A Strategem

I

Geography matters.

It is the plan,

the arrangement of things

that confuses our enemies,

the difference between what

they expect and what they get;

as simple as bobbing for apples

becomes difficult, deception is

an achievement in ordering the obvious.

II

Let us make a song

for our confusion:

Call it “Red Skies over Gary”

or “Red Skies in the Sunset”

or “Red Skies and the Open Hearth.”

    Red Skies over Gary,

    you are my sunset,

    my only home.

Let us make ourselves invisible,

not make songs, or even

disappear suddenly from

the sidewalks of Calumet.

III

Cobalt and carborundum

are refinements of the art.

So it’s true, you held

the razor in your teeth,

or was it pure magic,

a miracle of place?

One makes for workability,

the other for hardness,

and chromium bright,

the stainless achievement.

IV

I came from Calumet to Gary,

and it was early evening;

south of the mills, poppy fields

toxic red above the car lots,

have a Coke on Texaco

’til the mercury arcs devour us

and it is purple night.

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