[Darkling men], an experiment in blank verse composed with some confusion on the afternoon of 26 January, 2011

Darkling men in darkened rooms

Flapping mouths with whitened teeth

Speaking round of many matters

Saying nothing

Meaning meant to be mean

Becomes a waxen film

First here

                        Then there

And back again

Encompassed by the gadfly’s gleam

Man stands surrounded with a smile

Eyes wide open, pupils dilate

Seeing nothing

All is white and blank and empty

Tick

Tock

Tick

                        Tock

Hickory Dickory Dock.