By Comparison

BY COMPARISON

By comparison, it’s nothing—

just a strange articulation.

Interlocking ossein

involved in bifurcation

building bulwarks, bastions, buttresses and finding flaws in fortresses;

A travesty of parody,

where one form apes my amity.

It isn’t you—that much is true—

but all this mimicry won’t do.

I’ve machinated permutation:

swap ourselves in simulation.

Them for you and you with me—

what a handsome subtlety!

Fool me once, I’ll rue the ruse; trick me twice, I’ll pay my dues.

Bloodless bustle, luckless hustle,

make of this calamity

the grave so destined for this fuss;

the nave where dolts with blunderbuss

are quick to find fragility.