Poem 316

This could be old man in the sense of father talking to child or a random old man at the bus stop distilling his life experience unasked and unwanted for anyone in earshot …

The Old Man’s Advice

Know who you hate
                                           that's the main thing
never mind love
                                  the snail
in an iron shell
                                it's not love
that gets you out of bed in the morning
not the milk of love blistering
        your mouth
as you try to get another cup in

know who you hate and where to find them
know them better than yourself
                                                                know
        how they eat
        and how they hate

know who you are by who you hate
embrace your brothers
embrace your sisters
in the line to your right
                                              and your left
never walk in the centre of the road
never leave home
                                     without your hate

be wrong
                     about who you love
wrong
             about who loves you
never mistake
who you hate
                            their separate faces voices
where they go at night
know them
and go home with them
                                                  wake up and see
their faces like blades laid on the pillow
know that you're climbing a rack
                                                                of swords
and climb on
safely