© Jimmy Lo 2011

L R Llittle red leaves textile editions

www.textileseries.com

© Jimmy Lo 2011

L R Llittle red leaves textile editions

www.textileseries.com

A ReductionJimmy Lo

little red leaves 2011

A ReductionJimmy Lo

little red leaves 2011

[3]

[3]

I wish to be microscopic. Not invisible, that,

but microscopic—and anonymous, among the

worms’ paths and their soft castings, to be

heading into the mite, their kin, next of their

kin miles no meaning. Two dimensions.

I wish to be microscopic. Not invisible, that,

but microscopic—and anonymous, among the

worms’ paths and their soft castings, to be

heading into the mite, their kin, next of their

kin miles no meaning. Two dimensions.

[4]

[4]

And among them, lesser and lesser of the self.

Of even gravity that is no object, and surfaces

according to other rules, where surfeit bodies

tumble against the hard of earth, that unbearable

distance to the cold sore of knowledge, where off

and off I slant until I reach my subject, my sub-

And among them, lesser and lesser of the self.

Of even gravity that is no object, and surfaces

according to other rules, where surfeit bodies

tumble against the hard of earth, that unbearable

distance to the cold sore of knowledge, where off

and off I slant until I reach my subject, my sub-

[5]

[5]

jectivity. Knowing by my step, which is a

measure, that step wherein suddenly life is

contained, within that other rule, which is

not a rule, but a thin spectrum of right angles

along my subatomic brain that answers just so,

like darling baby instructions, whereupon the

world is my step, and I upon it, being stepped

upon, being a grain, a world.

jectivity. Knowing by my step, which is a

measure, that step wherein suddenly life is

contained, within that other rule, which is

not a rule, but a thin spectrum of right angles

along my subatomic brain that answers just so,

like darling baby instructions, whereupon the

world is my step, and I upon it, being stepped

upon, being a grain, a world.

[6]

[6]

Say, the invisible forces that would work upon

me then! —would that it be so strong, a reli-

gion without reason, a mute and blinded spirit

sweeping me thither, wherein I would not

think to question. The unknown, therefore,

in its all-knowing density, soaking inwards

Say, the invisible forces that would work upon

me then! —would that it be so strong, a reli-

gion without reason, a mute and blinded spirit

sweeping me thither, wherein I would not

think to question. The unknown, therefore, in

its all-knowing density, soaking inwards

[7]

[7]

through everything. And at every level I would

fi nd friends, those hard of hearing, and a little

dumb, dumb-struck, or just lined with latent

potential, moving along in brevity to their own

in-steps, dialed to such n’such a number.

through everything. And at every level I would

fi nd friends, those hard of hearing, and a little

dumb, dumb-struck, or just lined with latent

potential, moving along in brevity to their own

in-steps, dialed to such n’such a number.

[8]

[8]

Yes, I would be okay in this

world and the next, I mumbled.

Yes, I would be okay in this

world and the next, I mumbled.

[9]

[9]

[10]

[10]

[11]

[11]

Wherever I am, I am comforted by the thought

that there would always be a stable landing,

—to rest is only human—settled against the

last one, or built upon a diff erent branch into

an odd looking structure. At this given time:

Wherever I am, I am comforted by the thought

that there would always be a stable landing,

—to rest is only human—settled against the

last one, or built upon a diff erent branch into

an odd looking structure. At this given time:

[12]

[12]

Only that which makes sense to me can be

known, though the other parts are there too,

equally working. Only that within reach of my

feelers, I mumbled.

Only that which makes sense to me can be

known, though the other parts are there too,

equally working. Only that within reach of my

feelers, I mumbled.

[13]

[13]

In that way limits are artifi cially placed like a

fence around my consciousness, even if I were

to be microscopic, which I am not, never will

be. Or perhaps have always been?

In that way limits are artifi cially placed like a

fence around my consciousness, even if I were

to be microscopic, which I am not, never will

be. Or perhaps have always been?

[14]

[14]

Here, I imagine a microscopic fence where no

fence is needed, only the infi nite circles of the

mind boring tracks of minute signifi cance, like

delicately rendered designs upon the rim of

my gilt teacup. The murkiness there—in the

tea: amber shot through with morning light.

Here, I imagine a microscopic fence where no

fence is needed, only the infi nite circles of the

mind boring tracks of minute signifi cance, like

delicately rendered designs upon the rim of

my gilt teacup. The murkiness there—in the

tea: amber shot through with morning light.

[15]

[15]

I am frozen inside of it, but all biology.

Almost always biological is my being, sup-

ported by the surface like dust on dust. An

imperceptible consciousness living in the hairs

of my tea.

I am frozen inside of it, but all biology.

Almost always biological is my being, sup-

ported by the surface like dust on dust. An

imperceptible consciousness living in the hairs

of my tea.

[16]

[16]

There I would wind down my days. Oh I

would perish alright, I would look back on the

seconds leading up to this second here. In the

center of the tea my consciousness has found a

home.

There I would wind down my days. Oh I

would perish alright, I would look back on the

seconds leading up to this second here. In the

center of the tea my consciousness has found a

home.

[17]

[17]

The politics of the body would sing its in-

justice. Though it would smile too, it would

smile on the great verve of its invective.

The politics of the body would sing its in-

justice. Though it would smile too, it would

smile on the great verve of its invective.

[18]

[18]

[19]

[19]

It would secretly be proud, so proud of its cur-

rent form, so smug. Such imagination! What

else would I know but the tea that is my tanned

world, and the rest looking up through a lens’

magnifi ed warp. I would sink into it like a

plumb line, a squiggle in the eye of a calf, newly

born, whose eyes are wet from the mere sight

of this side’s admixture of green-and-blue.

It would secretly be proud, so proud of its cur-

rent form, so smug. Such imagination! What

else would I know but the tea that is my tanned

world, and the rest looking up through a lens’

magnifi ed warp. I would sink into it like a

plumb line, a squiggle in the eye of a calf, newly

born, whose eyes are wet from the mere sight

of this side’s admixture of green-and-blue.

[20]

[20]

[21]

[21]

Jimmy Lo lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where he works for a

public library. In 2010 he co-created Free Poems On De-

mand (freepoemsatl.org), a pop-up venue where passersby

suggest poem topics and receive on-the-spot composi-

tions. More of his writing can be found on his website

(jimmylorunning.com).

Thanks to Nisa Asokan for her help taking microscopic

images of mustard seeds, onion skin, twigs, banana stalk,

turmeric, wildfl ower, string, and other items.

Special thanks also to Dawn Pendergast.

....................................................................This little red leaves textile series chapbook was lovingly

sewn with recycled bedsheets and shower curtains.

Jimmy Lo lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where he works for a

public library. In 2010 he co-created Free Poems On De-

mand (freepoemsatl.org), a pop-up venue where passersby

suggest poem topics and receive on-the-spot composi-

tions. More of his writing can be found on his website

(jimmylorunning.com).

Thanks to Nisa Asokan for her help taking microscopic

images of mustard seeds, onion skin, twigs, banana stalk,

turmeric, wildfl ower, string, and other items.

Special thanks also to Dawn Pendergast.

....................................................................This little red leaves textile series chapbook was lovingly

sewn with recycled bedsheets and shower curtains.

[22]

[22]

[23]

[23]