Bas Relief

It is always 

the same - a blank page 

tests your indigence, asks - 

have you anything left…? 

Well - it does seem 

I’d rather agree than 

stew in th’ heat; there’d 

be less stress - even 

seeing an epiphany 

doesn’t restrain this 

kind of penury - not 

that it’s a manifestation 

of anything dressed 

like that answer - and yet 

you persevere; it’s as if 

you’ve missed th’ cue 

which disguised itself 

as whom you like to think 

you might be - and given 

your druthers - there’s

th’ gist of it - it sees 

you awaiting th’ word’s

delivery - complete with 

postmark and stamp 

and ups the ante - put 

your hand on it my man - 

if its worth myrrh and 

frankincense, you’ll be 

rendered free of any 

conscience - and that 

makes enough sense 

to be my bas-relief… 

© 30 March 2018, I. D. Carswell