Two poems by Eden Pearlstein
“if you’re so smart / then why aren’t you happy?”
The following poems are taken from Eden Pearlstein's new release, Nothing Is for Everyone, published by Ayin Press.
Unbinding Isaac
More than a strut, it
was offensive, with telos,
my grandfather’s gait.
“Walk, about one-and-
a-half times normal speed, and
swing your arms like this!
Five miles a day—
more if you can make it.” His
only exercise
Imposing. Hope not
practical. Money worth more
than hugs—so he hopes.
First time he said “I
love you,” outside hospice. “You’re
next—to last—in line.”
No pressure. First crack
in the shell of male bondage—
Isaac’s sweet revenge:
“The most important thing
is that you are happy.”
Thank God for that ram.
shorts
I
the painter sits
staring struck
dumb at the empty
canvas.
Still Life with Cezanne
signed, Orange ’08.
the wind questions:
“i hear you are a master of the way”
the water answers:
“oh no, i am but a poor student”
III
man has vision of
god on deathbed says:
“where you been
all my life?”
israelites wandered through
central park forty years
before they entered the
upper west side
V
an old blind jew,
who had seen a thing or two,
once said to their grandchild:
“it’s better to be smart than to be happy.”
the child, surprised,
lovingly replied:
“if you’re so smart,
then why aren’t you happy?”
crickets:
Eden Pearlstein is a is a poet, performer, chronic collaborator, and cofounder
of Ayin Press. He is the coauthor and coeditor of the chapbooks In/Flux: On Influence, Inspiration, Transmission, and Transformation; Taste and See: A Psychedelic Pesach Companion; Indwelling: An Earth-Based Sukkot Companion; and the art book Speechless (with Cannupa Hanska Luger).
