The season,
in and of himself,
is beautiful. A thing of unequivocal
equality because everyone
suffers the same
for reasons they cannot control
and they all smile to you
because they know it is true,
though they do not know
it is your year round.
Have faith in man
because he will not admit he bleeds,
but he still will fall
face first, dancing,
on sidewalk ice,
the same as you.
He will still shiver
in the minutes before the heat settles and
he dreams of sleep
as hard as you do
some summer nights.
The season in and of itself
is miserable
by definition
and beautiful
by composition.
Have your tears in Winter and
the world will cry with you.
Have your years in Winter and
the world will be with you.
original works of parts
Guitar Song for the Less Fortunate
There was a day
when I wished to be on the cusp,
the still can smell it
starched collar steam ironed fabric
of everything vogue
before I realized,
not that I did not care,
that everything else
relevant to eating three times a day,
sometimes two, and
occasionally once,
should define my dreams.
Not dictate, but
refine the ends
such that the means
could actually mean something
more than rungs toward contrivance's ladder and
parsley leaves to an entree.
I am not asking
for some sort of golden ladder,
whatever the means present,
what I am asking of myself
is to be on a daily basis potent
as the Adder and twice as confident
in the venom hidden in the mouth there and perhaps,
win every stand off
without drawn stereo.
when I wished to be on the cusp,
the still can smell it
starched collar steam ironed fabric
of everything vogue
before I realized,
not that I did not care,
that everything else
relevant to eating three times a day,
sometimes two, and
occasionally once,
should define my dreams.
Not dictate, but
refine the ends
such that the means
could actually mean something
more than rungs toward contrivance's ladder and
parsley leaves to an entree.
I am not asking
for some sort of golden ladder,
whatever the means present,
what I am asking of myself
is to be on a daily basis potent
as the Adder and twice as confident
in the venom hidden in the mouth there and perhaps,
win every stand off
without drawn stereo.
The Drums Die
On the corner
turn signals litter the curb
like fruit skins and jawbreakers
from kicked in quarter machines
where a three car pile up
made life interesting yesterday.
Watching traffic stop and go on our knees,
elbows at the edge of the rooftop,
the week ends
our words gone by
in the shade of the high rise next to
where we've pitched our soda cans.
Our headphones keep banging
while we nod
turn signals litter the curb
like fruit skins and jawbreakers
from kicked in quarter machines
where a three car pile up
made life interesting yesterday.
Watching traffic stop and go on our knees,
elbows at the edge of the rooftop,
the week ends
our words gone by
in the shade of the high rise next to
where we've pitched our soda cans.
Our headphones keep banging
while we nod
Pay Phone 2
Not quite gun metal, but as deadly.
Ten catcher sequence to burn out.
A penny for a takeaway.
Sharpshooter on
the books. "Hey, hello!
Goodbye." Finger snap. Not okay.
Another quarter? Chance!
Don't let me wreck. Telepathic bruise.
Button shine and spit. The sky is reflecting
hard off of the buttons and the inlaid numbers
on the dial pad and I hope you can smell the receiver
lifting it to my ear
and putting my lips to the mouthpiece.
Ten catcher sequence to burn out.
A penny for a takeaway.
Sharpshooter on
the books. "Hey, hello!
Goodbye." Finger snap. Not okay.
Another quarter? Chance!
Don't let me wreck. Telepathic bruise.
Button shine and spit. The sky is reflecting
hard off of the buttons and the inlaid numbers
on the dial pad and I hope you can smell the receiver
lifting it to my ear
and putting my lips to the mouthpiece.
Pay Phone
When was the last time,
ankle deep in sidewalk salt,
tell me about goodies,
ankle deep in sidewalk salt,
punching the numbers,
metal to glove and glove
to metal. Not a booth.
Just a stand up
and trying to call you.
Eyes up. Hands down.
Pushing nose first,
hoping it goes through
against understanding.
Wishing I was
somewhere better than home.
A God
after The Orb - Prime Evil
Pray to angels
pray to kings
pray to land
pray to clouds
pray to numbers
pray to me.
Pray to devils
pray to hell
pray to spit, chicken bones, and spells
pray to glory
pray to mouths
pray to certainties
pray to now.
Pray to stars
pray to food
pray to love
and pray to move
pray to baths
and champion
pray to tracks
pray to be.
Pray to spades
pray to earth
pray to work and
pray to dirt
pray to music
pray to see
pray what will,
horizon songed,
make sure
you've prayed to me.
Pray to angels
pray to kings
pray to land
pray to clouds
pray to numbers
pray to me.
Pray to devils
pray to hell
pray to spit, chicken bones, and spells
pray to glory
pray to mouths
pray to certainties
pray to now.
Pray to stars
pray to food
pray to love
and pray to move
pray to baths
and champion
pray to tracks
pray to be.
Pray to spades
pray to earth
pray to work and
pray to dirt
pray to music
pray to see
pray what will,
horizon songed,
make sure
you've prayed to me.
Crusher
Recurring dream
where black pours out of light fixtures like oil. We are tiny people, children, our hands small as can be. Holding utensils. Our teeth falling out between our fingertips and the roots full size and twirling like pink lengths of taffy. We are at school again. The teeth are yellow and caked all over with caramel powder. Trying to speak and stuttering we argue over who gets to ride the tricycle to play the tag & chase game where you cannot move if the sun is behind clouds. As soon as the sun comes out you can
pedal as hard as your legs
are willing to go.
On a rooftop with the fences clear in view. We are talking much too fast and slowing it down to be heard. While dodgeball flies to our left. Recurring dream. Jaw sore from the time Anthony smacked me after a cheap shot I took out on him when I was 11. Never expecting a white guy as goofy as he was had moves. At the bell. Seconds before recess ended. After the student teacher left to poo and we started playing tackle instead of two hand touch. With the fences clear in view. On top of that roof. Pulling our teeth until
the nerves came loose like pink and purple and blood blue yarn threads we talked too fast and
came back around to
explaining to our parents how we got home
with half our teeth gone.
and their heads shaking. Our stories growing in complexity. If only to stem the left and right tide. Waking on the concrete. Dodgeballs still zipping beside our ears. The tricycle game flowing without us. Our noses bleeding and heads pounding. Not knowing what we did wrong. Our bodies in all out rebellion and our pockets full of our own teeth. Across the street the park is shining. The wooden jungle gym red painted is enormous and we fall into tantrums laying on the concrete because our sneakers are beneath the planks of the bridge. Where we left them. The day before.
where black pours out of light fixtures like oil. We are tiny people, children, our hands small as can be. Holding utensils. Our teeth falling out between our fingertips and the roots full size and twirling like pink lengths of taffy. We are at school again. The teeth are yellow and caked all over with caramel powder. Trying to speak and stuttering we argue over who gets to ride the tricycle to play the tag & chase game where you cannot move if the sun is behind clouds. As soon as the sun comes out you can
pedal as hard as your legs
are willing to go.
On a rooftop with the fences clear in view. We are talking much too fast and slowing it down to be heard. While dodgeball flies to our left. Recurring dream. Jaw sore from the time Anthony smacked me after a cheap shot I took out on him when I was 11. Never expecting a white guy as goofy as he was had moves. At the bell. Seconds before recess ended. After the student teacher left to poo and we started playing tackle instead of two hand touch. With the fences clear in view. On top of that roof. Pulling our teeth until
the nerves came loose like pink and purple and blood blue yarn threads we talked too fast and
came back around to
explaining to our parents how we got home
with half our teeth gone.
and their heads shaking. Our stories growing in complexity. If only to stem the left and right tide. Waking on the concrete. Dodgeballs still zipping beside our ears. The tricycle game flowing without us. Our noses bleeding and heads pounding. Not knowing what we did wrong. Our bodies in all out rebellion and our pockets full of our own teeth. Across the street the park is shining. The wooden jungle gym red painted is enormous and we fall into tantrums laying on the concrete because our sneakers are beneath the planks of the bridge. Where we left them. The day before.
Power Animals
Though born a jackal,
and some time as a penguin afterward, it is swell
to be back, laughing in the tall grass
waiting for a turn to eat
instead of cold flattened water and an egg to warm.
and some time as a penguin afterward, it is swell
to be back, laughing in the tall grass
waiting for a turn to eat
instead of cold flattened water and an egg to warm.
First Songs
"Even though your heart is kind of small,
seems like you're built for something strong."
"Even though you're kind of weak,
seems like you're built for me."
Nothing caught on fire.
No ceilings collapsed.
Jiffy cornbread mix lying next to the unhooked video card.
Circuits shorted and unplugged.
"You're too affectionate. Stop touching my face."
The time you were upset that I
remembered a moment apart and
crossed lines.
Pacman and eight bit cherry stalking
you and yours. Close enough to smell and scent
and half a mile away, fingertips inches from contact and
tooclosefor comfort, but near enough for good eyes.
Tearing up and tearing off to good distance. I will and do miss
you.
I will fuck it up again. The only person I cannot help is
me.
In all fairness, it was like that when I got it here. A
miracle
"...that we made it home last night."
Bad weather makes for
good opportunity if you
look at it correctly. No, not at all. Be polite. Johnny be good.
Staring at her across the street with her puppy
leashed and screaming at it to pee like it knew
what the fuck her words meant.
"I want to keep that for myself. That is what I call him,
the name I gave him and that is mine, okay?"
No peace for the restless, no home for the homeless,
no place for the obvious and the misstep.
Rage was one of the deadly sins
I've been told before on occasion
inside my head.
The apple still on top of the bricks on the porch beside the letters
that should have stayed inside the mailbox that fingers opened
against better judgement.
I miss you already
though I just left.
We need to do this again sometime
said the fish to the filter.
A rarity. "Never placid again." "Never acid again?"
"Never ask it again," was what I meant to say.
"I don't have much more than my body to give
so I give freely of myself. I'm a fucking billionaire inside."
Wanting to ask her if her hair does that on its own
after she showers or if its product and
brush teased volume.
I don't have a cold and no it is not a coke habit.
"I'm better than that." Left to the right brain snickering.
The only difference being Rapunsel didn't know
how good she had it
before a boy pulled on her hair
with all his might.
seems like you're built for something strong."
"Even though you're kind of weak,
seems like you're built for me."
Nothing caught on fire.
No ceilings collapsed.
Jiffy cornbread mix lying next to the unhooked video card.
Circuits shorted and unplugged.
"You're too affectionate. Stop touching my face."
The time you were upset that I
remembered a moment apart and
crossed lines.
Pacman and eight bit cherry stalking
you and yours. Close enough to smell and scent
and half a mile away, fingertips inches from contact and
tooclosefor comfort, but near enough for good eyes.
Tearing up and tearing off to good distance. I will and do miss
you.
I will fuck it up again. The only person I cannot help is
me.
In all fairness, it was like that when I got it here. A
miracle
"...that we made it home last night."
Bad weather makes for
good opportunity if you
look at it correctly. No, not at all. Be polite. Johnny be good.
Staring at her across the street with her puppy
leashed and screaming at it to pee like it knew
what the fuck her words meant.
"I want to keep that for myself. That is what I call him,
the name I gave him and that is mine, okay?"
No peace for the restless, no home for the homeless,
no place for the obvious and the misstep.
Rage was one of the deadly sins
I've been told before on occasion
inside my head.
The apple still on top of the bricks on the porch beside the letters
that should have stayed inside the mailbox that fingers opened
against better judgement.
I miss you already
though I just left.
We need to do this again sometime
said the fish to the filter.
A rarity. "Never placid again." "Never acid again?"
"Never ask it again," was what I meant to say.
"I don't have much more than my body to give
so I give freely of myself. I'm a fucking billionaire inside."
Wanting to ask her if her hair does that on its own
after she showers or if its product and
brush teased volume.
I don't have a cold and no it is not a coke habit.
"I'm better than that." Left to the right brain snickering.
The only difference being Rapunsel didn't know
how good she had it
before a boy pulled on her hair
with all his might.
Goth Romance
Cherry trees blossomed and fell in the wind.
Stare at Morningside hill from the fishing hole
across the river.
Listen to the satellites going streaking across
stable night constellations and wonder
at the seams dividing ghosts.
Violently close diffident to close violence.
Shed jacket and glasses and sunglasses gone
in due time
like fallen leaves ahead of boot schedule
Sleep for days. Wake to dust motes,
her arm stilled across your torso.
A stiff traffic report. I-216
backed to the gills.
Where is the lighter? Night turned to day
work.
Stare at Morningside hill from the fishing hole
across the river.
Listen to the satellites going streaking across
stable night constellations and wonder
at the seams dividing ghosts.
Violently close diffident to close violence.
Shed jacket and glasses and sunglasses gone
in due time
like fallen leaves ahead of boot schedule
Sleep for days. Wake to dust motes,
her arm stilled across your torso.
A stiff traffic report. I-216
backed to the gills.
Where is the lighter? Night turned to day
work.
Chance
"Look to the sky for a warning."
"I told my mother about you
or the other way around, still.
Every grain of rice is someone's
sacrifice and a sack of rice
can't be made without-"
"I'll stop you there,
not to intrude, but-"
I'll tell you six inches of hawk.
I'll to you where she was refined
and stamped
hardened
and honed.
I will tell you where
I will tell you how and I will tell you when
you have permission to be scared.
"we can do this the easy way or-"
think about it this way:
your nose will look as swell around my neck
on a leather shoe string
as it does on your face.
Souvenir? "Hey! Hey!? I will drive you home;
do you have your keys?"
"I told my mother about you
or the other way around, still.
Every grain of rice is someone's
sacrifice and a sack of rice
can't be made without-"
"I'll stop you there,
not to intrude, but-"
I'll tell you six inches of hawk.
I'll to you where she was refined
and stamped
hardened
and honed.
I will tell you where
I will tell you how and I will tell you when
you have permission to be scared.
"we can do this the easy way or-"
think about it this way:
your nose will look as swell around my neck
on a leather shoe string
as it does on your face.
Souvenir? "Hey! Hey!? I will drive you home;
do you have your keys?"
Phase
Get out the garage and everything's fine and I
cannot start to find the right time but I look up
and hook up to galaxy jazz and go platz platz platz
passed to times when the stars ain't looked so bad
and I hook up to the stars and "where you are"s
and it keeps on going falling up to where
I want to be's and
I
travel space.
Disgusting. Can't stop watching
you eat. Lip smacking and tired
of what lip smacking is s'posed to mean.
Tooth loss dreams swinging back.
Do you want a napkin with that?
At the gas station again and cruising Johns.
Can't we have dinner?
cannot start to find the right time but I look up
and hook up to galaxy jazz and go platz platz platz
passed to times when the stars ain't looked so bad
and I hook up to the stars and "where you are"s
and it keeps on going falling up to where
I want to be's and
I
travel space.
Disgusting. Can't stop watching
you eat. Lip smacking and tired
of what lip smacking is s'posed to mean.
Tooth loss dreams swinging back.
Do you want a napkin with that?
At the gas station again and cruising Johns.
Can't we have dinner?
Come and Push Play
Tawdry.
"I don't know up from shopping bags!"
Movies. Like I've never rolled my tongue
across the roof of my mouth to find
everything in its
cannot stop having sex wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwith.
Dance! Repo man.
In the rigging, you burnout!
"I don't know up from shopping bags!"
Movies. Like I've never rolled my tongue
across the roof of my mouth to find
everything in its
cannot stop having sex wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwith.
