approaching the epilogue

––I'd say: I’m more a tattler of tales  

than I am a poet

more a pathologist of the line

than rhymer of the final word.

––I'd say:

I’m more a sounding-board

than I am a confessional;

that the measure of my standing
is well below that of, let's say, Ross Gay.

but cash money says it's measurably higher than that of the lunatic

hammering away in the garage across the street.

I continue my commitment

to the reporting of certain incidents.

––I'd say:

nobody left living knows the world I know as I know it.