Along came a colossus, along came a colossus—
but if I can't, but if I can't, but if I can't, but if I can't
—Lorenzo Da Ponte, Don Giovanni

All this blank tape here
All of it mournful
Any can blow
the long copper horn
in love with oneself
and so only blow
as anyone—
not one relation
to qualify
everything
that am called proud
a pure grammatical joke
to salt the handshake
and convert
free salutation into policy

Put to mouth my true true
ball and sing—

I got my own / Lorenzo!
mouth noises / Lorenzo!

I sing I got my own
tenderness—

Punitive early riser's / capital first step
and experience of time
as incrementalized doubt
Lorenzo! / CHORUS Lorenzo!

Put to mouth my due restraint
Traitor in my applause crypt!

Bronze me twice / shame on me
Traitor in / SOLO applause crypt!

If you put out the hand
a little mince
Then put out your eye
a little stick
If you put out the hand
a little mince
Then put out your eye
a little salt, but if I can't—
a little mince, but if I can't—
a little stick