Dance! Repo man.
In the rigging, you burnout!
Tessellations
Birds scream through the air and split sound to concussion
black and white spots.
You're dreaming, day dreaming, night dreaming! Wake up
to a bus blowing by inches too close for a kiss ask, rape.
Not today.
The cloud drum bass kicks and the cotton hammer falls
time into sharper relief, the near focus wrong and the far
spot on stumble true.
Pulse awakes behind the neck skin and eyes dilate.
Fingers grip pocket insides with no coin and across the river
all the leaves have fallen,
brown, red yellow
two at a time. All the while, beneath my dinosaur feet,
asking "we are me, but who are you"s ignored.
Don't leave me!
Force hands.
black and white spots.
You're dreaming, day dreaming, night dreaming! Wake up
to a bus blowing by inches too close for a kiss ask, rape.
Not today.
The cloud drum bass kicks and the cotton hammer falls
time into sharper relief, the near focus wrong and the far
spot on stumble true.
Pulse awakes behind the neck skin and eyes dilate.
Fingers grip pocket insides with no coin and across the river
all the leaves have fallen,
brown, red yellow
two at a time. All the while, beneath my dinosaur feet,
asking "we are me, but who are you"s ignored.
Don't leave me!
Force hands.
Alignment
We all leave ourselves behind, by turns.
Our selves do not always defy space and time
the way I wish them to.
No tracers, no extra lives.
Why can we not have coffee and talk about where we
have been? Have great fears
come true? Have great fears
failed to?
Have great fears. Let them form restraint.
Our selves do not always defy space and time
the way I wish them to.
No tracers, no extra lives.
Why can we not have coffee and talk about where we
have been? Have great fears
come true? Have great fears
failed to?
Have great fears. Let them form restraint.
Covert Ops
"I am a ninja.
I am a ghost.
Fuck that, I am the ghost of a ninja
who once wore a cloak of invisibility
and took it to the grave."
The cat bed is flipped upside down,
the kettle ball of fur on four legs sprinting
for the next shadow
to hedge himself.
"I see you! I will walk by again."
Two-year-olds. Same deal. The difference
is you can bury a cat and your
is will always mean more
than going face first into rain for fucking cat litter.
I am a ghost.
Fuck that, I am the ghost of a ninja
who once wore a cloak of invisibility
and took it to the grave."
The cat bed is flipped upside down,
the kettle ball of fur on four legs sprinting
for the next shadow
to hedge himself.
"I see you! I will walk by again."
Two-year-olds. Same deal. The difference
is you can bury a cat and your
is will always mean more
than going face first into rain for fucking cat litter.
We Fought and Nothing Came of It
I put on your girlfriend's boots after you stormed.
Tore my pictures down and broke the frames.
She shuffled for the glass. It's alright
is what I said in broken timed english
on every word
to test sobriety.
We both failed. And laughed. I believed
I could try again. To fuck a pussy. The stink
nearly forced vomit. Your ghost
belching between each and every her word.
That I care. Jump, skip, break to
hedge rows
and machine gun nests
and fifty cals and smooth bores
on tripods
behind
and tiger roar pillbox set to flat land
where everything is scene and set and orchestra.
She has very small feet. I'll drop them off later.
I'll fix the frames and buy new glass.
The war is inside your heart, not mine.
I came for the show,
but I'll stay for the after action report.
Tore my pictures down and broke the frames.
She shuffled for the glass. It's alright
is what I said in broken timed english
on every word
to test sobriety.
We both failed. And laughed. I believed
I could try again. To fuck a pussy. The stink
nearly forced vomit. Your ghost
belching between each and every her word.
That I care. Jump, skip, break to
hedge rows
and machine gun nests
and fifty cals and smooth bores
on tripods
behind
and tiger roar pillbox set to flat land
where everything is scene and set and orchestra.
She has very small feet. I'll drop them off later.
I'll fix the frames and buy new glass.
The war is inside your heart, not mine.
I came for the show,
but I'll stay for the after action report.
Smoker 38
Feel sorry for
lip moisture and centimeters dividing the flame
from a choice of chapstick and good taste
further divided by poor tastes in women and
sympathy for devils and multiply by
factorials
reasons why the two are close friends and no
closer than the black hole of an ashtray and
favors continually one upping, sparking
no sideways glances when
the butt going ash up
finds its way toward the next in line.
What I was waiting for all years - in small minutes.
lip moisture and centimeters dividing the flame
from a choice of chapstick and good taste
further divided by poor tastes in women and
sympathy for devils and multiply by
factorials
reasons why the two are close friends and no
closer than the black hole of an ashtray and
favors continually one upping, sparking
no sideways glances when
the butt going ash up
finds its way toward the next in line.
What I was waiting for all years - in small minutes.
Conning Tower
X amount of hours
to make it happen
before all is lost to brown pages flaking apart
against... I HAVE THE CON'.
to make it happen
before all is lost to brown pages flaking apart
against... I HAVE THE CON'.
Gay Shallow (i would fuck me if i met you, girl)
You can't deny beauty when it stares you in the face,
a well proportioned body in a well proportioned head space.
Some of it is understanding who you are,
some of it is understanding exactly how far
what you want is able to go, where you are, what. you. know.
About yourself. How to test, and which ways
to cultivate being around friends and fucking aliens and
knowing where to start shit and where to end.
Where the eye test comes and where "I" means nothing
because the people that you're talking to
don't give a damn about whats in
side of you as long as you keep on being whatever does you
and you exercising what makes you smile
doesn't lob shells from so many miles away where it's safe
to put it on a shelf and eat it too, cake.
Nothing's cake in this world of power and informatiwhippets,
we all share this mother fucking world that we're living in and
personally I don't give a damn as long as you're willing to
sometimes do the dance and take a sideways joke,
take a poor placed poke, take a jab, take a fist to your face
when your words don't place or set the table for friends I ride
and connect with, because it'll still go both ways and
if you're not prepared to taste the other edge of the blade I suggest,
maybe not in interests general, but perhaps maybe in your best,
take a pill, sit the fuck down, and understand
that why I'm laughing and talking to you has nothing to do
with your breasts. You're a beautiful person and I like
to surround myself with them, so when I look up from my drudge
I'm not looking at a barrel fire, so inspired by how you carry yourself;
tell you what let's call it even
conversation is a test
can I see you, will you see me, and smile bad magnets nonetheless?
Tell you what, tell you what,
there is a way to think this through,
I think if I had a pussy, you, a dick
we could possibly body switch
and be mad happy, and in love again from opposite sides of glass
as a girl, I know I couldn't, as a boy, you almost pass,
but tell you what, tell you what,
you're more like me and me like you than ever us two ourselves
so let's put each other on our walls, swapped heads,
and trophy shelved.
a well proportioned body in a well proportioned head space.
Some of it is understanding who you are,
some of it is understanding exactly how far
what you want is able to go, where you are, what. you. know.
About yourself. How to test, and which ways
to cultivate being around friends and fucking aliens and
knowing where to start shit and where to end.
Where the eye test comes and where "I" means nothing
because the people that you're talking to
don't give a damn about whats in
side of you as long as you keep on being whatever does you
and you exercising what makes you smile
doesn't lob shells from so many miles away where it's safe
to put it on a shelf and eat it too, cake.
Nothing's cake in this world of power and informatiwhippets,
we all share this mother fucking world that we're living in and
personally I don't give a damn as long as you're willing to
sometimes do the dance and take a sideways joke,
take a poor placed poke, take a jab, take a fist to your face
when your words don't place or set the table for friends I ride
and connect with, because it'll still go both ways and
if you're not prepared to taste the other edge of the blade I suggest,
maybe not in interests general, but perhaps maybe in your best,
take a pill, sit the fuck down, and understand
that why I'm laughing and talking to you has nothing to do
with your breasts. You're a beautiful person and I like
to surround myself with them, so when I look up from my drudge
I'm not looking at a barrel fire, so inspired by how you carry yourself;
tell you what let's call it even
conversation is a test
can I see you, will you see me, and smile bad magnets nonetheless?
Tell you what, tell you what,
there is a way to think this through,
I think if I had a pussy, you, a dick
we could possibly body switch
and be mad happy, and in love again from opposite sides of glass
as a girl, I know I couldn't, as a boy, you almost pass,
but tell you what, tell you what,
you're more like me and me like you than ever us two ourselves
so let's put each other on our walls, swapped heads,
and trophy shelved.
Snow 2
Stepping outside
stars obscured
I believe,
inside a space suit fit for Europa's tundra,
that what comes
down on me
is not silt
in deep ocean night,
but the stars themselves
returning to my veins,
descended in
their own time
because they knew
if they waited for me
they would die
before my eyes
and could wait not a moment longer.
stars obscured
I believe,
inside a space suit fit for Europa's tundra,
that what comes
down on me
is not silt
in deep ocean night,
but the stars themselves
returning to my veins,
descended in
their own time
because they knew
if they waited for me
they would die
before my eyes
and could wait not a moment longer.
Snow
Reversal. The off ramp taken three dozen times.
The 37th with snow on the ground
in a squall and in a hurry
when the rear end
stepped out.
Lift throttle, let the weight
shift forward and return traction
to the wheels still guiding the path.
Instead of flipping the sedan over the jersey wall
get home safe.
Things are not the same. The tires guiding
are not the tires powering. Do not forget
when things begin to slip with rear wheel drive
alone, power will not be your enemy.
The 37th with snow on the ground
in a squall and in a hurry
when the rear end
stepped out.
Lift throttle, let the weight
shift forward and return traction
to the wheels still guiding the path.
Instead of flipping the sedan over the jersey wall
get home safe.
Things are not the same. The tires guiding
are not the tires powering. Do not forget
when things begin to slip with rear wheel drive
alone, power will not be your enemy.
The Ground Assault
Jump from the green painted porch into a pile of leaves.
Run back across the front and take the stairs two at once
to do it again.
Summer was amazing. Bright blue free standing pools
and ivy climbing up in the tunnel between the garage and
ten foot wall marking the property line between Taylor street
and the other side of the block. The dare to brave it,
so many G.I. Joes gone in the call of never ended days duty.
Skid stops on BMXs kicking driveway gravel yards out
to the street.
Expeditions to the bodega and thieving lessons,
whole sleeves of cookies at a time and if ya
put the 8 bit, flip top, handheld, black on bronze screen
toys in your mouth they won't trip the door sensors
or tip off cashiers, or just stick the bags of Legos inside
a burgundy knit hat.
Follow round chase arounds and games of tag
that end if and only if the people from two blocks over
run away from the square of Staten Island that is fair game,
chased to curb edge. Maybe a few yards further,
but no more.
Holding hands over tea.
A thumb across your knuckles and again.
Teeth spread laughing over
what might grow in the window box
once the weather really starts to get cold this year and
wondering what the nap headed gray eyed
ragamuffins will get up to when they arrive
years from now.
Snapped awake years from then.
Run back across the front and take the stairs two at once
to do it again.
Summer was amazing. Bright blue free standing pools
and ivy climbing up in the tunnel between the garage and
ten foot wall marking the property line between Taylor street
and the other side of the block. The dare to brave it,
so many G.I. Joes gone in the call of never ended days duty.
Skid stops on BMXs kicking driveway gravel yards out
to the street.
Expeditions to the bodega and thieving lessons,
whole sleeves of cookies at a time and if ya
put the 8 bit, flip top, handheld, black on bronze screen
toys in your mouth they won't trip the door sensors
or tip off cashiers, or just stick the bags of Legos inside
a burgundy knit hat.
Follow round chase arounds and games of tag
that end if and only if the people from two blocks over
run away from the square of Staten Island that is fair game,
chased to curb edge. Maybe a few yards further,
but no more.
Holding hands over tea.
A thumb across your knuckles and again.
Teeth spread laughing over
what might grow in the window box
once the weather really starts to get cold this year and
wondering what the nap headed gray eyed
ragamuffins will get up to when they arrive
years from now.
Snapped awake years from then.
Fly By Wire
I used to rely on cables
to move surfaces
before science showed me there was a speed beyond propellers
where cables braided simply would not do and
power boosted hydraulics could
feed back too much noise and snatch control
from my fingertips like a bad winged bird
screaming through the copper bars of its cage.
Now I tell the motors what to do,
electronic songs
feel less brave.
To the aerodome to tear the dusty canvas off
elliptical wing tips and fifty caliber air cooled guns,
pull the pins off five hundred pound dumb bombs,
and push in the choke on horizontal opposed
28 cylinder, super charged dreams.
Tonight we ride inside the envelope,
fingertip close to the air speaking back
every vibration our heart knows.
Tonight we hug the cirrus clouds
and let our gun barrels glow.
The towns and ship yards beneath us light up
along the joy ride. Concussions come through
throaty bass while our propeller tears the air,
flak fire in our face.
I miss the shudder, the body racking shudder of a stall.
The thrill of lift on lost weight,
wanting to roll in and watch the pounders hit their marks,
ballooning orange white and speckle black debris
against the night.
Until the purpose built fighters come in and
the fuel gauge takes center stage and
the only thing in mind
is making it back to friendly territory alive
at war speed.
to move surfaces
before science showed me there was a speed beyond propellers
where cables braided simply would not do and
power boosted hydraulics could
feed back too much noise and snatch control
from my fingertips like a bad winged bird
screaming through the copper bars of its cage.
Now I tell the motors what to do,
electronic songs
feel less brave.
To the aerodome to tear the dusty canvas off
elliptical wing tips and fifty caliber air cooled guns,
pull the pins off five hundred pound dumb bombs,
and push in the choke on horizontal opposed
28 cylinder, super charged dreams.
Tonight we ride inside the envelope,
fingertip close to the air speaking back
every vibration our heart knows.
Tonight we hug the cirrus clouds
and let our gun barrels glow.
The towns and ship yards beneath us light up
along the joy ride. Concussions come through
throaty bass while our propeller tears the air,
flak fire in our face.
I miss the shudder, the body racking shudder of a stall.
The thrill of lift on lost weight,
wanting to roll in and watch the pounders hit their marks,
ballooning orange white and speckle black debris
against the night.
Until the purpose built fighters come in and
the fuel gauge takes center stage and
the only thing in mind
is making it back to friendly territory alive
at war speed.
Fisherman's Song
Today we fish on the side of the river,
casting lines from the rocks underneath low limb hung trees.
Don't slip, if you drop anything leave it go,
for the dam water has an appetite no one can please.
Today we fish on the side of the river,
where current churns hard and rocks await beneath.
The current is strong and the slope is severe,
but the quiet pool keeps steady and fat catfish in between.
Where everything settles chum and twig float,
they'll be skulking, stomachs mean,
and if you get lucky and stay tuned
while the sun beats, beer cans tossed back to bush and tree,
you may land one worth a photo on a good Saturday,
or, at least, get a good workout because
chairs are pointless
when the face of the flat rocked ridge
beside the dam ready to take you under
is sloping something close to 60 degrees.
casting lines from the rocks underneath low limb hung trees.
Don't slip, if you drop anything leave it go,
for the dam water has an appetite no one can please.
Today we fish on the side of the river,
where current churns hard and rocks await beneath.
The current is strong and the slope is severe,
but the quiet pool keeps steady and fat catfish in between.
