out of silence, shouts
louder, angrier
higher, more desperate
a lifted knife plunges
an arm drives downward
break in the clouds
the sun dumps gold over
the man writhing hand-cuffed on the grass
the man lying limp in the driveway,
red and gold
swift cars, blue uniforms,
neighbors in groups, gold-tinged
the ambulance drives away
a gold star on its windshield
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, September 28, 2009
in honor of chicory
rising birds, lifting up out of a blue field
illusion of movement--
a still life of sun
on folded and extended wings
illusion of movement--
a still life of sun
on folded and extended wings
welcoming the new driver to, say, an 8-lane freeway
aren't you proud of yourself
the way you can maneuver
accurately, without touching
within this flock
the way you can maneuver
accurately, without touching
within this flock
Sunday, September 27, 2009
on their 21st cruise
it was after they had secured their cabin
and arranged things in the cabinets and drawers
that she sat down on the bed suddenly, and said
you know what, Jamie?
I wish I were home
and arranged things in the cabinets and drawers
that she sat down on the bed suddenly, and said
you know what, Jamie?
I wish I were home
Saturday, September 26, 2009
note for nation building
instead of they, them
I really want to hear more us
those of us, those among us...
I want the things that unite us
to decorate our shelves
I really want to hear more us
those of us, those among us...
I want the things that unite us
to decorate our shelves
Friday, September 25, 2009
homesick?
on the rippled water
an approaching mast
and the bridge begins to hum
two halves rise, drawing in the air
a non-existent mountain...
an approaching mast
and the bridge begins to hum
two halves rise, drawing in the air
a non-existent mountain...
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
amuse
although
our atoms formed together
part of the water, hardly distinguishable
and our energies go over in around--
pass through each other
all the time like ghosts
how is it
we’re enamored of the sharp image
straight edges, solid forms, incised letters
demarcations–eyes, noses, fingers
present and accounted for
and the numbers tally up, agreeing
goals, ends, clearly showing
orderly, marching closer...
our atoms formed together
part of the water, hardly distinguishable
and our energies go over in around--
pass through each other
all the time like ghosts
how is it
we’re enamored of the sharp image
straight edges, solid forms, incised letters
demarcations–eyes, noses, fingers
present and accounted for
and the numbers tally up, agreeing
goals, ends, clearly showing
orderly, marching closer...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sunday dinner
people greeting people all around
alone, he comes to the restaurant
for the left-over smiles
alone, he comes to the restaurant
for the left-over smiles
windy weather, lax
from the seventh floor, by the airport
we watched the airplanes blow towards us
Aeroflot, Emirates, Philippine Air, LAN Peru--
labeled winds
we watched the airplanes blow towards us
Aeroflot, Emirates, Philippine Air, LAN Peru--
labeled winds
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
always hungry
I had in mind the dog
but it was only an empty
brown paper shopping bag
looking up at me
but it was only an empty
brown paper shopping bag
looking up at me
cleanup time
when the web of time
joined the dust of time
she gave in and cleaned the cabinet
.
(the dust, on little
rubber bands
bounces right back)
joined the dust of time
she gave in and cleaned the cabinet
.
(the dust, on little
rubber bands
bounces right back)
Monday, September 7, 2009
theoretically, from the distance, knowing nothing
so easy, so familiar
pulling back a practiced finger
and the action playing
tiny and so far away
hardly feels like murder
the cries? we've heard these cries before
coming out of our own mouths--
nothing anyone would pay attention to
and we've been dead a long time
to anything but anger
still, we'd take it all back
for pizza and a night at home...
pulling back a practiced finger
and the action playing
tiny and so far away
hardly feels like murder
the cries? we've heard these cries before
coming out of our own mouths--
nothing anyone would pay attention to
and we've been dead a long time
to anything but anger
still, we'd take it all back
for pizza and a night at home...
Sunday, September 6, 2009
feisty
overheard, stopped at a red light, window down
two graybeards conversing on a bus stop bench
“Now, I don’t wannna have ta kill ya...”
two graybeards conversing on a bus stop bench
“Now, I don’t wannna have ta kill ya...”
jet (or swine flu, hopefully)
begins with intimation
builds to thunder
which subsides
does not come our way
builds to thunder
which subsides
does not come our way
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
wording
a landscape tossed by wind
a climate, cool caves beneath the branches
entertainments--spiders, squirrels, birds
the coming and going of its leaves
all this compressed into one word, tree
hardly worth a second glance
(word--at first, supplement to a feeling
then a feeling supplanted)
a climate, cool caves beneath the branches
entertainments--spiders, squirrels, birds
the coming and going of its leaves
all this compressed into one word, tree
hardly worth a second glance
(word--at first, supplement to a feeling
then a feeling supplanted)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
change yourself for the better?
