in paper italy we do not expect anyone to know we are paper italians
how thin and brittle is paper people say as if to erase their love of smells
every book stirs nervous systems making electricity flow as desire and thought

paper means we made it from sweet smelling trunks we cut down still wet with life
we use it to make packages and to send things and to organize sending of messages
absorbent paper removes unwanted secretions leaving skin healthy clean and dry

our plans exist on paper and debating them on paper we resolve debates on paper
every morning we make a new paper italy putting coffee in the paper filter
thus we move ships from brazil to europe full of lumber and beans

other paper italies we make in the evening with oil we pour from a freighter
boot and shoe italies descend to our carpets from great steel cranes in bayonne
as long as some of the money ends in the hands of the priests we have no trouble

our paper pope appeals to the pale rider singing let my people live
he scares away plague giving very good value for what he costs in cash and grief

  * from "ELLIS ISLAND"