Where everything settles chum and twig float,
they'll be skulking, stomachs mean,
and if you get lucky and stay tuned
while the sun beats, beer cans tossed back to bush and tree,
you may land one worth a photo on a good Saturday,
or, at least, get a good workout because
chairs are pointless
when the face of the flat rocked ridge
beside the dam ready to take you under
is sloping something close to 60 degrees.
Touch Noses
My boots were cooling
after tough reentry
from the upper atmosphere and
your cigarette was a centipede of ash
black tailed.
The scarf my ex gave me was around your neck and
I was on my way to the floor to sleep or swim
on elbows toward the door.
"I have to wake up tomorrow."
"I have to wake up now."
"I can't."
"You can."
"Where is my damn wallet? Come on, beautiful!"
"No!"
The snow was no deeper than any other December.
I remember the long stumble home. The coffee table
going on its side. The ashtray smacking me in the eye
still in your hand when the lights went out in yours.
Her words repeating through your still mouth.
Touching you is like petting a horses nose.
Spooked every step of the way and
remembering your gray rooted dreadlocks and
chain smoke rumble laugh and
how we left the pub that night,
glass bead snowmelt on our foreheads,
promise where our lips connected,
softness where the hoop of your ice cold
piercing touched my nose and
fire leaped through
to a heap I neglected
for too long and
consumed you and me. I'm sorry.
You were an accident. I was too.
In pieces, that night, always forgetting.
Drowning until my gentle heart
floats to the surface of an ocean
I did not know I plied
until the night we touched noses.
after tough reentry
from the upper atmosphere and
your cigarette was a centipede of ash
black tailed.
The scarf my ex gave me was around your neck and
I was on my way to the floor to sleep or swim
on elbows toward the door.
"I have to wake up tomorrow."
"I have to wake up now."
"I can't."
"You can."
"Where is my damn wallet? Come on, beautiful!"
"No!"
The snow was no deeper than any other December.
I remember the long stumble home. The coffee table
going on its side. The ashtray smacking me in the eye
still in your hand when the lights went out in yours.
Her words repeating through your still mouth.
Touching you is like petting a horses nose.
Spooked every step of the way and
remembering your gray rooted dreadlocks and
chain smoke rumble laugh and
how we left the pub that night,
glass bead snowmelt on our foreheads,
promise where our lips connected,
softness where the hoop of your ice cold
piercing touched my nose and
fire leaped through
to a heap I neglected
for too long and
consumed you and me. I'm sorry.
You were an accident. I was too.
In pieces, that night, always forgetting.
Drowning until my gentle heart
floats to the surface of an ocean
I did not know I plied
until the night we touched noses.
Super Collider
Love is never enough.
You know that.
I know that.
A little mores.
In hyperspace everything stands stilled.
Watching leaves
brown, orange, and blood red,
blow along the curb, flicking lights looping
with them
and finding time to hoc green sinus throat chunks
sticky where they smack
against those curbs.
Autumn love. Or something near it.
We get sloppy, don't we?
It's been easier spending time with you.
The sun is brutal on the water.
My sunglasses in your apartment.
Stars streaking back to night while we chit chat.
You know that.
I know that.
A little mores.
In hyperspace everything stands stilled.
Watching leaves
brown, orange, and blood red,
blow along the curb, flicking lights looping
with them
and finding time to hoc green sinus throat chunks
sticky where they smack
against those curbs.
Autumn love. Or something near it.
We get sloppy, don't we?
It's been easier spending time with you.
The sun is brutal on the water.
My sunglasses in your apartment.
Stars streaking back to night while we chit chat.
Scars
From an Lt to my motherfucking General,
a message to be my motherfucking heneral.
I look up to a lot of motherfuckers that don't deserve it
and you are one of the sonbitches actually swerve it.
Making the move and the choose and the two twos
that actually make the world move underneath foreign feet.
I don't know what it is that makes reel real, but I know
what makes kids beat their feet.
It's hard not to squirrel out and pride myself on being
a some kind of self made man. Cuz if I had enough arms
I wouldn't have enough hands. Birthday beatings and
shit in a can. Pop the top and drink like
suburban bullshit skins to mask what asks.
It gets rough and the times went tough and I wish
I had an alcoholic dad. At least then, things would've
been explained, railroad tracks pointing the trains,
but they didn't and they weren't and I live with
mystery. Phantoms of an age I can never understand
and music played from an unhired band. I rand
because I want to. Because I need to.
Because you will never be fifteen years back
where He was.
a message to be my motherfucking heneral.
I look up to a lot of motherfuckers that don't deserve it
and you are one of the sonbitches actually swerve it.
Making the move and the choose and the two twos
that actually make the world move underneath foreign feet.
I don't know what it is that makes reel real, but I know
what makes kids beat their feet.
It's hard not to squirrel out and pride myself on being
a some kind of self made man. Cuz if I had enough arms
I wouldn't have enough hands. Birthday beatings and
shit in a can. Pop the top and drink like
suburban bullshit skins to mask what asks.
It gets rough and the times went tough and I wish
I had an alcoholic dad. At least then, things would've
been explained, railroad tracks pointing the trains,
but they didn't and they weren't and I live with
mystery. Phantoms of an age I can never understand
and music played from an unhired band. I rand
because I want to. Because I need to.
Because you will never be fifteen years back
where He was.
Baseball LP
1
God is merciless, not without conscience.
God is merciless, not without conscience.
She makes the grass to grow and
She makes the sand to sting,
The sun to shine and the rain
To wash away blood and tear alike.
Sacrifice, this day, and know a peace.
2
You are a fire. Give
me this kiss, this dance
And tonight I will give you the fucking stars.
You came for me. Only
you know
The trouble we’ve seen.
The winters.
You are a fire. Set
light to me and I will shine.
Everything else? We
will destroy.
3
I am the god of hell
And eight horsemen are coming with me.
Set your pikes and shields and tar
And steel yourselves.
Tonight you will know fear
And our cleats sounding the depth of graves.
4
They do not know you yet, and that is okay.
They will soon.
Beneath these stars and lights,
This sun and these clouds, this rattle rain,
They will know why
Animals are caged.
“Do not try the lion for the lion may try you too.”
5
To win is to know.
To lose is to know.
The sand in a mouth.
The sun in an eye.
Together we are nothing
Without our brothers.
6
I am not afraid of
Small opportunity.
I am heart and balance.
I am routine, but give
Something to me rarer
And I am liable to explode.
7
Remember before the game.
Holding grass shoots
And letting them fall
In the wind, guessing where
The sun would come from?
Take it all away. Now
is
8
I will not forgive you
For every and all you do.
A gentleman’s race.
Back pocket hawked race.
Talk to me over 60’ 6” &
I’ll meet you at the plate.
9
Take it outside
The diamond
And radiate
Pure light within
So bright the
Field will not see.
10
Gloves are extensions
Of men fallible,
Truth Will speak
In a hit laced
Where mere men
Cannot go.
11
I have dreamed
About this day.
Smelled the tall grass,
Walked the beach
With you. We’ve
Been here before.
Bottom of the Twelfth
Is it reel? Touch
down in the box.
Nothing, but a bat a ball and
Endless math.
Simplify, sweatheart.
Touch the plate. Tug
your ear
And let it blaze on the outside.
Game of Inches
You realize the only thing keeping us apart
is two inches of steel
miles of paperwork
an alibi
a character witness
a jury of people not my peers
the depth, to wit, I fucking love you
and your breath on my nose like wind's afterthought
that reminds me we are not alone today.
Reminds me I do not know
what I would be
without the shoes you helped me buy
instead of another murder suicide.
is two inches of steel
miles of paperwork
an alibi
a character witness
a jury of people not my peers
the depth, to wit, I fucking love you
and your breath on my nose like wind's afterthought
that reminds me we are not alone today.
Reminds me I do not know
what I would be
without the shoes you helped me buy
instead of another murder suicide.
Video Tape
Play stop rewind fast forward human beings
without the obstacle of reading. I laugh.
Everything is reading. I stop, remembering
the interpretation class and the linguistics class
I shat my way through and still
picked up so much
despite myself.
Wasted a few credits and a few thousand dollars
on a Holocaust class I had to literally piss my pants
to get out of taking the final exam at my desk. It was
not at all what I expected. The ol' bait and switch
far and a ways beyond the class dropping date.
Good move. Too shay.
Asynchronous are. Strange to be. Always in.
Fragments collect if you want to put your palms together
and collect the bits of reign. Settled and ripples coursed
against each other. The way it... has... to...
Stop rewind fast forward play delete pause. Feminists. Fuck.
I would like to see her
now
to compare wall paper and all.
without the obstacle of reading. I laugh.
Everything is reading. I stop, remembering
the interpretation class and the linguistics class
I shat my way through and still
picked up so much
despite myself.
Wasted a few credits and a few thousand dollars
on a Holocaust class I had to literally piss my pants
to get out of taking the final exam at my desk. It was
not at all what I expected. The ol' bait and switch
far and a ways beyond the class dropping date.
Good move. Too shay.
Asynchronous are. Strange to be. Always in.
Fragments collect if you want to put your palms together
and collect the bits of reign. Settled and ripples coursed
against each other. The way it... has... to...
Stop rewind fast forward play delete pause. Feminists. Fuck.
I would like to see her
now
to compare wall paper and all.
Hot Ears 2
The furnace in the space between is something like a
familiar machine that's based floors underneath the ground
and churns and churns and churns.
See the glow from way up here and it burns and tells
me why everything has to stay so fuzz edged oil paint.
Cutting up live objects.
Express trains go. Slipping through the dreaming door
and listening to my heart beat through the mattress
through pillow, through the pillowcase and
it goes without me wanting it to. Throbbing like the leaves
on the orange skin trees in ugly sunlight. If there were
sunglasses for a heart, hearts would wear them.
Overcome with
mute.
Came across the seas to... mute.
Go down and come home
to the place where no thing and no one is learned.
Everything is known and still new in dreamland.
Ears are burning. Ears are burning! Sex parts. Make up.
Constitutions and make up. Break a heart once, shame.
Break a heart twice, shame. Don't be silly.
Ice packs and jet assisted take off. Ears are burning
and if it's okay or not
is up in the air.
familiar machine that's based floors underneath the ground
and churns and churns and churns.
See the glow from way up here and it burns and tells
me why everything has to stay so fuzz edged oil paint.
Cutting up live objects.
Express trains go. Slipping through the dreaming door
and listening to my heart beat through the mattress
through pillow, through the pillowcase and
it goes without me wanting it to. Throbbing like the leaves
on the orange skin trees in ugly sunlight. If there were
sunglasses for a heart, hearts would wear them.
Overcome with
mute.
Came across the seas to... mute.
Go down and come home
to the place where no thing and no one is learned.
Everything is known and still new in dreamland.
Ears are burning. Ears are burning! Sex parts. Make up.
Constitutions and make up. Break a heart once, shame.
Break a heart twice, shame. Don't be silly.
Ice packs and jet assisted take off. Ears are burning
and if it's okay or not
is up in the air.
Smoker 37
Cold hands. More specifically
cold fingertips. Cut out to California.
Low sunsets and vino and long drives.
Cut out to Great Lakes and oh Canada.
Cut out to Florida and swamp and fauna.
Territory. Cold hands and cold fingertips.
Armor up. Cans and fire and goodies.
Chiefing. Cause for concern. Cloud
voice. All in a handshake. No kings, no queens,
just seams.
cold fingertips. Cut out to California.
Low sunsets and vino and long drives.
Cut out to Great Lakes and oh Canada.
Cut out to Florida and swamp and fauna.
Territory. Cold hands and cold fingertips.
Armor up. Cans and fire and goodies.
Chiefing. Cause for concern. Cloud
voice. All in a handshake. No kings, no queens,
just seams.
Dear God, Walk With Me For a Minute
Hold my hand, baby please.
Your skin
against.
Battle with me. Course the skys and
maybe we can cheers on the weekends.
Bumpers and junk. I'm okay with that.
Trying to get back where, you know. Ya kno?
Different ways. I know I'm not a kid or a kid at heart,
but could you hold my hand?
I don't want it, I need it. It's been hard. Difficulty comes
when I expect least
and the seasons are changing and I looked both ways
so please, hold my goddamn hand
while my other peels and eats an orange
and it goes down my shirt.
Your skin
against.
Battle with me. Course the skys and
maybe we can cheers on the weekends.
Bumpers and junk. I'm okay with that.
Trying to get back where, you know. Ya kno?
Different ways. I know I'm not a kid or a kid at heart,
but could you hold my hand?
I don't want it, I need it. It's been hard. Difficulty comes
when I expect least
and the seasons are changing and I looked both ways
so please, hold my goddamn hand
while my other peels and eats an orange
and it goes down my shirt.
Gun Metal
Shooting yourself in the face is a lie
told several times over, I know I'm shy, but
everything comes to a head some days
and everyone has to find their own ways and
painting pictures with the side of your brain
no way to begin to explain that
sometimes you need it on the wall
twelve gauge telling you, that you can stop it all
you can stop the voices and make you moose,
you can horn it up and take that choose
the out is there, sitting behind your head
close the books and let her fly
close conversations and take a skip.
To have it and taste and play. That's all.
Feel the deck beneath the liner,
the Great Lakes and be the ship.
Some people need body pillows.
Some people need focus.
Some people need a magic word
or machine and metal and a little hocus.
told several times over, I know I'm shy, but
everything comes to a head some days
and everyone has to find their own ways and
painting pictures with the side of your brain
no way to begin to explain that
sometimes you need it on the wall
twelve gauge telling you, that you can stop it all
you can stop the voices and make you moose,
you can horn it up and take that choose
the out is there, sitting behind your head
close the books and let her fly
close conversations and take a skip.
To have it and taste and play. That's all.
Feel the deck beneath the liner,
the Great Lakes and be the ship.
Some people need body pillows.
Some people need focus.
Some people need a magic word
or machine and metal and a little hocus.
Horse Blinders
Chomping at the bit. Chomping at the bit. Chomping at the bit.
I howl. I can't fix it. But I can change. No, seriously.
I howl. I want something else to it. There isn't.
Stay alert.
I howl. I can't fix it. But I can change. No, seriously.
I howl. I want something else to it. There isn't.
Stay alert.
Process
Leaves on the ground again. You've lived well, haven't you. A wink
and a finger gun missing a finger nail. I don't need to lick the tip anymore
to get a good read on the wind anymore. Fresh skin is easier.
Able to do it. Breath in air on rocks. There was a man walking against
traffic on William Flynn. I thought I hit him, but I only hit his rucksack
with my fender. It flew like a deer stuffed with cotton, or clothing.
People come out of nowhere, don't they? Wish condensing air from
our mouths was cigarette smoke. Hands rest inches on the iron grate table.
"Do you feel like coffee?" Inside the shop are student teacher meetings
and more people than anyone should want to be. "It's too hot, sorry."
I don't think I feel like coffee, my notebook away from foot traffic.
Thank you for asking. Fingertips draw apart. "Do you smoke?"
I don't like to. "Yes." Do you? I haven't seen any squirrels in a long time.
Nature is off its bees again. Maybe. Snow is the great equalizer.
Your eyes are diamonds. Mine too. This afternoon, you and I are
street vendors.
and a finger gun missing a finger nail. I don't need to lick the tip anymore
to get a good read on the wind anymore. Fresh skin is easier.
