AGAINST THE NOTION RAIN FALLS UP

by Elizabeth Switaj

 

for Diana Manister

 

the dead are peaceful equals
rain falls up                           Axiom of Bibles  not named book

 minus obtuse angel                    a transitive property of geometric faiths

dead vanish into torments dreamed
  to peel real fantom flesh
         w/o chance of Heaven            perfection lost w/o-ne set o' praisesong wings
equals
       water without sin   

dead vanish into torments dreamed
  to peel real fantom flesh
         with no chance of Heaven
equals
       materials of baptism           identity

 

         but we can't anoint our infants w/what'd scream
         if they still had throats
                                            nor plunge our way to rebirth
                                              in those who cease to exist
         no matter what tortures or absences
           our sermons & beliefs demand//force

so the dead are peaceful
must not equal
rain falls up

                    perhaps a million gravestones
                    and what we've said for those without
                  has no power
                                  and this whole proof's beside the point

                               if you believe in normal force
                               and not gravity

falling still contains to ground
as death contains no pain
                           but those who cannot disappear

                                                                   w/o it    QED

 

 

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