Tracing the Landscape

Written after an experience in one of my classes.

I
One eye must be closed.
Until you are half blind
you cannot see that
the sky is gray
and the train moves
too quickly to sketch.

II
Your body will become a tool.
A hip pressed tight against the radiator
a lip curled to close an eye
left hand with pen
right circled around a ring
to keep balance.

III
Shifting weight means shift in perspective
Shifting perspective means that pedestal
next to platform
is now inside platform.
Shifting weight means stalling to say goodbye
and remembering perhaps
footwork to the samba
while attempting to

IV
keep the eye steady
on the invisible dot
that means the horizon.
Otherwise
the cement steps won’t
line up with the
cream concrete pillars
and ‘next week’ will feel like

V
there will be chaos.
Straight lines never came from freehand
drawings
just like love never came from
rules.