attention

some things
need your eyes early,
like a pot of kanji -
stirred into smoothness
over the flame,
if you don't want lumps.

some things
need your eyes
to keep away,
like a vessel of milk
coming to a boil
only when you look away.

some things
need your eyes
to be entangled
with their presence,
like a knife that cuts things
to a perfect size.

some things
need your eyes
to be blind,
so they can grow,
like the fungus
on a forgotten loaf.

everything needs attention
of a different kind.