Able to do it. Breath in air on rocks. There was a man walking against
traffic on William Flynn. I thought I hit him, but I only hit his rucksack
with my fender. It flew like a deer stuffed with cotton, or clothing.
People come out of nowhere, don't they? Wish condensing air from
our mouths was cigarette smoke. Hands rest inches on the iron grate table.
"Do you feel like coffee?" Inside the shop are student teacher meetings
and more people than anyone should want to be. "It's too hot, sorry."
I don't think I feel like coffee, my notebook away from foot traffic.
Thank you for asking. Fingertips draw apart. "Do you smoke?"
I don't like to. "Yes." Do you? I haven't seen any squirrels in a long time.
Nature is off its bees again. Maybe. Snow is the great equalizer.
Your eyes are diamonds. Mine too. This afternoon, you and I are
street vendors.
Iron Galaxy Chaser
Stupid fuck, stupid fuck, stupid, fuck. Stupid. Fuck.
How the hell did you fall for that. Twice. I know.
250 miles to not get kissed? I know.
250 miles to get fucked? I know!
250 miles to get what? I know!!
"A wise man puts his filings in a bin.
a foolish man poops gold plated license plates."
Said no one ever. Shut the fuck up. Jesus Christ.
Yes, invoking capital letters because I hate you that much.
If the galaxy was made of iron
and a person had enough supplies in tow
the nearest star would be
a trail hike several a many afternoon
tire kicking sometimes rock skipping
tits out shoes off back on
hand in pocket eyebrow adjusting
wedgie undoing phone checking
earring adjusted fingertipping stroll.
How the hell did you fall for that. Twice. I know.
250 miles to not get kissed? I know.
250 miles to get fucked? I know!
250 miles to get what? I know!!
"A wise man puts his filings in a bin.
a foolish man poops gold plated license plates."
Said no one ever. Shut the fuck up. Jesus Christ.
Yes, invoking capital letters because I hate you that much.
If the galaxy was made of iron
and a person had enough supplies in tow
the nearest star would be
a trail hike several a many afternoon
tire kicking sometimes rock skipping
tits out shoes off back on
hand in pocket eyebrow adjusting
wedgie undoing phone checking
earring adjusted fingertipping stroll.
32 Bit
I always liked Knuckles more than Sonic.
Always Birdo before Bowser, by a hair.
Blame it on N64 Tennis and
my nem that always took it
a shade too seriously.
Sympathy for a goomba and
travesty for a koopa and
I always wanted to see a bird's eye of F-Zero.
He had two tails, come on!
No? That's fine. Sometimes when I cannot keep
my mouth shut I recite lines
from Arkanoid and remember
blips of Asteroids and think about
how much fun that job would be. Make a T.V.show
about that I am
halfway in the door and halfway out. Don't do that.
You'll get tanked one script in.
But seriously. Top Gear. First edition. I still have nightmares.
Baseball 9
I took the hitch out of my swing. It's a good thing. Tearing the spacers out of the gaps from point A to point B. Idea, question mark, profit. Learning what the make up of a question mark is
cracks a slit melon smile. Could it really have been that simple all along? A day to learn. A wife time to master, I've heard it said. Fluid all day. Speed all day. Power all day.
When you put it together and make it look smart and easy. Nature, nature. Temper, temper. Give it some time, hon'. Be teachable. That ball will sail off the barrel with some back spin
and carry clear out to the damn river and the Earth will hug your insides tight and pull you down to keep you from flying into outer space behind it and the pitcher will want to kiss you. And fume instead.
cracks a slit melon smile. Could it really have been that simple all along? A day to learn. A wife time to master, I've heard it said. Fluid all day. Speed all day. Power all day.
When you put it together and make it look smart and easy. Nature, nature. Temper, temper. Give it some time, hon'. Be teachable. That ball will sail off the barrel with some back spin
and carry clear out to the damn river and the Earth will hug your insides tight and pull you down to keep you from flying into outer space behind it and the pitcher will want to kiss you. And fume instead.
Baseball 8
Continuous and strict
modification.
I've been working on my swing.
As much about the clock
as movement. As much about the mind as
where nerves meet their ends
in muscle and flow.
Bruce Lee would've been a short stop.
modification.
I've been working on my swing.
As much about the clock
as movement. As much about the mind as
where nerves meet their ends
in muscle and flow.
Bruce Lee would've been a short stop.
Bass Track
Boosting music and screaming at the windshield,
remember the dance and the army man shuffle
at the Christmas party wearing bright gold box bows
on asses and clapping to the beat and on time.
Matched up like teeth on gears
motivating the engine to go.
Faster, slower, faster. Screaming at the windshield.
Stand next to the tree and wrap tinsel
around the neck and spin around and around
until caged in itchy silver and red and shimmer green.
Without falling over. Slosh noggin and
better than what's ever been. Come out of the skull
like sunshine rainbow lions.
Road and sidewalk and telephone pole
parking meter and dog walkers and mail carrier
stretch to vanishing points
screaming at the windshield. Shatter glass
goes like glitter in the kiss
and the second and a half
after the music cuts short
circuited memory.
Come home, maybe?
Pick glass out of the face. Be sincere. Dance
the whole way home and roll up the walls
of street fronts where footsteps fail. Clap
to the beat. Doing bad robots and
stub toes on coffee tables in the right times
at the wrong places and laughter and touch
hand games woven inbetween
to kill for
these days.
Straight on 'til the morning. Third star on the right.
remember the dance and the army man shuffle
at the Christmas party wearing bright gold box bows
on asses and clapping to the beat and on time.
Matched up like teeth on gears
motivating the engine to go.
Faster, slower, faster. Screaming at the windshield.
Stand next to the tree and wrap tinsel
around the neck and spin around and around
until caged in itchy silver and red and shimmer green.
Without falling over. Slosh noggin and
better than what's ever been. Come out of the skull
like sunshine rainbow lions.
Road and sidewalk and telephone pole
parking meter and dog walkers and mail carrier
stretch to vanishing points
screaming at the windshield. Shatter glass
goes like glitter in the kiss
and the second and a half
after the music cuts short
circuited memory.
Come home, maybe?
Pick glass out of the face. Be sincere. Dance
the whole way home and roll up the walls
of street fronts where footsteps fail. Clap
to the beat. Doing bad robots and
stub toes on coffee tables in the right times
at the wrong places and laughter and touch
hand games woven inbetween
to kill for
these days.
Straight on 'til the morning. Third star on the right.
Bite the Tongue Depressor
I never was okay with toothpicks.
Jilly jilly cuss cuss. Mouth to tooth kind
of shards with billy billy bloof.
Blood. Mash the motorway.
Driving is still strange. Drift across the
double yellows
and laughing all the way.
Meaning something escapes again,
but we still have
ripcords.
Jilly jilly cuss cuss. Mouth to tooth kind
of shards with billy billy bloof.
Blood. Mash the motorway.
Driving is still strange. Drift across the
double yellows
and laughing all the way.
Meaning something escapes again,
but we still have
ripcords.
Tracking
Static, static, everywhere and not a drop.
Some things get
I was thinking
the apple in the freezer
the story behind it
ashamed that I
accumulation like big ol'
clouds.
I was hard up and I laid down
in a field not mowed fresh and
looked up at the sky.
The same sky
someone saw
not more than a day before
and remembered that I have not been
poked so hard by an idea broached by
a long time. A bumblebee managed
to stick the landing on my nose.
It was dumb. Near the gas station.
Smart to the. Gracious. I have been
chopping off words to integrate myself better with
the people I have grown
to be friends with. Cohabitants with because
if you kill everyone on the face of the Earth
all you have is you and your
imagination. Machinations. And your.
Time out and time ins and break stops.
Curly squib pops. If they mess with us.
Right the ship. Write everything. Right the ship.
The only thing keeping my teeth from
your throat is
rules rules rules.
I wrote a sonnet once.
So did my ____ and then we all
shed tears into the
Have you ever dreamed in stereo?
Wake up laughing, wake up screaming, wake up
harder than you ever thought you'd be
and softer than you ever thought you could be?
When it reached ten draw an eleven
and then put your fingers on her
just to see how it sounds?
Beloved. Shield yourself from.
It really is a system. A self protecting.
Gorgeous. Eat. Then power
through the cages.
Come hell or high
slaughter.
Some things get
I was thinking
the apple in the freezer
the story behind it
ashamed that I
accumulation like big ol'
clouds.
I was hard up and I laid down
in a field not mowed fresh and
looked up at the sky.
The same sky
someone saw
not more than a day before
and remembered that I have not been
poked so hard by an idea broached by
a long time. A bumblebee managed
to stick the landing on my nose.
It was dumb. Near the gas station.
Smart to the. Gracious. I have been
chopping off words to integrate myself better with
the people I have grown
to be friends with. Cohabitants with because
if you kill everyone on the face of the Earth
all you have is you and your
imagination. Machinations. And your.
Time out and time ins and break stops.
Curly squib pops. If they mess with us.
Right the ship. Write everything. Right the ship.
The only thing keeping my teeth from
your throat is
rules rules rules.
I wrote a sonnet once.
So did my ____ and then we all
shed tears into the
Have you ever dreamed in stereo?
Wake up laughing, wake up screaming, wake up
harder than you ever thought you'd be
and softer than you ever thought you could be?
When it reached ten draw an eleven
and then put your fingers on her
just to see how it sounds?
Beloved. Shield yourself from.
It really is a system. A self protecting.
Gorgeous. Eat. Then power
through the cages.
Come hell or high
slaughter.
Pittsburgh Black and Whites 12
You don't know how that touches me
hearing the fight a floor down and a floor
away. Walking around my truck
happy to observe her
and then asking if I feel like getting kept
once our eyes match up across the bed.
You don't know how that kind of love
squirrels my nerves and I go back eyed
into "hello, it's nice to meet you this morning" tonights.
Someone is screaming a few blocks over,
domestic, and someone is screaming
at the corner ballistic. Hunt down and dee stroy.
Not today. Not right now. Not ever again.
Strings singing to the tune of well.
You're doing alright kiddo. You're done nothing wrong
and the man in the hedges two blocks off
keeps nodding and,
for Christ's sake, orange moon before the clouds,
the night has not lied to you.
hearing the fight a floor down and a floor
away. Walking around my truck
happy to observe her
and then asking if I feel like getting kept
once our eyes match up across the bed.
You don't know how that kind of love
squirrels my nerves and I go back eyed
into "hello, it's nice to meet you this morning" tonights.
Someone is screaming a few blocks over,
domestic, and someone is screaming
at the corner ballistic. Hunt down and dee stroy.
Not today. Not right now. Not ever again.
Strings singing to the tune of well.
You're doing alright kiddo. You're done nothing wrong
and the man in the hedges two blocks off
keeps nodding and,
for Christ's sake, orange moon before the clouds,
the night has not lied to you.
Understanding
I am disposable. I am disposable. Repeat after me.
I am disposable. Nothing turns on me alone. Eat it.
I am disposable. I am functioning, but replaceable.
I am disposable. Nothing turns on me alone. Eat it.
I am a piece of a system. I am disposable. Repeat after me.
I am disposable. Nothing turns on me alone. Eat it.
I am disposable. I am disposable. Repeat after me.
Scrub the wheels. Repeat after me. Adjust the chrome.
Repeat after me. Repeat after me. REPEAT AFTER ME!!!
I am a piece of system. I am disposable. Nothing turns
on me, alone. I am functioning, but replaceable.
I am disposable. Nothing turns on me alone. Eat it.
I am disposable. I am functioning, but replaceable.
I am disposable. Nothing turns on me alone. Eat it.
I am a piece of a system. I am disposable. Repeat after me.
I am disposable. Nothing turns on me alone. Eat it.
I am disposable. I am disposable. Repeat after me.
Scrub the wheels. Repeat after me. Adjust the chrome.
Repeat after me. Repeat after me. REPEAT AFTER ME!!!
I am a piece of system. I am disposable. Nothing turns
on me, alone. I am functioning, but replaceable.
I Don't Know Where You're From but Me...
Run across lanes of traffic,
oncoming. Run across
lanes of highway traffic.
Park your car. You have to see this.
You have to be seeing this
wherever you are.
You must be seething this.
Late summer thunderheads.
Enormous, lightning filled, rabbit tails,
and gods and spat curbs and
"damnit"s. "I love her."
Mother superior. Mother nature,
is left off, while we sit the porch
at the hole, waiting for power to come back
in the storms wake.
oncoming. Run across
lanes of highway traffic.
Park your car. You have to see this.
You have to be seeing this
wherever you are.
You must be seething this.
Late summer thunderheads.
Enormous, lightning filled, rabbit tails,
and gods and spat curbs and
"damnit"s. "I love her."
Mother superior. Mother nature,
is left off, while we sit the porch
at the hole, waiting for power to come back
in the storms wake.
Smoker 36 (silverfish)
Waking up in Wilkinsburg
for the grocery night shift
legs burning to pound pavement
and tackle a new day
designed for bare fingertips
against house hedges along the sidewalk
to feel the cool.
Tear bed sheets away and see
the silverfish scatter. Wind ripped rain drops.
Raining again. Against window glass.
Pack extra socks. Pack the Sherlock
with cherry vanilla.
Today is going to be alright.
Beth is going to try to one up the story.
Tell it anyway in the locker room
because you will, for a moment,
cross the years and share
first times, hanging up wet jackets.
for the grocery night shift
legs burning to pound pavement
and tackle a new day
designed for bare fingertips
against house hedges along the sidewalk
to feel the cool.
Tear bed sheets away and see
the silverfish scatter. Wind ripped rain drops.
Raining again. Against window glass.
Pack extra socks. Pack the Sherlock
with cherry vanilla.
Today is going to be alright.
Beth is going to try to one up the story.
Tell it anyway in the locker room
because you will, for a moment,
cross the years and share
first times, hanging up wet jackets.
Don't Lie To Me
Chewing bubblegum and popping it on molars
the way I learned to do in high school,
the way the bad bitches taught me
when I was writing porn poems and learning
how to beat my feet to slow reggae.
Don't lie to me. Don't fucking lie to me.
Fuck me harder than I can take.
Kiss me harder than I want.
Break my windows, key my car,
eat my dreams up with urine rain,
cut my dreams up, bring your pain,
but don't lie to me. See me in double vision,
but don't lie to me.
I will remember. And count off the time
until I have nothing to lose and everything to gain
in meeting up with pen and paper
with your name to cross out
in my back pocket. Seeya later,
in the meantime popping bubblegum
to bring me back to happier wherevers
when my sister and I fought
over who got the car for the day and who
put more gas in it.
the way I learned to do in high school,
the way the bad bitches taught me
when I was writing porn poems and learning
how to beat my feet to slow reggae.
Don't lie to me. Don't fucking lie to me.
Fuck me harder than I can take.
Kiss me harder than I want.
Break my windows, key my car,
eat my dreams up with urine rain,
cut my dreams up, bring your pain,
but don't lie to me. See me in double vision,
but don't lie to me.
I will remember. And count off the time
until I have nothing to lose and everything to gain
in meeting up with pen and paper
with your name to cross out
in my back pocket. Seeya later,
in the meantime popping bubblegum
to bring me back to happier wherevers
when my sister and I fought
over who got the car for the day and who
put more gas in it.
Smoker 35
"I hope that shakes out for you."
"I don't."
In a good way, passes between our ears.
In one brain stem and out the other
like coal boiler steam.
