Two poems by Eden Pearlstein

“if you’re so smart / then why aren’t you happy?”

Two poems by Eden Pearlstein
Caravaggio's The Sacrifice of Isaac. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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.

 

II

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?”

 

IV

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?”

 

VI

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).

Author

Eden Pearlstein
Eden Pearlstein

Eden Pearlstein is a is a poet, performer, and cofounder of Ayin Press. His first book-length publication is Nothing Is for Everyone (Ayin Press, 2024).

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