Tilted

by Roselle Kovitz


The slight tilt
of a painting,
a sign askew
sets my nerves on edge,
like there’s something off
with the world.
If only wars could be settled
by a gentle tip
up on the left
to level the conflict,
or pain could be subdued
by rearranging a lampshade
to hide a seam from view.
How about a cure for cancer
by tapping a pile of brochures
to line up all the edges?
Poverty—spackle over that
gaping hole with a graceful sweep
of white filler, a soft sanding,
touch of paint.

Could it be that there is
some sort of cosmic symmetry,
a master level
where the bubble is still
dancing side to side?
Or is change just as easy
as turning a seam
toward the wall?


* * * * *

Roselle Kovitz co-authored The History of Public Broadcasting with John Witherspoon, worked in public broadcasting, and as a communications consultant. She backed into writing poetry about a decade ago and enjoys the dance with mystery that writing, especially poetry, offers.