"It never does," brassy and hammer whistle.
"It never does," stubbing it out on the bricks.
"You want to go back in?" August has been disgusting,
sweaty and shiny like porn casual Wednesday
everyday, and everything over priced,
glasses sliding on their own condensation
as much as spit flecks from
the everyone busy getting down.
"Yeah." The kids are back in school. "I was not carded
once all summer. Not once," stubbing it out on the bricks.
Back in town. With fakes. "Free time is a bitch."
"I don't."
In a good way, passes between our ears.
In one brain stem and out the other
like coal boiler steam.
"It never does," brassy and hammer whistle.
"It never does," stubbing it out on the bricks.
"You want to go back in?" August has been disgusting,
sweaty and shiny like porn casual Wednesday
everyday, and everything over priced,
glasses sliding on their own condensation
as much as spit flecks from
the everyone busy getting down.
"Yeah." The kids are back in school. "I was not carded
once all summer. Not once," stubbing it out on the bricks.
Back in town. With fakes. "Free time is a bitch."
Flame Out at 20,000 Feet
Power off. Pull back
on all four throttles. Sky turns to ground cloud cover.
The stars wink to life in the thinning cotton balls.
Little night time windows. Air speed dial spinning
black white, black white, and the numbers
counting up and up. Up and up. Up and up.
Save time to roll out. Roll. Roll. Roll
wings hard and twanging in the wind
the way sheet metal only does
under stress. Contrails blow in the wake
where air pressure screams.
Toggle fuel. Toggle fuel.
Hear the switch go through the fabric of the glove fingertips.
Vanes and wicked fast spin and
fire blooming red and gold and white and
hydraulics pushing surface to air and up and up.
fire blooming red and gold and white and
hydraulics pushing surface to air and up and up.
Up and up. Back through the ceiling,
punched through like a hammer nose through brick.
"You really need to get a life," tail ends of conversation.
Gear up. Air brakes in. Vertical climb.
New time to altitude record
stays elusive. The books and dials and meters will show.
"I know." Canopy glint in a smile. Afterburners
do not work in outer space. "I will race you
back down."
Divide By Zero
Patience and fury. In a bottle. The cool
don't wear shoes in the death of August.
Ice cold whiskey will sit quite happy
beneath a blanket of hot coffee. Yeah. Yes. Chea. Yesh,
please. I make giant eyes when I hear. Okay and not
the words of brain misfires. On the phone. Heels on the wall.
Toes making shadow puppet stories of the fall
of a kingdom and its horses.
In and out. Control board fader goes on its own.
Along for the ride. Loneliness is not much of a talker.
With the wind on your mind. His footsteps sound
distance. Wait for him to break in and sleep
with a hatchet in your pillow case. Sometimes.
Destroy everything that touches down too far inside.
Avoid windows. When the riflemen are watching.
Walk home a different way. Every evening
we count up the stars. Until the night sky
breaks. Open up to
some kind of empty and shatter. The JATO bottle
against the bottom of a trash can.
No one knows. Our little secret. Is safe.
We will find them. We will find them.
Pax de something. If this is being without war
then we will find blood and shed it.
You are too beautiful when you smile. Onward
to the third star on the right. Straight on 'til morning
and you'll know when. You've arrived.
don't wear shoes in the death of August.
Ice cold whiskey will sit quite happy
beneath a blanket of hot coffee. Yeah. Yes. Chea. Yesh,
please. I make giant eyes when I hear. Okay and not
the words of brain misfires. On the phone. Heels on the wall.
Toes making shadow puppet stories of the fall
of a kingdom and its horses.
In and out. Control board fader goes on its own.
Along for the ride. Loneliness is not much of a talker.
With the wind on your mind. His footsteps sound
distance. Wait for him to break in and sleep
with a hatchet in your pillow case. Sometimes.
Destroy everything that touches down too far inside.
Avoid windows. When the riflemen are watching.
Walk home a different way. Every evening
we count up the stars. Until the night sky
breaks. Open up to
some kind of empty and shatter. The JATO bottle
against the bottom of a trash can.
No one knows. Our little secret. Is safe.
We will find them. We will find them.
Pax de something. If this is being without war
then we will find blood and shed it.
You are too beautiful when you smile. Onward
to the third star on the right. Straight on 'til morning
and you'll know when. You've arrived.
Pocket of Peace
Quiet. Is it peace or is it sadness.
Nothing answers back.
The birds are minding their business,
inside jokes flipping between tree limbs.
I gave away my old mattress
to a gray haired woman next door.
New on her feet from
the shelter downtown.
I remember my time sleeping on floors,
staring at the crack in the baseboard
nights awake because they come to eat you
the moment you close your eyes.
Making angels in snow,
white and wet on her skin, on that mattress
like I did. Back when. Does my body
smell like her son? "You should have been here sooner
I made cookies yesterday and ate them all."
Tie shoes, pull on my cap and say goodbye.
Quiet radio static. Peace is a myth. Over my shoulder
nothing falling apart, only into place.
"I'm scared. I'm scared to death."
My cheek against hers, our lips to one another's ears,
The creases in her skin wipe my tear.
"Come over whenever you need to. I'll talk to you.
I don't mind."
Nothing answers back.
The birds are minding their business,
inside jokes flipping between tree limbs.
I gave away my old mattress
to a gray haired woman next door.
New on her feet from
the shelter downtown.
I remember my time sleeping on floors,
staring at the crack in the baseboard
nights awake because they come to eat you
the moment you close your eyes.
Making angels in snow,
white and wet on her skin, on that mattress
like I did. Back when. Does my body
smell like her son? "You should have been here sooner
I made cookies yesterday and ate them all."
Tie shoes, pull on my cap and say goodbye.
Quiet radio static. Peace is a myth. Over my shoulder
nothing falling apart, only into place.
"I'm scared. I'm scared to death."
My cheek against hers, our lips to one another's ears,
The creases in her skin wipe my tear.
"Come over whenever you need to. I'll talk to you.
I don't mind."
32 Bits
The tree outside the window is shedding
32 bit resolution leaves between cut edge sunshine
turning lawn ornament pinwheel brisk.
Insert coin.
The song, waking up, is memory chip limited.
Blow bricks of gray white highlighted
smoke tetris blocks. Breakfast disappears
one pixel at a time.
Over the hill, the boss castle shines
despite squared lightning and thunderhead above.
Start, select, options, equip:
scattergun, A, grenades, B, health pack, A
jump jets, A, socks and sneakers, A,
shield, B; three, two, one, go!
32 bit resolution leaves between cut edge sunshine
turning lawn ornament pinwheel brisk.
Insert coin.
The song, waking up, is memory chip limited.
Blow bricks of gray white highlighted
smoke tetris blocks. Breakfast disappears
one pixel at a time.
Over the hill, the boss castle shines
despite squared lightning and thunderhead above.
Start, select, options, equip:
scattergun, A, grenades, B, health pack, A
jump jets, A, socks and sneakers, A,
shield, B; three, two, one, go!
Czernobog
Iron to spark and sparks to apron.
Sunlight to moon and moon to night.
Coffee to water and water to might.
Piss on the wolves and wolves to bright.
Tear up insides and make them
into a chair. Dead fall, mind the tree limbs
shaved to leaf topped spikes down there.
The Knock Down (hired muscle) EP
Gone Fishing
Pinkg! Aluminum bat to skip stones lazy, alright.
Going for it. "Hi my name is" whatever you want
it to be, I'm going, I'm going.
Bobber on the little cutter waves,
cut this way and that, but
cutting in toward the sand bars
that you have to wear big pants to navigate.
Which is why I am wide eyed on the shore.
Getting sun that I cannot look at straight on
no matter how I try
to tune down the brass instruments
in my head while I doze
between swings. Pinkg! Aluminum bat to rock
served better by hand
instead of chopped down into breakwater and sand.
Terms of Occlusion
Slay the dragon whiffy lucky okay
sometimes you will run into a fastball
despite your best effort to strike out.
My eye keeps twitching and I know time is running thin.
I am okay with that, I like to coach myself.
Looking at my bedroom upside down
I can calculate the time of day
by shadows on rooftops.
250 miles for what?
No kiss? No [expletive deleted] kiss?
What the hell did I come here for?
I'm not your heel. I'm not your heel, but yesterday I was.
Bomber Son
If children ever come into the mix
they will be the most virulent or the water in the river
or maybe pennies on the eyes of try.
Knock me down or knock me up, or knock me up. I would be less without you in my sky on my right wing. Shooting up trains, and fields, and motorpools, and every fucking thing. Looking left to empties and looking right to you and your wings and tipping my nose up to see the ground where the 250 pounders land and explode and I envy your high score watching them glow.
Bomber man, bomber man, it's nothing without someone to pound fists after.
Altitude, altitude, strat and gold,
I'll steal some of your dreams and trade you mine
sleep snatcher.............. bull in a porcelain shop
I would never know where to put a tea cup.
But I would never know where else to put a tea cup
instead of inside a bomb with fins,
big boxy things I can mop up later
and hold out a handle, pinky loose,
did you watch it go?
Pinkg! Aluminum bat to skip stones lazy, alright.
Going for it. "Hi my name is" whatever you want
it to be, I'm going, I'm going.
Bobber on the little cutter waves,
cut this way and that, but
cutting in toward the sand bars
that you have to wear big pants to navigate.
Which is why I am wide eyed on the shore.
Getting sun that I cannot look at straight on
no matter how I try
to tune down the brass instruments
in my head while I doze
between swings. Pinkg! Aluminum bat to rock
served better by hand
instead of chopped down into breakwater and sand.
Terms of Occlusion
Slay the dragon whiffy lucky okay
sometimes you will run into a fastball
despite your best effort to strike out.
My eye keeps twitching and I know time is running thin.
I am okay with that, I like to coach myself.
Looking at my bedroom upside down
I can calculate the time of day
by shadows on rooftops.
250 miles for what?
No kiss? No [expletive deleted] kiss?
What the hell did I come here for?
I'm not your heel. I'm not your heel, but yesterday I was.
Bomber Son
If children ever come into the mix
they will be the most virulent or the water in the river
or maybe pennies on the eyes of try.
Knock me down or knock me up, or knock me up. I would be less without you in my sky on my right wing. Shooting up trains, and fields, and motorpools, and every fucking thing. Looking left to empties and looking right to you and your wings and tipping my nose up to see the ground where the 250 pounders land and explode and I envy your high score watching them glow.
Bomber man, bomber man, it's nothing without someone to pound fists after.
Altitude, altitude, strat and gold,
I'll steal some of your dreams and trade you mine
sleep snatcher.............. bull in a porcelain shop
I would never know where to put a tea cup.
But I would never know where else to put a tea cup
instead of inside a bomb with fins,
big boxy things I can mop up later
and hold out a handle, pinky loose,
did you watch it go?
Mutton Song
High B: Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
Oh yes, oh
Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
and they
a won't find
your bones.
Oh yes, oh yes, oh
Mid C: Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
Oh yes, ah see
Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
and they
oh yes, they
ain't gonna' find your bones
yeah, yeah, yeah
Big D: Ohimgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
Oh yes, oh
Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamuttonbaybee!
and I'll
bury
all your pieces so deep
so deep, so deep.
oh oh oh
Big A and some C: I'm going to cut you up into mutton,
and stuff my jacket with some of your hair.
Oh yes, oh yes,
When they ask me where I bought my bracelet,
I'll be polite and explain
the leather braid was knit up off your back.
(shots between verses by the way)
Oh yes, oh
Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
and they
a won't find
your bones.
Oh yes, oh yes, oh
Mid C: Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
Oh yes, ah see
Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
and they
oh yes, they
ain't gonna' find your bones
yeah, yeah, yeah
Big D: Ohimgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamutton!
Oh yes, oh
Imgunnacutchuopinnamutton, innamuttonbaybee!
and I'll
bury
all your pieces so deep
so deep, so deep.
oh oh oh
Big A and some C: I'm going to cut you up into mutton,
and stuff my jacket with some of your hair.
Oh yes, oh yes,
When they ask me where I bought my bracelet,
I'll be polite and explain
the leather braid was knit up off your back.
(shots between verses by the way)
Sommer, Sommer, Squints
I told myself I would be taking better care
of myself n'at. Getting around to it and what
needs fixed. Heart break hotel, just tell me
what I fucked up on so no one
has to take the same road
you and I took. The weather has been stupid
good of late. I know I always take
too much time looking up instead of ahead.
Beach balls, baby! I know.
Opportunities. I wish we were both
pumping fists toward the sky. Easy.
of myself n'at. Getting around to it and what
needs fixed. Heart break hotel, just tell me
what I fucked up on so no one
has to take the same road
you and I took. The weather has been stupid
good of late. I know I always take
too much time looking up instead of ahead.
Beach balls, baby! I know.
Opportunities. I wish we were both
pumping fists toward the sky. Easy.
Dragon Comes Home
Kick bits of tin from between the toes,
shreds of armor from trampled foes.
A little robe, click on the telly,
note garbage day, the cave is got smelly.
Candle lit with a snot rocket,
and me oh my it is easier to breath.
A little yawn shakes the walls,
notch the day and take care of hang nailed claws.
Two birds with one
yawn again
worn out stone.
Put on the kettle full of conquered bones
and a few charred oak trunks to taste.
Breath some fire into the big belly stove,
whistle the song that nobody knows.
No home is a home and no bed
a bed proper
without a good stretch and
a waited for cup of tea.
shreds of armor from trampled foes.
A little robe, click on the telly,
note garbage day, the cave is got smelly.
Candle lit with a snot rocket,
and me oh my it is easier to breath.
A little yawn shakes the walls,
notch the day and take care of hang nailed claws.
Two birds with one
yawn again
worn out stone.
Put on the kettle full of conquered bones
and a few charred oak trunks to taste.
Breath some fire into the big belly stove,
whistle the song that nobody knows.
No home is a home and no bed
a bed proper
without a good stretch and
a waited for cup of tea.
The Get Down (long drive with my baby)
Push rods, cam shafts, crank and belt,
hand wheel windows, shift knob, radio,
no deck. Torn up seats, a little rust and
engine growl to keep company.
Solid steel rear views,
rain soaked iron rims,
one flame decal,
two would be sin.
Ride the white hair mammoth
out of time,
embrace hot vinyl
against skin.
Chrome littered
how long have we been datings.
I know you do you know mes.
Touching downs and ups
and whisper words greedy
both ways in tumble rough V8
and slip clutch English.
Howl to me and I will sing you back.
Together we will mow them down.
hand wheel windows, shift knob, radio,
no deck. Torn up seats, a little rust and
engine growl to keep company.
Solid steel rear views,
rain soaked iron rims,
one flame decal,
two would be sin.
Ride the white hair mammoth
out of time,
embrace hot vinyl
against skin.
Chrome littered
how long have we been datings.
I know you do you know mes.
Touching downs and ups
and whisper words greedy
both ways in tumble rough V8
and slip clutch English.
Howl to me and I will sing you back.
Together we will mow them down.
Smoker 34 (sluice candy)
Open locks
the boats go through and horns fire off
to let them know
the passage is okay.
Another kind of trainspotting
at the river
skipping stones in the palm.
Sunlight pounds a skull like a five ton yon.
Tug boats, big red barges, and little white roy G spiked speeders
slowed down until the moonlight shone.
Lits of bits and gravity nicked
until they rip their way home.
