored our games
right next to the big leagues
I’d always compare my stats with the pros
year I made all-stars
my batting average was
higher than Mays or Aaron
but I don’t think I made
top 10 in our league
still my dreams soared…
years later, a friend asked me
to go to a Giants game…
seemed so slow
an old familiar face
the years I played this game
been swayed by this game
we had almost nothing in common
these pros were so much better
the roster said they were younger than me
I felt embarrassed
a friendship had faded
I had missed its passing
sometimes
I think it’s only my name
that holds me together
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