Falling on One's Face

Falling on one’s face is the last unlinking,
confirming both fears 

and doubts
about what others are thinking.

You can’t look more foolish than that.

It’s the final stumble,
the lost piece
of the perplexing puzzle

that finally clarifies doubt
and fills out
what you
and your poetry are about.

It’s your final tumble,
so that, now,
accepted by both proud and humble,
you can act the fool
that people
believe you to be.

You can, at last,
present yourself as you are:
a little crazy
and, also a little bit lazy,

so may be fairly judged
as one of God’s forgettable fools
and, much worse, unsuccessful.