THE DARK MEN
they told me all about them
the Dark Men les hommes noirs
orange and yellow dapplings
move with the breeze sway
of leafy shadows on the wall
minutes before they go dark
dark as the Dark Men
we cannot see the Dark Men
but feel their presence near
as they lead us down footpaths
we could never find on our own
footpaths twist into a labyrinth
and we know the difference
between a labyrinth and a maze
orange and yellow dapplings
move with the breeze sway
of leafy shadows on the wall
minutes before they go dark
dark as the Dark Men
we cannot see the Dark Men
but feel their presence near
as they lead us down footpaths
we could never find on our own
footpaths twist into a labyrinth
and we know the difference
between a labyrinth and a maze
the former a cul-de-sac with
no side channels to be lost in
the latter all maddening
passages and hairpin turns
most of which lead nowhere
there is no need here for
no side channels to be lost in
the latter all maddening
passages and hairpin turns
most of which lead nowhere
there is no need here for
Theseus' legendary precaution
the way out lies in turning
back the way you came
in the distance a flinty whine
which no one can place
echoing from the stone depths
all that remains of the Dark Men
the clockwork mechanism
the way out lies in turning
back the way you came
in the distance a flinty whine
which no one can place
echoing from the stone depths
all that remains of the Dark Men
the clockwork mechanism
of a long vanished automaton
(c) ERIC BASSO
July 21, 2014
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