Let me tell you what I do know: I am more than one thing, and not all of those things are good. The truth is complicated. Itโs two-toned, multi-vocal, bittersweet. I used to think that if I dug deep enough to discover something sad and ugly, Iโd know it was something true. Now Iโm trying to dig deeper. I didnโt want to write these pages until there were no hard feelings, no sharp ones. I do not have that luxury. I am sad and angry and I want everyone to be alive again. I want more landmarks, less landmines. I want to be grateful but Iโm having a hard time with it.
Richard SikenHere I am in a rabbit run, here I am in a valley of pine, waiting for you to find me. I could pretend Iโm speaking to everyoneโassume a middle distance and transcend myselfโbut Iโm taking to you and you know it.
Richard SikenHere I am leaving you clues. I am singing now while Rome burns. We are all just trying to be holy. My applejack, my silent night, just mash your lips against me. We are all going forward. None of us are going back.
Richard SikenI'm saying your name in the grocery store, I'm saying your name on the bridge at dawn. Your name like an animal covered with frost, your name like a music that's been transposed, a suit of fur, a coat of mud, a kick in the pants, a lungful of glass, the sails in wind and the slap of waves on the hull.
Richard Siken