Uptick

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We were sitting there, and 
I made a joke about how 
it doesn’t dovetail: time, 
one minute running out 
faster than the one in front 
it catches up to. 
That way, I said, 
there can be no waste. 
Waste is virtually eliminated. 

To come back for a few hours to 
the present subject, a painting, 
looking like it was seen, 
half turning around, slightly apprehensive, 
but it has to pay attention 
to what’s up ahead: a vision. 
Therefore poetry dissolves in 
brilliant moisture and reads us 
to us. 
A faint notion. Too many words, 
but precious.

© John Ashbery