Paul Holman

IN THE COMMON ERA


I: HEADLESS


I am the shadow
of a man

who is not
demonic, who
might well
be kind,
               too
straightforward,
no
      less
irresolute
and
        harried
than I am.

But I
          value
her limitlessness,

her
instability:
I
  would not
care to drag
her
      back. I
am frightened

that I
might not notice

if she lost
herself.