RITUALS POETRY: ‘FOR OBLIVIOUS REASONS’ BY MARY COURTNEY

For Oblivious Reasons

Mary Courtney

For oblivious reasons

We Ritual.

To oblate the mind from itself

To soothe the self from being its mind

To remove the victuals, bitter-meats

difficult questions, difficult cancers –

To balm the space for the trivial

For oblivious reasons

We Ritual.

Perform the Offices of Death

of ourself, on our selves

Seek oblivion, after a week in the office

Observe the observance, light a candle

Drink to the night