Spazieren

Ditta Baron Hoeber

I

you meet a person

and in his face...

what part

of the word recognize...

is recognize always history

could it be instead

an imaginary hat

spazieren

(strolling)

you see a person

and in his face

there is...

and he says do you like my hat?

and you say

I can’t leave home this way.

II

looking in the mirror

brush in hand

paper. ink. the light

that lights my skin

each crease

a page

folded down

lined. lines I write.

draw. drawn to

recognize.

brush in hand

I attempt

relentlessness

black ink obliterating

imagination.

III

wrong.

try again.

relentless. recognize.

the ink. the ink. the light.

imagining a hat to

wear spazieren

strolling

you see a person

and in his face you recognize

your face.

draw

drawing

drawn to

you ask him

do you like my hat?