XLVIII

But imagine shall I the mirror broken
Treading slivers — pray not to be a sophist —
Nor would you find dramatization fitting
Such a persona

So to be whipped up out of wax and stylus -
Pardon affectation — the apparitions —
Paper lanterns paper extinguishers where
Flame is observance —

Made by folly's competency imperilled
Conjured shards dancing on the leather desktop:
Orpen's self portrait in the French hotel room
Quizzing his helmet —

He was no combatant — the brandy bottle
Concentrated uppish within reflection
Peril implicate but not here intrusive
There will be shadows:

Granted they hold firm to eluding virtue
Codifications volunteer perspectives
Mathematics' figures predestinated
Infinite regress

Something sprung here that you may yet recoil from —
Stick with hazardous enigmatic fractured —
Metaphysics' laboured accommodation
Unrecommended