After School of Seven Bells
The longer I stay
the more our lawn feels like
tiny hands surfing us through a concert,
tree limbs booming bass through our bones
and clouds coming inside of us
cymbal crash kick drummy good.
One cigarette split index thumb like
shouting names across peaks over a mile wide valley.
None of them our own
and answering the same
with a new one until the sun goes down
and life really begins.
Sitting rubbing palms close to fire and
wondering if you do the same
on the slope of your mountain,
your dinosaur near, curled, scales to skin,
trapping heat so your head laid down rests easy too.
original works of parts
At the Barge
Momma always asked me "did you tie your shoes"
when I was too young to remember
what I did ten minutes ago. Stilled there.
At the barge beached on the shores of the Allegheny,
toeing the hatch where rain had something to say to
iron, melted away to mathematical functions and
infinite patterns that make for great calendars
and computer simulations,
my shoes falls
into the water
and I dove for it
and banged my teeth and chipped
another piece off with my arm down to where
fingertips touched lapping water.
Mouth closed, I sucked
on bits of rust like potato chips.
Rubbed my jaw
with a thought and a half about you.
Clicked on my light to find
the piece of tooth lost and wondered
at the chance that an open mouth
would catch the edge of the hatch
instead of shredding the skin
of my chin.
My shoe bobbing beneath me.
My rod still fast against the piece of bulk head
and barge lip where I left it.
Embarrassed while my mates
enjoy a chuckle and the fire we started
where sand has reclaimed the ship.
Embarrassed knowing you would have
held me back by the shoulder with your little left hand.
Embarrassed while I go shoulder deep into the hatch, careful
for yellow laces and wishing
today was not the day I chose to
leave socks at home in 40 degree weather.
when I was too young to remember
what I did ten minutes ago. Stilled there.
At the barge beached on the shores of the Allegheny,
toeing the hatch where rain had something to say to
iron, melted away to mathematical functions and
infinite patterns that make for great calendars
and computer simulations,
my shoes falls
into the water
and I dove for it
and banged my teeth and chipped
another piece off with my arm down to where
fingertips touched lapping water.
Mouth closed, I sucked
on bits of rust like potato chips.
Rubbed my jaw
with a thought and a half about you.
Clicked on my light to find
the piece of tooth lost and wondered
at the chance that an open mouth
would catch the edge of the hatch
instead of shredding the skin
of my chin.
My shoe bobbing beneath me.
My rod still fast against the piece of bulk head
and barge lip where I left it.
Embarrassed while my mates
enjoy a chuckle and the fire we started
where sand has reclaimed the ship.
Embarrassed knowing you would have
held me back by the shoulder with your little left hand.
Embarrassed while I go shoulder deep into the hatch, careful
for yellow laces and wishing
today was not the day I chose to
leave socks at home in 40 degree weather.
Destructolux 2
Piecemeal. What tears us apart.
Waking up the engines that shake tree limbs miles away.
The red hot exhaust that leaves hundred yard scorches
in the fields of grass.
Turning the key that shuts the machine down
so the minnows whipping through the river shallows
can be heard from the cockpit
and the cloud's sighs
can kiss an ear. Fire her up! Head straight
for the exosphere.
Waking up the engines that shake tree limbs miles away.
The red hot exhaust that leaves hundred yard scorches
in the fields of grass.
Turning the key that shuts the machine down
so the minnows whipping through the river shallows
can be heard from the cockpit
and the cloud's sighs
can kiss an ear. Fire her up! Head straight
for the exosphere.
Life Begins at Conception
When you were conceived
your parents probably had designs on you.
Some to completion. Is it terrible
to know
that you will never be their greatest enemy?
A little.
your parents probably had designs on you.
Some to completion. Is it terrible
to know
that you will never be their greatest enemy?
A little.
Seasons Change
Laughter like green tree leaves and
smoke square baskets on the breeze.
Love will make a fool of us all,
stopping the Mack truck so the grand mother can cross
the street and what is traded, life for a life and laughter
ahead of every cock sucked, every stretch of skin
unlicked, every hair on fore arm untouched
giving twitch
to the ripple of time and space not crossed
every smoke unshared, every kiss unpushed,
press return. Goose bumps, press return. I will see you tomorrow.
Christmas movie moved. I will see you tomorrow
while the ripples shake themselves into patterns
seen more clear up close where street light cannot go.
Do not come home unwed.
smoke square baskets on the breeze.
Love will make a fool of us all,
stopping the Mack truck so the grand mother can cross
the street and what is traded, life for a life and laughter
ahead of every cock sucked, every stretch of skin
unlicked, every hair on fore arm untouched
giving twitch
to the ripple of time and space not crossed
every smoke unshared, every kiss unpushed,
press return. Goose bumps, press return. I will see you tomorrow.
Christmas movie moved. I will see you tomorrow
while the ripples shake themselves into patterns
seen more clear up close where street light cannot go.
Do not come home unwed.
You Mess With One of Us
I envy deeply the people that have family.
I will do the heavy lifting for you.
I do not play well with other people.
I love my family. Whatever is asked.
I will do the heavy lifting for you.
I do not play well with other people.
I love my family. Whatever is asked.
Bad Tooth
Got one singing inside the gum.
One pinging like chum.
Pain comes swimming and we dance.
Pain comes swimming and we do not lance.
Instead touch nerve. A pick and an ax and a mirror
so we can see what we dig. Dig piggy dig.
Squeal piggy squeal. I will tweak you
until we feel something close to second thoughts
for the things we did years ago and I will
drink our tears until we are square again
and walk, broad shouldered, through
the lanes that we call home with no backward glance.
What is your damage, son? Do not
worry about it. Damage control is on.
Limitations are off.
I snipped a quarter of enamel off for you.
I would like to place it in your hand.
I heard the pliers give their spring weight
and snap shut on their own.
When is a good time for you?
One pinging like chum.
Pain comes swimming and we dance.
Pain comes swimming and we do not lance.
Instead touch nerve. A pick and an ax and a mirror
so we can see what we dig. Dig piggy dig.
Squeal piggy squeal. I will tweak you
until we feel something close to second thoughts
for the things we did years ago and I will
drink our tears until we are square again
and walk, broad shouldered, through
the lanes that we call home with no backward glance.
What is your damage, son? Do not
worry about it. Damage control is on.
Limitations are off.
I snipped a quarter of enamel off for you.
I would like to place it in your hand.
I heard the pliers give their spring weight
and snap shut on their own.
When is a good time for you?
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