Perception in White
When I first rode this bus
it was full of perception.
People in every attitude--
rich or the pseudo rich--
bums in purple plumage and wine--
unstable eyes searching.
Eyes covered white with pride,
cold eyes tinged with fear,
glistening eyes — aloof.
Men and women fat and tiny
— a visual landscape unprecedented
except in the next block.
One chained perception to another
invented by looking at moments
linked by the shimmer of tinsel--
each in an attitude of death-- only
forestalled by that momentary force of life.
It is not enough to look to the endless array--
It is only endless.
It is not enough to merely watch the eyes move & flash.
It is not enough to grasp that attitude of death,
and shake it raw of perception-
that life of minute movements
and a drawn face.
And all of that is too easy--
too simple--the perception
is too complex for words
so flat and dull that
the eyes dim white as
fingers pressing closed eyelids do--
it all merely shines--
the light of the very darkest night.
Los Angeles
1978
Los Angeles Series
©1978 Perception in White— Joseph W. Yarbrough
Reproduction prohibited without written permission.
it was full of perception.
People in every attitude--
rich or the pseudo rich--
bums in purple plumage and wine--
unstable eyes searching.
Eyes covered white with pride,
cold eyes tinged with fear,
glistening eyes — aloof.
Men and women fat and tiny
— a visual landscape unprecedented
except in the next block.
One chained perception to another
invented by looking at moments
linked by the shimmer of tinsel--
each in an attitude of death-- only
forestalled by that momentary force of life.
It is not enough to look to the endless array--
It is only endless.
It is not enough to merely watch the eyes move & flash.
It is not enough to grasp that attitude of death,
and shake it raw of perception-
that life of minute movements
and a drawn face.
And all of that is too easy--
too simple--the perception
is too complex for words
so flat and dull that
the eyes dim white as
fingers pressing closed eyelids do--
it all merely shines--
the light of the very darkest night.
Los Angeles
1978
Los Angeles Series
©1978 Perception in White— Joseph W. Yarbrough
Reproduction prohibited without written permission.