Oscar can
blame apartheid
for that door
portal through to
the unenvisaged
for who would have ever thought
surrender need not
be a matter
of low ammunition, could
have its nice side
and the pleasure of
smoothed friction supplement
each happy accommodation
but it was a rich intrusive tragedy
you brewed that night: getting
the drop on
that figure in the mirror, the
one who never won, the
one who takes no pleasure
and now must mourn
wounded hero strong or
soft and shrill-sad as
a little girl
so many buttons paused on
“REPLAY”, “INTERPRET”, the
crazed pain you have taught us
explained to the Lady
can last forever.