THE BOOK OF LIES

I’d like to have a word

with you. Could we be alone

for a minute? I have been lying

until now. Do you believe

*

I believe myself? Do you believe

yourself when you believe me? Lying

is natural. Forgive me. Could we be alone

forever? Forgive us all. The word

*

is my enemy. I have never been alone;

bribes, betrayals. I am lying

even now. Can you believe

that? I give you my word.

*

From “The Yale Younger Poets Anthology,” edited by George Bradley (Yale University Press:306 pp., $16.95