Donald Justice(1925–2004)
Counting the Mad
This one was put in a jacket,
This one was sent home,
T h i s o n e w a s given bread and m e a t
B u t w o u l d e a t n o n e ,
A n d this o n e cried N o N o N o N o
All day long.
T h i s o n e l o o k e d a t t h e w i n d o w
As t h o u g h it w e r e a wall,
T h i s o n e s a w t h i n g s that w e r e n o t there,
T h i s o n e t h i n g s that w e r e ,
A n d this o n e cried N o N o N o N o
All day long.
T h i s o n e t h o u g h t h i m s e l f a bird,
T h i s o n e a dog,
A n d t h i s o n e t h o u g h t h i m s e l f a m a n ,
A n ordinary m a n ,
A n d cried a n d cried N o N o N o N o
All day long.
Men at Forty