sure you can learn a few things
give yourself lessons, lectures, sermons
make mental notes, resolutions, conversions
but in life we can only truly be
the way it comes to us
give yourself lessons, lectures, sermons
make mental notes, resolutions, conversions
but in life we can only truly be
the way it comes to us
Sunday, August 30, 2009
it's just good feng shui (Dunsmuir take note)
suspend some wind chimes in the canyon--
the river, the railroad, the freeway and the wind
blowing through town through opposite doors
the river, the railroad, the freeway and the wind
blowing through town through opposite doors
Saturday, August 29, 2009
mathphobe mutterings
one number is pretty much like any other
stored on slanted shelves, they slip off
stored on slanted shelves, they slip off
Friday, August 28, 2009
educations
from a child I learned
it's ok to be easily hurt
it's ok not to understand
it's ok not to want what others want you to want
from a dog,
bark sometimes
don't let just anyone come near
from the cat,
disobedience does not kill you
("Come here." "No, thanks.")
it's ok to be easily hurt
it's ok not to understand
it's ok not to want what others want you to want
from a dog,
bark sometimes
don't let just anyone come near
from the cat,
disobedience does not kill you
("Come here." "No, thanks.")
Thursday, August 27, 2009
legs
the cat gallops past to play
I chase her under the dining table
her legs distinguishable from all the rest
I chase her under the dining table
her legs distinguishable from all the rest
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
surviving the landmine
at peace--she’s not a burden to her family--
they’ve sold her into slavery--
on bare ground with her one leg
her hands weave the rhythm of her days
she had hopes, but they are dead
nobody wants me now, she said
they’ve sold her into slavery--
on bare ground with her one leg
her hands weave the rhythm of her days
she had hopes, but they are dead
nobody wants me now, she said
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
psychosis
...standing on some foreign threshold
the fear, a fur on my back
where is that gold-paved road
the stone lions, the iron door
who has the formula?
where the dwarf to lead me
through this wind-torn landscape
shreds still flapping from the bones of trees...
I watch myself
trying to flee a terrible dream...
*
from the door
the view is wide, wide!
it seems that this is where fulfillment lies
and greatness
and slipping of the yoke
one step...
so why is my heart racing?
it is grey, and cold
I am alone
it seems a violent wind has blown
the air away
this freedom feels too much like dying
the door has gotten very small
but I know I must get in
the fear, a fur on my back
where is that gold-paved road
the stone lions, the iron door
who has the formula?
where the dwarf to lead me
through this wind-torn landscape
shreds still flapping from the bones of trees...
I watch myself
trying to flee a terrible dream...
*
from the door
the view is wide, wide!
it seems that this is where fulfillment lies
and greatness
and slipping of the yoke
one step...
so why is my heart racing?
it is grey, and cold
I am alone
it seems a violent wind has blown
the air away
this freedom feels too much like dying
the door has gotten very small
but I know I must get in
Friday, August 14, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Hey
when I make a statement and you negate it
and I restate my statement, softening my stance
I’m not bowing to pressure
I’m restating my original position
refined for accuracy
and I restate my statement, softening my stance
I’m not bowing to pressure
I’m restating my original position
refined for accuracy
Friday, August 7, 2009
yard list
gazing balls
purple plastic windmills
yellow wagon, red petunias
terrier with a serious underbite
snarling & snorting
purple plastic windmills
yellow wagon, red petunias
terrier with a serious underbite
snarling & snorting
Thursday, August 6, 2009
gray days
the bay area was hiding from the fact
that it is a very hot summer
as the temperature climbs, the fog piles on the hills
ready to wash over us in the night
neither does it settle on the ground, but floats, protective layer
between us and the sun
I peered out the front window last night (where it is never really dark)
and saw it--caught the fog in full retreat, draining back to sea
tomorrow will be a very hot day
that it is a very hot summer
as the temperature climbs, the fog piles on the hills
ready to wash over us in the night
neither does it settle on the ground, but floats, protective layer
between us and the sun
I peered out the front window last night (where it is never really dark)
and saw it--caught the fog in full retreat, draining back to sea
tomorrow will be a very hot day
Monday, August 3, 2009
empty
tanker truck
up the hill at full speed
swinging its trailer
(trucks we built so as not to burden
any more beasts)
up the hill at full speed
swinging its trailer
(trucks we built so as not to burden
any more beasts)
Saturday, August 1, 2009
shifting the plates
whenever you say what you really mean
red hot material oozes from a crack
a blackened fingernail grows between two continents
red hot material oozes from a crack
a blackened fingernail grows between two continents
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
telephone dream conversation
grandfather calling, from his living room
at the edge of the farthest galaxy
and indeed, he is gone,
within reach of the stars
into the realm of the timeless
at the edge of the farthest galaxy
and indeed, he is gone,
within reach of the stars
into the realm of the timeless
disapproving of her social self
perfectionist, she kept it pure
visiting no one
inviting no one to her house
visiting no one
inviting no one to her house
Friday, July 24, 2009
celebration house
Christmas lights tacked to the eaves
ceramic pumpkins on the stairs
stuffed witch in the window
pink balloons
streamer over the door, “Happy Birthday!”
ceramic pumpkins on the stairs
stuffed witch in the window
pink balloons
streamer over the door, “Happy Birthday!”
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