Trainspotting, line knotting
rod and reel are boned.
Never miss, never miss, another butt in an emptied beer.
Close locks.
Baseball 7 (ode to the Lions)
You want a war? We'll give you one.
Team crossed fire eyed boys
a man to a head, wringing bat grips like i.o.u. express
tickets to hell, mound to plate and back.
You come to our town and expect us
to lay down? No sir. No sir.
Bring your swords, we're bringing polished barking birds,
sights level, barrels still stinking of cleaning fluid.
Leave your keys in your cars
you'll need them soon,
we booked our field through evening, but
we'll punch your card by mid afternoon.
End of the season takes me back
to January BP, and learning how
like, fuck what was that?
Slow deuces, sliders, two seam heat.
Four seamers and dug out dust ups,
all of it restraint.
Worship, worship, pray to the gods, touching grass
and sand and sod and brim and belt and junk and spit.
High sun, night lights, pine tar and pure grit.
For the batters box and left hand gloved, all our violence saved.
Here, at home, the team we've grown is where we make our names.
Here, at home, cleats kicking plates is where our souls go bathe.
Here, at home, here, at home is where we flaunt our manes.
Team crossed fire eyed boys
a man to a head, wringing bat grips like i.o.u. express
tickets to hell, mound to plate and back.
You come to our town and expect us
to lay down? No sir. No sir.
Bring your swords, we're bringing polished barking birds,
sights level, barrels still stinking of cleaning fluid.
Leave your keys in your cars
you'll need them soon,
we booked our field through evening, but
we'll punch your card by mid afternoon.
End of the season takes me back
to January BP, and learning how
like, fuck what was that?
Slow deuces, sliders, two seam heat.
Four seamers and dug out dust ups,
all of it restraint.
Worship, worship, pray to the gods, touching grass
and sand and sod and brim and belt and junk and spit.
High sun, night lights, pine tar and pure grit.
For the batters box and left hand gloved, all our violence saved.
Here, at home, the team we've grown is where we make our names.
Here, at home, cleats kicking plates is where our souls go bathe.
Here, at home, here, at home is where we flaunt our manes.
Blazon
Shot down
Shot up
With a math
I cannot parse.
Shot down
Shot up
Shooting myself with
Hollow points
Watching the spray
With hollowed eyes
And words
I cannot say.
You know the names
That burn my lips
And still too stilled
I cannot pray.
Sky giants in my skull
Pulled from pages
I cannot review
Because they'll take the bones of my skull
to places from I cannot return.
Where it, wear it, wuz it son?
Come back to me, come back to see
what you dig up from the source.
What is all of us, but suggestion from the core?
Com bat with black on the edge of a wayward soul?
Way-ward sombitch
along the way
to the red that makes a course?
D chord. Under the sun.
Clouds like breath in Winter. Too much
makeup on you, on me. Too much tall grass
for September.
Turn us down.
Save definitely for the Fall. Right now is
ugly Summer, underdressed and over Seussed.
Shot up
With a math
I cannot parse.
Shot down
Shot up
Shooting myself with
Hollow points
Watching the spray
With hollowed eyes
And words
I cannot say.
You know the names
That burn my lips
And still too stilled
I cannot pray.
Sky giants in my skull
Pulled from pages
I cannot review
Because they'll take the bones of my skull
to places from I cannot return.
Where it, wear it, wuz it son?
Come back to me, come back to see
what you dig up from the source.
What is all of us, but suggestion from the core?
Com bat with black on the edge of a wayward soul?
Way-ward sombitch
along the way
to the red that makes a course?
D chord. Under the sun.
Clouds like breath in Winter. Too much
makeup on you, on me. Too much tall grass
for September.
Turn us down.
Save definitely for the Fall. Right now is
ugly Summer, underdressed and over Seussed.
The Drums Die
She pulled back my headphones
while the wind was roaring,
my eyes in my notebook,
to tell me what I cannot remember.
Strands of her hair blew
into my mouth.
I crushed the can in my hand
a little,
her hand cupped to my ear
so I would not miss a word.
I put down my notebook and stood up.
She took my hand to the edge of the rooftop.
Below us, all along the curb,
turn signals, and tail lights, and glass
shone in the sunlight like jaw breakers
blown apart from a kicked in machine.
My fingers in hers, palms beaming.
My eyes grin
her mouth nods back I know.
while the wind was roaring,
my eyes in my notebook,
to tell me what I cannot remember.
Strands of her hair blew
into my mouth.
I crushed the can in my hand
a little,
her hand cupped to my ear
so I would not miss a word.
I put down my notebook and stood up.
She took my hand to the edge of the rooftop.
Below us, all along the curb,
turn signals, and tail lights, and glass
shone in the sunlight like jaw breakers
blown apart from a kicked in machine.
My fingers in hers, palms beaming.
My eyes grin
her mouth nods back I know.
Stray Cats
Come and gone through screen doors,
ain't seen you since... where's my calendar.
Kicking the butts of your cigarettes off of my porch,
sun and the moon up at once.
The hound across the street is baying
the way she always does.
Leafing through the mail
where is my nail clipper?
Momma used to clean them out with a little hook thingy.
I chewed them some last night.
Stay on the ball. Dad used to do hand gestures,
rub his fingers, pointer to thumb, and point
at my eyes
and it meant "Pay, see pay? Okay? So, pay. Got it? Alright,
pay attention!"
At least that's what he would say.
I cannot remember the last time I clipped them,
but I do know how iffy that gunk is and the hit or miss taste
and so I chew them some more
sight on contrast
nail to white envelope crease, thumbing through.
Nothing good comes by post
these days. Coffee steam is more beautiful come winter
out of doors. A short trip, but a trip nonetheless
to see sunlit clouds and contrails.
Why didn't you call me?
Kicking your cigarette butts off my porch
the letters from bill collectors go back in the box
and I stretch,
rub my eyes,
and wake up for you,
wherever you are.
ain't seen you since... where's my calendar.
Kicking the butts of your cigarettes off of my porch,
sun and the moon up at once.
The hound across the street is baying
the way she always does.
Leafing through the mail
where is my nail clipper?
Momma used to clean them out with a little hook thingy.
I chewed them some last night.
Stay on the ball. Dad used to do hand gestures,
rub his fingers, pointer to thumb, and point
at my eyes
and it meant "Pay, see pay? Okay? So, pay. Got it? Alright,
pay attention!"
At least that's what he would say.
I cannot remember the last time I clipped them,
but I do know how iffy that gunk is and the hit or miss taste
and so I chew them some more
sight on contrast
nail to white envelope crease, thumbing through.
Nothing good comes by post
these days. Coffee steam is more beautiful come winter
out of doors. A short trip, but a trip nonetheless
to see sunlit clouds and contrails.
Why didn't you call me?
Kicking your cigarette butts off my porch
the letters from bill collectors go back in the box
and I stretch,
rub my eyes,
and wake up for you,
wherever you are.
Who Holds Your Leash
after Hooverphonic's "Waves" and DJ Rap's album "Learning Curve"
Who is able to fool the magic dice?
The stars do try
with a wink and opened eye,
but who holds your leash?
Who's looking out for you
fingertips on your pulse?
An every day girl
pushing waves.
Who gives you time outs?
The third one is a write up?
Master and commander,
I would die for you
but things never get that far
do they?
Don't you get around?
Who is able to fool the magic dice?
The stars do try
with a wink and opened eye,
but who holds your leash?
Who's looking out for you
fingertips on your pulse?
An every day girl
pushing waves.
Who gives you time outs?
The third one is a write up?
Master and commander,
I would die for you
but things never get that far
do they?
Don't you get around?
I Don't Know Their Names
Pushing afterburners and pressure suits,
to win the rolling scissors at altitude
considering diving to gain
greater efficiency
before trigger pulls and an outline
lines up with a reticle
with air brakes and gear out
to bleed speed
harder than vessels in an eye
can hold back,
blink too late.
200 feet in .2 seconds is a death sentence.
to win the rolling scissors at altitude
considering diving to gain
greater efficiency
before trigger pulls and an outline
lines up with a reticle
with air brakes and gear out
to bleed speed
harder than vessels in an eye
can hold back,
blink too late.
200 feet in .2 seconds is a death sentence.
Calamity Bliss
Birds are beautiful.
The colors, the fucking colors.
Playing like they are plants,
the plants playing pretend too.
No rocks. Just isness
and feather and wing
for days. The point of an arrow
flying true
is something to hear. She hums something 80s rhythm and blues
with no hesitation. Crossing distance kidney shot intentional and
smooth.
Talking to the clouds
gets teary eyed until the seagulls ping back
something foolish.
Spit to the sky at risk of spritz
said the cobbled stone to the skip track.
The skip track said back
"leaves are falling in the fall
and the wind is viscous today,
stay if want can override
the desire to play."
Shake it off. Shake it off.
Everyone can dance,
but bones do know
that blood will show
when it has its mode. Grind and grind and grind and grind
Watch the sun go down,
eat the rain-
The colors, the fucking colors.
Playing like they are plants,
the plants playing pretend too.
No rocks. Just isness
and feather and wing
for days. The point of an arrow
flying true
is something to hear. She hums something 80s rhythm and blues
with no hesitation. Crossing distance kidney shot intentional and
smooth.
Talking to the clouds
gets teary eyed until the seagulls ping back
something foolish.
Spit to the sky at risk of spritz
said the cobbled stone to the skip track.
The skip track said back
"leaves are falling in the fall
and the wind is viscous today,
stay if want can override
the desire to play."
Shake it off. Shake it off.
Everyone can dance,
but bones do know
that blood will show
when it has its mode. Grind and grind and grind and grind
Watch the sun go down,
eat the rain-
Sand In the Water LP
Treble Clef
We douse and down little fish on a clip,
"you know your bait fish is doing
what it is supposed to do
when it breaks the water
getting away from predator fish"
He is full of wisdom and I wonder if
he is still holding my keys in his pocket.
Out fishing and I cannot understand
how many times I keep coming up with
"I" to end sentences. It is pain filled,
but we spark up a little
out of routine and routine will save your life
or shave it, but at least there is structure,
despite timely car accidents.
The night and the day
we got into what drives
a mother fucker away
and hit an impasse.
Picking up cans on faraway rocks
forgetting that my paws were there
with those rocks and moss
and tired of jumping from one to another
but how else am I supposed to get to still water?
A bobber? Nigga, please!
Trying to remember which fish have teeth
and which ones do not.
Forgetting is part of the fun.
Good geusing is part of the fun
too th and nail.
Sand In The Water
Drink to good health
and fuckable kids,
drink to yourself
and all that you id.
Drink to tomorrows
and toast to success
Drink to your sorrows
and your life a mess.
Take it on the chin,
its what Jesus would.
Take it as a win
the hangman's hood.
Drink until you die
enough to be alive.
Drink until the truth
turns out to be alright.
Drink for legacy,
toast to the moon.
Drink for Jesus's sake
I hear he's coming soon
Take it on the nines,
the tens, and the twelves.
Take it none in mind
let them pick up the pieces of your selves
There's sand in the water
there's sand in the water,
my baby was born still.
There's sand in the water
there's sand in the water,
on melancholy hill.
I Didn't Talk Her Down and I Never Wanted To
"A mirthless bastard"
was what she said
the night she fell asleep
and I killed her in her bed.
She slept and dreamed of everything
else we were not.
From her eyes night terrors streamed
even as they saw spots.
Fingers closed in prayer
behind her neck.
Teeth split her lips, bared
Her pulse thumb checked.
I strangled the life
right out of her veins.
No longer my wife,
us both in no pain.
Sand In The Water 2
Nothing tastes like coke anymore
at least since you stopped
talking to me. I miss you some
days go by when I am trying to feel
the minutes before you stopped
talking to me. It's crazy, right?
I know it is. Rhetorical. I know
I am not what I used to be,
but neither are you.
Everyone says hello
sometimes. Then again,
sometimes
no one does.
Dumb
The good old fashioned straight on take down
went the way of the rotary phone.
I've been checking your mail
to see if you still live there.
Chimney Swifts have been roosting
in your brick chimney
and I've been watching them loop
while popping sunflower seeds.
I can't remember the last we
didn't have to talk about stalking, meeting up faces to.
"...do you not have hobbies..."
yes. "..that's a one word answer."
Yes. I don't need to be a piece of anything
reel; I want to watch.
You're welcome.
Milk saucer please.
Film Study
I've been drinking way too much.
I know, baby.
I know, baby.
I've been drinking way too much.
I've been drinking way too much.
I've been drinking way too much.
Who am I apologizing too,
baby? "The God damned angels
not me." Okay.
As long as you're good. In my house I do not
give a shit.
Her lighter, sport skinned, hailing from New York,
what are you doing here in the sticks,
questions punted for later, is sticking out of her hip
pocket like a time pieced pocket watch unchained.
Easy to lose
yourself staring awestruck at a jean seam
and a rivet.
I do give a shit because I've been
drinking way too much
drinking way too much
drinking way too much
Did you see the leopard skin coating
on the slug clinging to the flower basket outside
on your way up to my place?
It has a big ol' hole in the side of it
to suck in air. My heart stopped
looking at it and I got all
classroom workshoppy sad. Before I coughed
up blood. I like you. A lot Let me give you
disclaimers.
We have a lot in common and I respect
fresh fruit from my garden picked off the stems
so thick you could measure them with a thumb.
I respect bad conversations with neighbors who know
nothing about me and tell stories about their children
my age and it makes me feel okay
because at least I didn't fuck my grandma over.
You know what?
I know what weapons I was given,
lets talk about good grips and good finger protectors
for flesh cleaving metal because I
make up words for tools and
time is short. The garden is gorgeous by the way.
We should take a walk some time
said the head to the fist.
Fingernails are nothing
until they eat up skin.
Frosty
after Cannibal Ox
Are you violent?
I know you. I'm getting a little frosty myself.
Combustion is great
when does not wash away when the river is high.
Keep your eye up, heads up, dive
hard to rooftops and be glad
there is shelter.
Are those textbooks? Usually.
Pick your battles and your addles and your nerves.
Put away what makes you dark and remember
life started with just a fucking spark,
an idea, and from there everything blew clear
out of hand
demand forcing a whole lot of whatevers
and when it actually gets cold
everyone shivers
like
bad bugs on skin
while everything gets thin enough that bones
come to surface, the same way that a blade
can be purposed.
I get a little frosty
but family brings me back.
I get a little frosty
but friends bring me back. Stop.
Rage. Stop again.
Cut Wrist
Have you ever had the bends? Nitrogen poisoning?
I caught up with my ghosts and there was a stand off.
We talked about dinosaurs and grass that grows on the shoals
the same way grass will grow on dunes.
We talked about the man in the hat.
What it means to be inside a hat instead of wearing it.
What wearing it is. I spat tears because my eyes were too dry.
We talked about the mission and how shitty the water tastes.
We went over the battle plans for taking down
the water processing plant and how to make bombs
with kettle barrels from the home improvement store
selling fertilizer like it was the only thing it could be
used for. How good is that garden by the way?
There's sand in the water. There's sand in the water!
It tastes magnificent. Sea weed and all! I held on to
a piece of sea glass for years,
because it had some of the Atlantic trapped inside it,
I used to tuck it under my pillow and dream
about nor' easters bringing me more. Have you ever
had a bath so good
you fell asleep against
the porcelain and
woke up
surprised, sand in your mouth. Another day
in your eyes?
