Two Poems

ARS POETICA

I remember when it was acceptable for men to hide behind the veil of Isis
and name the indefinite stream
that brings down the print of a single blue sandal each day
before it’s corrupted by further clarification
or the affirming care I’m rummaging around for in here.

I’m honestly proud of everything I do
no matter what. Working out is happiness. Every collaboration
is blessed that brands have the trust in me to deliver.

Devastated like me by my ineptitude, clarity lays itself down
next to us, opening its cells to all manner of fluids.
Have some contaminated leeks, someone actually wearing argyle:

everything else is dead to me, only love can misbehave.

THE STAR

I’m already losing my voice, my inner voice.
Like Chagall I was touched by something
I felt happened — that’s Abel, he wants to sit outside,
not hear more of my pensive music — inching it forward
thanks to my power element. I’m having to deal with this
but I can’t be here after mall hours
watching through contact colored lenses

the point within which something
less than something, a shadow, stops you

but like I promised, I’ll be almost here for you
though going by really quickly.

∩

Tamas Panitz is the author of several poetry books, most recently The Mollusc (Copenhagen: 2025) and Lazy River (Creative Writing Department: 2024). @tamaspanitz.