leaving the academy

leaving the academy

I had
to leave
the
academy

to write (most of) this dissertation.

I can
write
this (text)
neither
across the
        ‘page’
nor by sitting long…
to do so,
            I
                        slide,
                                    well-trained
                                                back
                                                            into
                                                                        my
                                                head,
                                                            leaving
                                                body heart spirit

                                                            be-hind,
                                                                        stuck
                                                                                    on
                                                                                    chair,
                                                thinking
                                                            they                                    were not
cast
as players
in this               performance.

(animate Earth
is then,
not even

considered.)