there
in the garden
pretending to ornament
isosceles shaped
a ladder I yell to it
Hey! I say
you’re the definition of function
without beauty
steps to nothing not reaching
to top off a tree
or God
yet you hold my eye
the slope of your legs
light sliding through spaces
from which you’re built
a trellis for sun & shadows
your worth defined
by your moments
of uselessness
Former Professor, History of Consciousness, UC Santa Cruz & Literature and Writing at both San Francisco State University and San Jose State University, Allen left teaching and entered the film and television industry as a writer and director. Allen’s short story, “Cowboy of My Heart,” won the best short story of the year award.