We douse and down little fish on a clip,
"you know your bait fish is doing
what it is supposed to do
when it breaks the water
getting away from predator fish"
He is full of wisdom and I wonder if
he is still holding my keys in his pocket.
Out fishing and I cannot understand
how many times I keep coming up with
"I" to end sentences. It is pain filled,
but we spark up a little
out of routine and routine will save your life
or shave it, but at least there is structure,
despite timely car accidents.
The night and the day
we got into what drives
a mother fucker away
and hit an impasse.
Picking up cans on faraway rocks
forgetting that my paws were there
with those rocks and moss
and tired of jumping from one to another
but how else am I supposed to get to still water?
A bobber? Nigga, please!
Trying to remember which fish have teeth
and which ones do not.
Forgetting is part of the fun.
Good geusing is part of the fun
too th and nail.
Sand In The Water
Drink to good health
and fuckable kids,
drink to yourself
and all that you id.
Drink to tomorrows
and toast to success
Drink to your sorrows
and your life a mess.
Take it on the chin,
its what Jesus would.
Take it as a win
the hangman's hood.
Drink until you die
enough to be alive.
Drink until the truth
turns out to be alright.
Drink for legacy,
toast to the moon.
Drink for Jesus's sake
I hear he's coming soon
Take it on the nines,
the tens, and the twelves.
Take it none in mind
let them pick up the pieces of your selves
There's sand in the water
there's sand in the water,
my baby was born still.
There's sand in the water
there's sand in the water,
on melancholy hill.
I Didn't Talk Her Down and I Never Wanted To
"A mirthless bastard"
was what she said
the night she fell asleep
and I killed her in her bed.
She slept and dreamed of everything
else we were not.
From her eyes night terrors streamed
even as they saw spots.
Fingers closed in prayer
behind her neck.
Teeth split her lips, bared
Her pulse thumb checked.
I strangled the life
right out of her veins.
No longer my wife,
us both in no pain.
Sand In The Water 2
Nothing tastes like coke anymore
at least since you stopped
talking to me. I miss you some
days go by when I am trying to feel
the minutes before you stopped
talking to me. It's crazy, right?
I know it is. Rhetorical. I know
I am not what I used to be,
but neither are you.
Everyone says hello
sometimes. Then again,
sometimes
no one does.
Dumb
The good old fashioned straight on take down
went the way of the rotary phone.
I've been checking your mail
to see if you still live there.
Chimney Swifts have been roosting
in your brick chimney
and I've been watching them loop
while popping sunflower seeds.
I can't remember the last we
didn't have to talk about stalking, meeting up faces to.
"...do you not have hobbies..."
yes. "..that's a one word answer."
Yes. I don't need to be a piece of anything
reel; I want to watch.
You're welcome.
Milk saucer please.
Film Study
I've been drinking way too much.
I know, baby.
I know, baby.
I've been drinking way too much.
I've been drinking way too much.
I've been drinking way too much.
Who am I apologizing too,
baby? "The God damned angels
not me." Okay.
As long as you're good. In my house I do not
give a shit.
Her lighter, sport skinned, hailing from New York,
what are you doing here in the sticks,
questions punted for later, is sticking out of her hip
pocket like a time pieced pocket watch unchained.
Easy to lose
yourself staring awestruck at a jean seam
and a rivet.
I do give a shit because I've been
drinking way too much
drinking way too much
drinking way too much
Did you see the leopard skin coating
on the slug clinging to the flower basket outside
on your way up to my place?
It has a big ol' hole in the side of it
to suck in air. My heart stopped
looking at it and I got all
classroom workshoppy sad. Before I coughed
up blood. I like you. A lot Let me give you
disclaimers.
We have a lot in common and I respect
fresh fruit from my garden picked off the stems
so thick you could measure them with a thumb.
I respect bad conversations with neighbors who know
nothing about me and tell stories about their children
my age and it makes me feel okay
because at least I didn't fuck my grandma over.
You know what?
I know what weapons I was given,
lets talk about good grips and good finger protectors
for flesh cleaving metal because I
make up words for tools and
time is short. The garden is gorgeous by the way.
We should take a walk some time
said the head to the fist.
Fingernails are nothing
until they eat up skin.
Frosty
after Cannibal Ox
Are you violent?
I know you. I'm getting a little frosty myself.
Combustion is great
when does not wash away when the river is high.
Keep your eye up, heads up, dive
hard to rooftops and be glad
there is shelter.
Are those textbooks? Usually.
Pick your battles and your addles and your nerves.
Put away what makes you dark and remember
life started with just a fucking spark,
an idea, and from there everything blew clear
out of hand
demand forcing a whole lot of whatevers
and when it actually gets cold
everyone shivers
like
bad bugs on skin
while everything gets thin enough that bones
come to surface, the same way that a blade
can be purposed.
I get a little frosty
but family brings me back.
I get a little frosty
but friends bring me back. Stop.
Rage. Stop again.
Cut Wrist
Have you ever had the bends? Nitrogen poisoning?
I caught up with my ghosts and there was a stand off.
We talked about dinosaurs and grass that grows on the shoals
the same way grass will grow on dunes.
We talked about the man in the hat.
What it means to be inside a hat instead of wearing it.
What wearing it is. I spat tears because my eyes were too dry.
We talked about the mission and how shitty the water tastes.
We went over the battle plans for taking down
the water processing plant and how to make bombs
with kettle barrels from the home improvement store
selling fertilizer like it was the only thing it could be
used for. How good is that garden by the way?
There's sand in the water. There's sand in the water!
It tastes magnificent. Sea weed and all! I held on to
a piece of sea glass for years,
because it had some of the Atlantic trapped inside it,
I used to tuck it under my pillow and dream
about nor' easters bringing me more. Have you ever
had a bath so good
you fell asleep against
the porcelain and
woke up
surprised, sand in your mouth. Another day
in your eyes?
It Was Nice Meeting You Again
I'm gonna crash your teeth
like a thief in the night
with butterfly wings.
I'm gonna crush you, thief,
like a creep in the night
with a bulletless gun.
We'll have tea and chat
about this and scat
it'll be a very lovely chat
until I tape you down
to the chair you found
and break out what's in your skull.
I'll watch it fly
and try to cry
filling shop bags till their full.
like a thief in the night
with butterfly wings.
I'm gonna crush you, thief,
like a creep in the night
with a bulletless gun.
We'll have tea and chat
about this and scat
it'll be a very lovely chat
until I tape you down
to the chair you found
and break out what's in your skull.
I'll watch it fly
and try to cry
filling shop bags till their full.
Crushed (i don't hate white people, but i do)
after Takyon by Deathgrips
I do not let it go. Ingrained in pain I keep my sane by
taking a little stroll. I take a walk and count to ten
'cause every hen can't be slaughtered before it lays
an egg is where to start to part over things real small
and sway. How the wind will take the egg on over
is a matter of chance and pain. The words we weigh
go over, side and side, like what kind of cars go through
the toll. Watching the quarter find a slide on its
slow spiral to the hole. We watch it spin on edge and
it's in and everybody else pumps fists because it's a win
Meanwhile I'm still on the edge of the bill
waiting for the game to be called.
Brain up to the wall and still feeling small
for the things I did not know
of phsyics all it is is gravity kicks in the back part of a skull
cryonic paste and toxic waste, it's the ditch digger
all over again. Stethoscopes and ways to cope
and ways to open hand palm milk hold.
I had a thought, bought out with a comment from a friend,
I had a thought, playing my peace
and I didn't know it was the end.
Get dirty fresh and sonic like an enter key was your life
and I'll rouse up posse, horsemen, swordsmen
rooks, and kings, like you were playing for more than
tripe. I had this vision of an incision that was
taking out your tongue,
going back to the years when blacks were,
looking at white cunts, and for that hung,
it's all reversed and I look forward to
the day when the white in your eyes pops out
more dead and tender done.
I do not let it go. Ingrained in pain I keep my sane by
taking a little stroll. I take a walk and count to ten
'cause every hen can't be slaughtered before it lays
an egg is where to start to part over things real small
and sway. How the wind will take the egg on over
is a matter of chance and pain. The words we weigh
go over, side and side, like what kind of cars go through
the toll. Watching the quarter find a slide on its
slow spiral to the hole. We watch it spin on edge and
it's in and everybody else pumps fists because it's a win
Meanwhile I'm still on the edge of the bill
waiting for the game to be called.
Brain up to the wall and still feeling small
for the things I did not know
of phsyics all it is is gravity kicks in the back part of a skull
cryonic paste and toxic waste, it's the ditch digger
all over again. Stethoscopes and ways to cope
and ways to open hand palm milk hold.
I had a thought, bought out with a comment from a friend,
I had a thought, playing my peace
and I didn't know it was the end.
Get dirty fresh and sonic like an enter key was your life
and I'll rouse up posse, horsemen, swordsmen
rooks, and kings, like you were playing for more than
tripe. I had this vision of an incision that was
taking out your tongue,
going back to the years when blacks were,
looking at white cunts, and for that hung,
it's all reversed and I look forward to
the day when the white in your eyes pops out
more dead and tender done.
Smoker 33
I own two watches.
No shit.
They're pretty good watches,
but I'm not a watch guy.
You don't give away bullshit.
No shit.
I like them.
No shit.
I got them from two people
I love.
Different people.
Yeah. It's nice.
Do you wear them at the same time.
-the watches?
Sometimes.
Going with the chips instead of the frozen fries?
No shit.
They're pretty good watches,
but I'm not a watch guy.
You don't give away bullshit.
No shit.
I like them.
No shit.
I got them from two people
I love.
Different people.
Yeah. It's nice.
Do you wear them at the same time.
-the watches?
Sometimes.
Going with the chips instead of the frozen fries?
A Simple Recipe for a Good Day (fight the interference)
Do not punch anyone in the face.
Do not punch anyone in the anywhere for that matter.
No violence. Do not do it.
Regardless of what you feel is appropriate. Do not do it.
Your instinct is wrong.
Smile instead. Listen to the static. Listen to
the long note and joy in it.
You will have a good day.
Listen to the storm warning and hear it.
Let it coach you. Let it talk to you. It is not noise.
It is sound.
Breath in and out.
It is sound and the sound is in you and there is nothing
to do about it.
Motivation is angry
at its core.
It does not have to be angry at its terminal.
Know this and opperate
and we all go home intact.
Do not punch anyone in the anywhere for that matter.
No violence. Do not do it.
Regardless of what you feel is appropriate. Do not do it.
Your instinct is wrong.
Smile instead. Listen to the static. Listen to
the long note and joy in it.
You will have a good day.
Listen to the storm warning and hear it.
Let it coach you. Let it talk to you. It is not noise.
It is sound.
Breath in and out.
It is sound and the sound is in you and there is nothing
to do about it.
Motivation is angry
at its core.
It does not have to be angry at its terminal.
Know this and opperate
and we all go home intact.
Return of the Giant Robot
The rotor blades were deafening.
I was reaching down to him
to clasp hands and lock on hard enough,
dislocations aside,
to haul him up
because science doesn't play games
when it comes to survival.
I was close.
The zombies were
clawing
their
way up
the body of the mech
that shut down.
It ran out of fuel or battery or whatever was making it go.
Its difficult to remember.
The last thing he did was command it
to reach up its hand as high as it could go
and blow the cockpit in it's chest and climb
for all he was worth
along the arm plate armor
after stomping out every last undead soul
his eight ton boot could mash
into red paste.
The helicopter went too fast on its first pass and wheeled back
for another one.
They climbed and climbed harder and faster,
the mech a statue, and the beacon firing off in my ear piece
shouting "you're here, you're here, you're here"
like a bird for an arrow tip
and swinging in
feet from his hand
the helicopter missed.
I watched him jump and brake against the second tier
and break apart on the third tier of a sky scraper beside it.
I pulled my rip chord in dreamland
and landed
conscious and in one piece.
Happy to be breathing;
wishing I was dead.
I was reaching down to him
to clasp hands and lock on hard enough,
dislocations aside,
to haul him up
because science doesn't play games
when it comes to survival.
I was close.
The zombies were
clawing
their
way up
the body of the mech
that shut down.
It ran out of fuel or battery or whatever was making it go.
Its difficult to remember.
The last thing he did was command it
to reach up its hand as high as it could go
and blow the cockpit in it's chest and climb
for all he was worth
along the arm plate armor
after stomping out every last undead soul
his eight ton boot could mash
into red paste.
The helicopter went too fast on its first pass and wheeled back
for another one.
They climbed and climbed harder and faster,
the mech a statue, and the beacon firing off in my ear piece
shouting "you're here, you're here, you're here"
like a bird for an arrow tip
and swinging in
feet from his hand
the helicopter missed.
I watched him jump and brake against the second tier
and break apart on the third tier of a sky scraper beside it.
I pulled my rip chord in dreamland
and landed
conscious and in one piece.
Happy to be breathing;
wishing I was dead.
Motor
In the way out back we
laugh and take things far too seriously.
Kick rocks and dig up from the core.
Remember classes? There was an article
about making money.
Worth the read
in that knowing when caring is important
is as important as when concern
is an over reaction
and now is brutal bliss
with a side of go.
The stars are a little icky
on the tongue and sinuses.
Thinking about vacations is a tall order.
Pack for snow or for sand?
Speak German, or Spanish, or Tokyo'n.
Goggles are important.
Towels too.
I had this dream and we talked it out
because I felt like I was betraying what I stood for
in enjoying it. I loved that I could talk
because no one hears you scream in outer space
or something like that.
I've heard.
The ice cream won't jimmy itself.
Too much salt is too much salt.
Hurt is for the slow and the dull.
Myths. Hold my hand. I like the paint marker shine on my fingernails. My shoes are beautiful if you look really hard.
It said the top one percent own twenty percent of everythin'.
May have been closer to fifty.
Drummed up panic.
Horseshoe is a fine game.
Spit tastes close to hot fountain water
at the basketball courts.
But dig up from the core
and I will love you. Engine running. At the border.
laugh and take things far too seriously.
Kick rocks and dig up from the core.
Remember classes? There was an article
about making money.
Worth the read
in that knowing when caring is important
is as important as when concern
is an over reaction
and now is brutal bliss
with a side of go.
The stars are a little icky
on the tongue and sinuses.
Thinking about vacations is a tall order.
Pack for snow or for sand?
Speak German, or Spanish, or Tokyo'n.
Goggles are important.
Towels too.
I had this dream and we talked it out
because I felt like I was betraying what I stood for
in enjoying it. I loved that I could talk
because no one hears you scream in outer space
or something like that.
I've heard.
The ice cream won't jimmy itself.
Too much salt is too much salt.
Hurt is for the slow and the dull.
Myths. Hold my hand. I like the paint marker shine on my fingernails. My shoes are beautiful if you look really hard.
It said the top one percent own twenty percent of everythin'.
May have been closer to fifty.
Drummed up panic.
Horseshoe is a fine game.
Spit tastes close to hot fountain water
at the basketball courts.
But dig up from the core
and I will love you. Engine running. At the border.
Shaving
I taught myself how to shave
and how to change a tire
and how to do an oil change.
I taught myself how to tie a tie
and how to tie a tie right
and almost how to make a bow tie.
I taught myself how to drive stick
and how to talk like you mean it
and how to joke. When you mean it.
