Lessons from the Carpet, Mike Daniels

Lessons from the Carpet

The carpet wears thin –
too many heavy feet
threading their lazy paths
from source to dream –
ancient houses from early clans
locked into the latticed pattern.

Across the window,
the shadow cast from the hazel
mimics the filigree of memory
free of ambition. He plays
at words, hides from himself.

By the wall, barely used,
the carpet is a smugness,
luxuriant – like the fringes
of his talent, unworn.

______________
Mike Daniels

Mike Daniels’ Lessons from the Carpet was previously published  in Vintage Anthology published by Fortunate Childe in 2011 and edited by Carla Martin-Wood and Margot Brown.