artist’s medium

sometimes   i  wonder  whether

              i    startle  people

  staring    unfocused

               through

                       or  behind  them

they    don’t    understand

        that my words won’t

                     come

                and   they

       serve    as   walking  clay

            to mold

                 and  speculate  over

                        i   am    sorry

     if  i  have  disconcerted  you

             but  it is nothing

                  personal

       you   have    become  an

              artist’s   model

                     stranger

and  i   shall     never    see

                    you

                              again