These things took work
and he was done working with me
when I was ready
to offer
input.
Okay. Part two? No.
But I will
be willing
to help anyone else
as long as
they don't ask me
where I've inned.
and how to change a tire
and how to do an oil change.
I taught myself how to tie a tie
and how to tie a tie right
and almost how to make a bow tie.
I taught myself how to drive stick
and how to talk like you mean it
and how to joke. When you mean it.
These things took work
and he was done working with me
when I was ready
to offer
input.
Okay. Part two? No.
But I will
be willing
to help anyone else
as long as
they don't ask me
where I've inned.
It's Lust
Cuddling is for
someone else.
Can you rest your feet on me
curled up near where the bed ends.
One over the other the same
you did on the way to D.C.?
That train ride was kind of funny.
That 70 year old smacking her bubblegum.
Animal, but never with me,
I'm jealous. Jelly on toast and no butter.
You're breaking my heart and my heart doesn't know
how else to be close to you, little sister.
Sleep over.
someone else.
Can you rest your feet on me
curled up near where the bed ends.
One over the other the same
you did on the way to D.C.?
That train ride was kind of funny.
That 70 year old smacking her bubblegum.
Animal, but never with me,
I'm jealous. Jelly on toast and no butter.
You're breaking my heart and my heart doesn't know
how else to be close to you, little sister.
Sleep over.
I Found God In a Hotdog
I do not know why
it took so long
to realize
relish is a pickle diced and
hotdogs are so good with pickle spears instead.
All of the joy of relishable relishlyness of relish
and none of the mess.
it took so long
to realize
relish is a pickle diced and
hotdogs are so good with pickle spears instead.
All of the joy of relishable relishlyness of relish
and none of the mess.
Source
Wires and thicker wires and copper. Plated pennies and guitar solos and generators as big as square mileage of states and vacillations between cosmic bodies. Can govern a soul. Operation, but we get a little farther beyond the game of. Life and death gets old real quickly. When you don't know what the weather will be. Tomorrow is another day. Light is hard when you wander out of your front door at 2 P.M.
Is unacceptable so try harder. Is better than going the quick route. Home need not be the slipshod if you can manage to make the time to change it into. The heart of the sun glows something smiley when. Feeling dies down into something manageable. Speed is sweet like letting the clutch go seamlessly into second gear. Up for combat. Said the face to the body and the bones.
While the head punched a hole in the sky and he came. Buckets in the brigade to the factory on fire somewhere west of here. Lies captain first class ribbon on a chest of gold. Slippy glitter coin fresh from the battle where eyes still see blood at the edges. Are things that make people part. From each other the same way electromigration damages circuits over time.
Grafts skin back together where nothing else could. We have a party where we only drink. Sodas on the road to bigger and better things. Fall down harder because they are sky giants feasting whale like on the itty bits of dreams that turn into current driven silt. Will settle. Down to the floor when there is enough shift in currents or some kind of stand still. Enough it's hard to tell if the ground moves.
Bring the clouds into question and they will give. Two eyes on the heavens where the sky decides to bleed through the sutures. Taste funny when they are licked too hard. Up for answers that feel quaked to begin with. This sword will bring the kingdom to the ground. Reason down to powder. A nose is another mode of feeling. The world come apart. From everything known before. Source code.
Is unacceptable so try harder. Is better than going the quick route. Home need not be the slipshod if you can manage to make the time to change it into. The heart of the sun glows something smiley when. Feeling dies down into something manageable. Speed is sweet like letting the clutch go seamlessly into second gear. Up for combat. Said the face to the body and the bones.
While the head punched a hole in the sky and he came. Buckets in the brigade to the factory on fire somewhere west of here. Lies captain first class ribbon on a chest of gold. Slippy glitter coin fresh from the battle where eyes still see blood at the edges. Are things that make people part. From each other the same way electromigration damages circuits over time.
Grafts skin back together where nothing else could. We have a party where we only drink. Sodas on the road to bigger and better things. Fall down harder because they are sky giants feasting whale like on the itty bits of dreams that turn into current driven silt. Will settle. Down to the floor when there is enough shift in currents or some kind of stand still. Enough it's hard to tell if the ground moves.
Bring the clouds into question and they will give. Two eyes on the heavens where the sky decides to bleed through the sutures. Taste funny when they are licked too hard. Up for answers that feel quaked to begin with. This sword will bring the kingdom to the ground. Reason down to powder. A nose is another mode of feeling. The world come apart. From everything known before. Source code.
Thrash Groove
Somewhere sunset sat high on the brim of a hat and I
sat on the rusted bumper of your lawn ornament
car, flipping through text messages to see
if you decided to get back to me or not.
If you need a lawn guy, I know a guy.
The grass is itching the back of my knees
while I watch your front door paint peel.
A tough afternoon and a hike and half
for what? I remember when you first said
all she needed was a new transmission
because you couldn't dismantle it yourself.
There was supposed to be tea. Did you forget about
the arrangement was set up for Monday.
Days off coinciding and the birds in your overgrown trees
keep chirping "he's lying." I trust you.
Practicing flipping cigarettes from the soft pack
I take a minute
to finger scrawl "KP was here" in crown letters
across the windshield where Spring pollen
has not gone away yet.
The weather has been stupid dry.
Kicking in your headlights
makes me thirsty, but I stick around.
Remember that time we
damn near took teeth out of our mouths
over who got to piss first? I never wanted
to pee so bad in my life and it makes me
laugh pissing through the driver side
where you shot your twenty two clean through
both windows.
I know you're home.
Do you remember what a skipped rock sounds like?
It doesn't sound like a loose brick through a window.
sat on the rusted bumper of your lawn ornament
car, flipping through text messages to see
if you decided to get back to me or not.
If you need a lawn guy, I know a guy.
The grass is itching the back of my knees
while I watch your front door paint peel.
A tough afternoon and a hike and half
for what? I remember when you first said
all she needed was a new transmission
because you couldn't dismantle it yourself.
There was supposed to be tea. Did you forget about
the arrangement was set up for Monday.
Days off coinciding and the birds in your overgrown trees
keep chirping "he's lying." I trust you.
Practicing flipping cigarettes from the soft pack
I take a minute
to finger scrawl "KP was here" in crown letters
across the windshield where Spring pollen
has not gone away yet.
The weather has been stupid dry.
Kicking in your headlights
makes me thirsty, but I stick around.
Remember that time we
damn near took teeth out of our mouths
over who got to piss first? I never wanted
to pee so bad in my life and it makes me
laugh pissing through the driver side
where you shot your twenty two clean through
both windows.
I know you're home.
Do you remember what a skipped rock sounds like?
It doesn't sound like a loose brick through a window.
Death in the Family (why'd you throw me out)
You picking tea leaves off of the fence
for morning tea while I was
unemployed
and banking,
happy to do you
right and let you shed light on
backward history
telling me all the bad things Eric used to be
lips to his bottle and hands on his model
wife and kids black and blues
to music that only he could hear
being with you then
in that short time span
made oh so much
about the tree
all. so. clear.
Meeting up with your
religious addict friends,
your watch towered
back handed
complimenting bends,
pretending like I gave a shit
and playing it well
acting like I didn't hear
the side ways glances and the tells
hearing you try to be
everything you thought you out to be
to those second hand fiends
using you for your
good will and sapping your means
watching your children
neglect all your needs like
come on man
can't you see she's on her knees
not even a last leg
not even a place to beg
but you still saw it through,
a way maybe because
I am from a time too new to be clued.
Too new to be glued,
too late to be thought through
why, when I was
happy to be all about truth
did you see a way
preserving bullshit bridges
to burn the last one
standing over
water
between me and you.
I said goodbye once,
I won't do it again
what is is the beginning
little pieces toward my end
and I'm happy as hell that your gone from this Earth
because life's too short
and I ain't got time
to stay hurt.
Check 'em off.
for morning tea while I was
unemployed
and banking,
happy to do you
right and let you shed light on
backward history
telling me all the bad things Eric used to be
lips to his bottle and hands on his model
wife and kids black and blues
to music that only he could hear
being with you then
in that short time span
made oh so much
about the tree
all. so. clear.
Meeting up with your
religious addict friends,
your watch towered
back handed
complimenting bends,
pretending like I gave a shit
and playing it well
acting like I didn't hear
the side ways glances and the tells
hearing you try to be
everything you thought you out to be
to those second hand fiends
using you for your
good will and sapping your means
watching your children
neglect all your needs like
come on man
can't you see she's on her knees
not even a last leg
not even a place to beg
but you still saw it through,
a way maybe because
I am from a time too new to be clued.
Too new to be glued,
too late to be thought through
why, when I was
happy to be all about truth
did you see a way
preserving bullshit bridges
to burn the last one
standing over
water
between me and you.
I said goodbye once,
I won't do it again
what is is the beginning
little pieces toward my end
and I'm happy as hell that your gone from this Earth
because life's too short
and I ain't got time
to stay hurt.
Check 'em off.
Fixed Camera
Photographer banter gets
what it gets. If you can't turn a phrase with your face
it's not something you learn
out of the blue
phone calls are beautiful things
when there's nothing pressing
harder than,
"now I want you to,"
tune it out.
"but I'm here all of the time
I don't understand"
because you clearly have not fallen head over heels before
yourself, trapped to reels
and reels
and reels
of tape.
Gone through the little door and
down the staircase
to dreamland where everything is as real on its face
as you deign to flow
out of your skin.
"Now this... now that... more of the first... okay, now the second again."
I don't care where it goes. I don't care
whose eyes it greets
as long as I am laying,
camera gone,
in high gloss,
splashed across the floor
in 8" by tens
forty prints at my feet.
what it gets. If you can't turn a phrase with your face
it's not something you learn
out of the blue
phone calls are beautiful things
when there's nothing pressing
harder than,
"now I want you to,"
tune it out.
"but I'm here all of the time
I don't understand"
because you clearly have not fallen head over heels before
yourself, trapped to reels
and reels
and reels
of tape.
Gone through the little door and
down the staircase
to dreamland where everything is as real on its face
as you deign to flow
out of your skin.
"Now this... now that... more of the first... okay, now the second again."
I don't care where it goes. I don't care
whose eyes it greets
as long as I am laying,
camera gone,
in high gloss,
splashed across the floor
in 8" by tens
forty prints at my feet.
Orthogonal
Seeing your smile has been great.
Products of you and you and
the world on slow tracking almost pause Woo like,
except the doves
were smoke drifts around the room, Saturned.
I'll pay money to see
that any day is a good one
when friends are close and enemies are
far the fuck away.
The difficulty comes
when I start to see
you, me and them as a collection of organs.
Little more. A holdover from Kindergarten
has not changed.
"Will you come with me to the movies on friday?"
Okay, maybe no. To see your smile
in common and not
through the run and shoot offense of conversation
sticks with me
over the coffee table and meteor impact empties littered there.
We used to meet up to play tag
because there was nothing else to do.
I don't miss it so much.
Products of you and you and
the world on slow tracking almost pause Woo like,
except the doves
were smoke drifts around the room, Saturned.
I'll pay money to see
that any day is a good one
when friends are close and enemies are
far the fuck away.
The difficulty comes
when I start to see
you, me and them as a collection of organs.
Little more. A holdover from Kindergarten
has not changed.
"Will you come with me to the movies on friday?"
Okay, maybe no. To see your smile
in common and not
through the run and shoot offense of conversation
sticks with me
over the coffee table and meteor impact empties littered there.
We used to meet up to play tag
because there was nothing else to do.
I don't miss it so much.
Crush Poorah
You broke a bottle on the stairs
so I did too and said
something like
shuddafuggupyuu
and the rest was gone.
My phone lays at the foot of my door.
I know you put it there heading home.
I am still
not sure
how to
thank u.
so I did too and said
something like
shuddafuggupyuu
and the rest was gone.
My phone lays at the foot of my door.
I know you put it there heading home.
I am still
not sure
how to
thank u.
Dig
Dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
Honeybear with a shopping bag,
dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
Distances. Not too far to kiss across,
dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
Bad makeup and stanky dresses,
dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
I was out of your league,
dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
I never thought about it so hard,
before now.
I never thought about it so hard,
until force said so.
But I am different now.
Are you?
I am different now.
And late.
I was out of your league.
Out of your park.
Out of your game
entirely.
But I'm back
from Mars now,
back from the outer reaches of this entire fucking Sol system.
But you did not wait,
did you?
I don't blame you.
It's a long way out to the Oort cloud.
And you're right,
I didn't even bring a gotdamn souvenir.
But I ran,
I ran as hard as my body could go.
Dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
I missed you. I did.
It's a long run, you must know
from the fringes of the solar system.
dig dig dig.
Honeybear with a shopping bag,
dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
Distances. Not too far to kiss across,
dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
Bad makeup and stanky dresses,
dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
I was out of your league,
dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
I never thought about it so hard,
before now.
I never thought about it so hard,
until force said so.
But I am different now.
Are you?
I am different now.
And late.
I was out of your league.
Out of your park.
Out of your game
entirely.
But I'm back
from Mars now,
back from the outer reaches of this entire fucking Sol system.
But you did not wait,
did you?
I don't blame you.
It's a long way out to the Oort cloud.
And you're right,
I didn't even bring a gotdamn souvenir.
But I ran,
I ran as hard as my body could go.
Dig dig dig,
dig dig dig.
I missed you. I did.
It's a long run, you must know
from the fringes of the solar system.
Lace
Face up to the wall
we had some things in common
difficult to use words for.
Seagulls are a lot bigger
inches from a face.
Feathers large enough to wear
in a headdress
when inclined.
Shot up,
you said we would hang out
clean.
I said we would not
fuck.
Things change.
Did you see the sun off to bed
over the hills? How it lit up the clouds and
bounced light back against the scales
of a rouge wave of oxygen and
lit it on fire until there was nothing
else to burn. How it caved in
on itself in damped motion
like a hundred story building collapsing?
A throat slashed leviathan, gases spewing
flame touched across the sky
while it died? You called me goth and I called you.
Romance of the two kingdoms.
Lines in sand and I am telling you:
stay out of my garden.
If I ever catch you
in arms reach
smelling my flowers,
it will be
last times.
I love you. And
I love me more. And
I love you. Will you
see me again? Now
that I know
the kinds of cookies you like to eat
before you have dinner
standing up
will you forgive me for flinching
before the backhand swipe of a blade
having felt the first?
we had some things in common
difficult to use words for.
Seagulls are a lot bigger
inches from a face.
Feathers large enough to wear
in a headdress
when inclined.
Shot up,
you said we would hang out
clean.
I said we would not
fuck.
Things change.
Did you see the sun off to bed
over the hills? How it lit up the clouds and
bounced light back against the scales
of a rouge wave of oxygen and
lit it on fire until there was nothing
else to burn. How it caved in
on itself in damped motion
like a hundred story building collapsing?
A throat slashed leviathan, gases spewing
flame touched across the sky
while it died? You called me goth and I called you.
Romance of the two kingdoms.
Lines in sand and I am telling you:
stay out of my garden.
If I ever catch you
in arms reach
smelling my flowers,
it will be
last times.
I love you. And
I love me more. And
I love you. Will you
see me again? Now
that I know
the kinds of cookies you like to eat
before you have dinner
standing up
will you forgive me for flinching
before the backhand swipe of a blade
having felt the first?
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