A Reader’s Guide to These in This Right Here

If it’s true, and it is, that, Writing

About the art of writing

Is an art unto itself

(It must be true—writing

Of any kind is an art—

Scripts are inventions, are arts—

And any art with a task,

Distinct methods, and topics

Is an art unto itself),

Then it would also be true

That writing about the art

Of writing about the art

Of writing is also art.

We’re not being facetious.

We can point you to cases

Of excellent essays and

Fine dissertations written

On the art of book reviews.

Infinite regress only

Refines the situation.

The art of writing the art

Of writing on the writing

On the writing art of art—

No matter how it’s jumbled,

How ridiculous it gets,

The air is only clearer,

Thinner, and harder to breathe

With greater recursiveness.

Kick out the pyramid’s base,

Just give us the floating tip,

The summit of the iceberg

Proud of all the storms and ships.

Imagine finding that bit

Of cool appraisal of arts

Of writing about writing

About writing as an art,

With no idea what writing

Was being written about,

Leaving only us. Discuss.