CRYER


This is the month of the intelligencer,
the bubblemonger, the travelling salesman, puffer,
the merchants' remembrancer, the shoe shop clicker.

January deals in perfection. It doesn’t admit
defects. If it is an angel goading the criers
still, whenever there is silence, I am ready

to buy the goods of gods. My faith reflects
their faith in what they sell
which is the true meaning of apology,

a brief from the great purveyor of tales
for certain new inventions. I buy
so that the gods will keep their faith in us.