Neu! Post-Truth Poetics: Poem to Celebrate the Feast Of The Attrumption – Tania Hershman

Advice for The Traveller

Fall, if possible
within an hour of your arrival

in any new city. Fall well
on knees and hands, in public

make sure you are seen. Bleeding
is optional. If someone immediately

lifts you without pausing
his mobile conversation, you will know

this is a place worth staying in. Limp
to the nearest park, sit and watch

locals by a fountain, dozing, kissing
walking dogs. Do not rush. If you have

fallen properly, there will be no need
to fall here again. Your knee’s sweet

sting and bruise will remind you
of attention, the necessity for kindness

Tania Hershman, formerly a science journalist, is a poet, author and writer of short-stories. She has published several collections of stories and flash fiction including The White Road and Other Stories (Salt, 2008). In 2017 her first full poetry collection Terms & Conditions will be published by Nine Arches Press and Unthank Books will publish her third short story collection Some Of Us Glow More Than Others. http://taniahershman.com/