Historically Speaking
Leaning back on my favourite old chair
thinking about dreaming
engaging in a metaphysics
that would be laughed out of any philosophy class
and pondering time-travel
easier than cursing God
imagining the birth of my mother
the youth of my father
before the unthinkable was thought
trying to unimagine Hitler
too late, the thought deed is done.
.
Hitler starts speaking
I say shut up
this is my living room
these are my thoughts
your grammar is awful
your teeth discoloured as a circle of Hell
don’t touch my books or family photos
stay away from the menorah
or I’ll revoke your time-travel permit
and would you speak a little softer
you’re in my living room.
.
How can you not be the Führer
you’re haunting me
and the morning brightness
has turned unimaginably dark.
.
Führer or imagining the Führer
that distinction won’t restore history or a single soul:
yes, you spewed out Mein Kampf
I’ve written a lifetime of words
no, we’re not even
now scram, you blotch,
I have some more thinking to do
before I get up from my favourite old chair
and get on with my historical life.
.
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