F---- you!
announced his voice over and over again
when he, himself, in handcuffs
and face down on the grass
was powerless to do so
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
conclusion
visiting Greece, Rome
after reading too many historical novels--
here and there it left us reminders, yes
but History is gone
after reading too many historical novels--
here and there it left us reminders, yes
but History is gone
Thursday, March 31, 2011
driving up the mountain
from the clatter of rain--
flapping wipers, squash of water and fling--
into ethereal silence
white flakes that veer away from the windshield
float off on a cushion of air
flapping wipers, squash of water and fling--
into ethereal silence
white flakes that veer away from the windshield
float off on a cushion of air
Friday, November 26, 2010
neighbor
she decorated her picture window
with artificial flowers, a seasonal display
aimed at the world in general
for she kept mostly to herself
spoke to no one on her street
with artificial flowers, a seasonal display
aimed at the world in general
for she kept mostly to herself
spoke to no one on her street
Friday, July 16, 2010
a difference in personalities
when he walks into the room
he has questions, he has theories
he emerges with stories
the same room blooms for him
that his wife leaves cold, aloof
he has questions, he has theories
he emerges with stories
the same room blooms for him
that his wife leaves cold, aloof
feeding the stray
upending the can of cat food into a china bowl
she sets it on the steps
the cat comes running with an open mouth
dream
I was haranguing someone, a new father
arguing that time seems long to children
that half of life seems childhood
introduce them now to the riches of this world
he interpreted it to mean a full toy box
arguing that time seems long to children
that half of life seems childhood
introduce them now to the riches of this world
he interpreted it to mean a full toy box
Saturday, July 10, 2010
beyond
remember how
one day you were going to show them?
and now you could, but it doesn't matter?
the best revenge is no revenge
one day you were going to show them?
and now you could, but it doesn't matter?
the best revenge is no revenge
Monday, June 7, 2010
barbecue tastes better on a wrinkled tablecloth
what delicious food you have here
can I be your housefly?
time to invest in a spider...
can I be your housefly?
time to invest in a spider...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
definition
nostology—
he reached an end against the wall of time
bouncing backward through the telescope
for a shuddering return to the majesty
of images, pre-speech
he reached an end against the wall of time
bouncing backward through the telescope
for a shuddering return to the majesty
of images, pre-speech
not for sale or rent (on Fruitvale Ave)
no pictures to disturb the rhythm of blank walls
nor furniture to dim the echoes, interrupt the flow
of parquet flooring room to room
no curtains to impede the sun
no tenants to destroy the
tranquility of the self-built building
empty 25 years
nor furniture to dim the echoes, interrupt the flow
of parquet flooring room to room
no curtains to impede the sun
no tenants to destroy the
tranquility of the self-built building
empty 25 years
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
noted today at the shopping center
children lined up, pointing fingers
at the pigeons on the roof, lined up
pointing beaks at the children
at the pigeons on the roof, lined up
pointing beaks at the children
Monday, May 3, 2010
not an example
holding out her arms
she stood among pines as an equal
until some children came into sight
she stood among pines as an equal
until some children came into sight
Saturday, May 1, 2010
at the theater
entering, you bring
your own life into the room
squeeze into the old upright seats
(among tarnished gilding)
(under the painted-on dome,)
(telescopes of lights clipped to the balconies)
stand up several times and let pass
arriving small commotions
how does the usher keep
her disillusionment in check
the performers continually fling
enchanted ropes into the audience
you don’t have to reach very far to catch one
the critic refuses--
he has disentangled himself and
sits disenchanted among the ropes
your own life into the room
squeeze into the old upright seats
(among tarnished gilding)
(under the painted-on dome,)
(telescopes of lights clipped to the balconies)
stand up several times and let pass
arriving small commotions
how does the usher keep
her disillusionment in check
the performers continually fling
enchanted ropes into the audience
you don’t have to reach very far to catch one
the critic refuses--
he has disentangled himself and
sits disenchanted among the ropes
Friday, April 30, 2010
last night's dream in words
two black cats, in greeting
flash green eyes at each other
lighting up the forest floor
flash green eyes at each other
lighting up the forest floor
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
melting pot
he's black African/European
she's Korean/Chinese
their child is going to
reconcile the continents
she's Korean/Chinese
their child is going to
reconcile the continents
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
place of business
ah, a tasteful new facade
remodel of the sales floor
in the back, where the employees are kept
no pretense--it's peeling paint
torn linoleum, exposed pipes
the truth of cobwebs at the high windows
remodel of the sales floor
in the back, where the employees are kept
no pretense--it's peeling paint
torn linoleum, exposed pipes
the truth of cobwebs at the high windows
Sunday, April 25, 2010
more dreams
n center city, an encampment
billowing tents, wildly waving pennants
music of gongs and chimes
the people reverent, participating in rituals
of deep meaning, ancient significance
when the families stopped dancing and the music died
she curled up in her chair and cried,
walked down the street with clenched fists--
all this we gave up for knowledge?
