MANTRA MANTRA MANTRA
by Ken McKeon

Syllabic doorway,
Open shut open
I throat my heart and head together,
No matter what the weather,
Designate the dawn
In deepest night,
I say much to many,
I speak
Out the stars,
Beginning with the sun,
Our round of light,
Ending with the sliding moon
As it slips from sight,
Of course, I’m retired,
I climb up the stairs
To fall asleep,
I rise before the dawn,
I turn the heater on,
Ah,

Wherever I have been,
I’m back here now,
Over the years,
Silence has become
The only song
I ever sing,
The start, the end,
And all the in between.