​Mr. X


The Big Strong Man holds up a great weight
how did he get this weight?
did he choose it?
whose weight is it?
can't he just set it down?
The Big Strong Man does not ask himself these or other questions
The Big Strong Man holds the weight up all day and night 
It's not getting any lighter,
Everybody sees the Big Strong Man holding the weight above his head, impassible
an X of granite, mandala man, circle X brand man, Da Vinci man, World Charles Atlas, 
he does not tremble under the pressure.
What nobody sees
    is that every day the Big Strong Man
    at a certain moment
turns quietly into one of those little yellow butterflies, butter-colored flies
those one-of-hundreds common field butterflies spasmodically flapping
and leaves his mystery spot, his X mark
and goes for a buzz among friends
around and around sniffing the upright flowers
settling down on foxy petals of all shapes and sizes, new and old
sticking his nose (or whatever) into the opiate pollen
and taking another quick spin around the garden.

Then the butterfly notices 
the excruciating piteous despondency of the X man
and he returns to his place in the world,
he becomes the Big Strong X
once again.