knowledge had better be worth it
billowing tents, wildly waving pennants
music of gongs and chimes
the people reverent, participating in rituals
of deep meaning, ancient significance
when the families stopped dancing and the music died
she curled up in her chair and cried,
walked down the street with clenched fists--
all this we gave up for knowledge?
knowledge had better be worth it
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
at the last
he liked to call up
his employees from his bed
and chew them out
(looks so real, but breathes not)
(the undertaker's masterwork
too beautiful to be interred)
(boxed--a delivery of flowers--
close the lid)
his employees from his bed
and chew them out
(looks so real, but breathes not)
(the undertaker's masterwork
too beautiful to be interred)
(boxed--a delivery of flowers--
close the lid)
Thursday, April 22, 2010
transplant
surrounded by buildings
she glances often at the sky
with its darting birds
and remembers: earth beneath
the pavement
she glances often at the sky
with its darting birds
and remembers: earth beneath
the pavement
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
consoled
rush of commute traffic
the thump of party music gearing up
the neighbor screaming at her little ones again
ah, a nuthatch calls--it has found our trees
the thump of party music gearing up
the neighbor screaming at her little ones again
ah, a nuthatch calls--it has found our trees
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
binocular vision
one small eye on each side of the nose
is sufficient
the face opens to the scenery
like a garage door
is sufficient
the face opens to the scenery
like a garage door
Sunday, April 18, 2010
melting pot
with kitchen scissors
before the family house
cross-legged on a patch of lawn
the little man, ancient, sits
scissoring the grass
before the family house
cross-legged on a patch of lawn
the little man, ancient, sits
scissoring the grass
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
saved again, by Medicine
eyes, there must be more for you to see
the neighbor's rhododendron about to bloom
our hydrangeas, about to answer
the neighbor's rhododendron about to bloom
our hydrangeas, about to answer
Thursday, April 15, 2010
interlude
the sea lay undisturbed--
for days, not a swallow
.
dark shadow of her former self
lay draped across the floor
.
night birds' clicks
beeps swishes hums
.
held to the bed with tubes
over an abyss of fear
.
happy Easter said the slight man cheerfully
then fretted, are you Christian?
she noticed she could not say no
for days, not a swallow
.
dark shadow of her former self
lay draped across the floor
.
night birds' clicks
beeps swishes hums
.
held to the bed with tubes
over an abyss of fear
.
happy Easter said the slight man cheerfully
then fretted, are you Christian?
she noticed she could not say no
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
slow recovery
between the impulse and the act
a gulf too wide to bridge--
the hand, reaching for the door knob
stops just short
a gulf too wide to bridge--
the hand, reaching for the door knob
stops just short
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
picture
red-wing blackbirds
crowing in the young trees
of the Walmart parking lot
preening themselves to glossy
crowing in the young trees
of the Walmart parking lot
preening themselves to glossy
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