Empty Vessels

Empty vessels fill the rooms of my life;

blurred images printed from imperfect negatives.

And on you I pinned so many hopes;

you carried so much space

with which to fill empty vessels.

Empty vessels keep me company at night;

surrealist prints framed behind cracked, dusty glass.

And on me you pinned so many images;

seeing so much that was illusory.

Don't you know I'm just another empty vessel?

Empty vessels clutter my stairs and hall;

one way alleys never lead anywhere.

And on us they pinned so many dreams,

demanding that we fit their scheme,

and remain forever empty vessels.

1988