Not Much More to It Than That

Abstract

Not Much More to It Than That Timothy Donnelly (bio) One thing hides another. Thing A can't hide without Thing B to hide behind, or in, or under. And when it hides it must be hidingfrom a third. Everything is hiding in some regard, if only you can find it. Take your time. If things were easy, wouldn't that defeat the purpose? The purpose is to make things hard, lasting, and beautiful to see. Sunset is gorgeous, but it doesn't last. That the sunsinks under the horizon is the cause, that it hides there is the cost of all that beauty. If this presents a moral quandary, remember we are merely its onlookers. An onlooker is a form of Thing C against which the efforts of Thing A are failing, in spite of itselfor on purpose. To fail on purpose is a form of beauty that leaves the onlooker reassured—we see what's happening right in front of us, albeit after a pause. The bird sickens, the roof collapses, the sun declines, failing to remain overhead. Even our words as we crossone last time, here in this ill-suited cabin—what with the banging and rapidly decreasing oxygen level—are hiding and failing to hide, which proves a comfort in our hour of need. Plus it's beautiful to see things fall to pieces as they intend to, or even as they must,so long as you've prepared yourself—eyes open, gloves off; one hand placed firmly in the other, the other placed firmly in a third, and so forth. [End Page 90] Timothy Donnelly Timothy Donnelly's fourth book of poems, "Chariot," will be published by Wave Books in spring 2023. Copyright © 2022 University of Nebraska Press