Peter Jay ShippyUnbelieve
I unbelieve I was born and wore A sailor's suit until I was seven. There are no pictures of puppies licking My face or albums of vacation snaps. Yosemite? Niagara Falls? I unbelieve There's someone somewhere who likes the same things I do. Reading the dictionary? The Buffalo Bills? See? I unbelieve a priest Would fuck anyone, certainly not me. The woman who pushes the baby carriage Up and down the block all day all week Screaming and singing lullabies is not Doing so well, I unbelieve, no. Someone should lift a finger and give her A helping hand, because charity I unbelieve, begins in the home. Who said that? Who said that? I unbelieve if I can't recall then it must have been me. A stitch in time saves nine? I shall return? That's all folks? I have wasted my life? That was me--the man who is the measure Of all things. My sister told me about The birds and the bees and I unbelieved Every word she said, because she was older Wiser, stronger, meaner, an early bloomer-- A girl who the world would soon get to know. I still can't unbelieve that she's dead. I do. I unbelieve the earth is flat or that man Walked on the moon or that I came down From African apes or that Jesus Walked on water that he turned into wine Or that life begins when I imagine Doing it with you. I unbelieve fairies Live in the television set--really Think about it? Isn't it just common sense? The sun was warm? The cherry blossoms Were in bloom? We paddled a wooden canoe Down the canal? I thought the port was sweet? I pretended not to see the worm In the Cobb salad? The inn had a surprise Vacancy? I felt dizzy? I awoke With a sack over my head, tied to the bed And I was bleeding and I unbelieve I told the police I couldn't remember, yes I couldn't be sure of a thing. Bambi? Jules and Jim? The Sound of Music? Red Desert? I unbelieve that was the first movie I ever saw, although really, it was a film. I unbelieve the President means Exactly what he says--don't you? The night My son was born I was driving my truck Across the U.P. trying to finish My deliveries and then make the delivery, If you know what I mean and I was just Twenty miles out of Sault Ste. Marie When I saw the most beautiful shooting star And it was awesome, too, like blue like Propane gas and scary, too, I pulled Over to the side of the road and I'm sure My mouth was a black hole and I wish I would have thought to take a picture And I unbelieve that that was my son's soul Soaring back to heaven, I do, because That was the very moment he passed. If you unbelieve me go and check With the hospital. I want you to. I unbelieve that sometimes life forces you To grow up before your time. Who said that? I unbelieve that Lois Lane didn't know That Clark was Superman. Think about it? She just didn't want to spoil the good times. I unbelieve that most people are fine, yet I wouldn't open my front door For just anyone. I pretty much un- Believe in the war and yet I absolutely Unbelieve that I am un-American. Didn't I serve my country? Didn't I die For you and unbelieve that you'd die, too? I unbelieve in reincarnation. I unbelieve that everyone has a twin-- Someone somewhere who looks or acts just like You and me I mean, we're unique, unless We're clones. I unbelieve that on the day That I was born my grandfather cried And this was a man who never shed a tear. Even when they took his voice, or so I hear.
Peter Jay Shippy's third book is How to Build the Ghost in Your Attic (Rose Metal Press). He teaches at Emerson College.
