second language

to gabaa

contemporary is not applause
neither revealing nor an object
but a realm of intimacy
where to cling and crawl
like writing in a second language

should you ask why
both of us know there’s a place for reunion
the central input of our previous forms
without the loss
like writing poetry or translating
in the middle of the night

contemporary is just the nutshell of living standards
based on the company we keep
physical miniatures
each day at end
each morn with or without ease
appealing to the consequent lives
we never gave up

archaisms may well be pardoned.