The best human gift is perspective

it’s also the worst

when used in circumstances calling for a closeup

or in circumstances that call for detachment

it is only a gift when it employs the appropriate distance

that minimizes pain

between the observer and the observed

.

we have a school for teaching appropriate distance

it’s called a slum a favella

.

how long

do I have to stay away?

.

a circumstance is a circus and a stance

.

without the circus I fold like a limp rag

when the circus comes I take a stance

.

i am an observer at the circus, rarely get paid

Andrei Codrescu is a Romanian-born American poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and commentator for National Public Radio. This poem is from the author’s forthcoming book of poetry, Too Late for Nightmares (Alba Press). He writes, “Fifty books later I still think that words are not outrageous enough.”

He lives and works in Brooklyn.