One Plus One Plus One

(for Antonio Lopes, a friend in cyberspace)

By J.S. Porter

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In the paintings of Marc Chagall
and the movies of Emir Kusturica,
no one dances alone,
or drinks alone.
One is always one
plus.

The world swarms, swirls
and sticks.

The bride has her groom.
A beautiful woman has her village.
The musicians, accordion Gypsy
or fiddler Jew,
have their instruments.

And animals –
roosters, chickens, cats, dogs,
donkeys, doves, horses, ducks –
crow, cluck, meow, bark,
bray, coo, neigh, quack
in the chitter-chattering no-one's-
ever-alone universe.
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