Free Verse
no obligation
the wound bleeds slow
sightseers pull off the road to gawk
no obligation to die
hello, lover
the earth broke its eardrums
it attempted to hear way too much
we were skipping home from either war or school
maybe both
we went into the dance fully armed and capable
we were experts at yanking each other's teeth
we navigated the maniac water
we poured one another golden drinks
now we teeter transparent in the parking lot of good luck
we've milked the ornery cow
taken the maiden voyage to chaos
the police are on foot
funny red lights revolve on their caps
they too can empathize with the lack of air
it's good to know you're wanted
every time an earthquake says hello
we stand in doorways wondering what the next card will be
my best girl my one and only guy
my same sex mumbled calculation
the ability of any human to live with another
the heart is bigger than sexual orientation
the heart lives in many counties
the heart is your best friend and a known terrorist
the heart may be your one and only home
moving every 2 weeks from town to town
we went another all nighter
we probed the rugged playground
we read each other's scripts
this project just might fly
forensic trace evidence in every dream
in the late night cold of the research lab
a frustrated god yawns, attempts to make things right
for all lovers everywhere.
looking for the right chemical
that will slam it all home.
as a species are we good or bad, up or down,
en route or at journey's end?
maybe all of the above.
the heart is bumping into anything it can find.
furniture, walls, solar systems.
i'm a raving lunatic in the holy name of love.
i live in the country
i live in town
i make my pallet in any room that will fit me.
the wound bleeds slow
sightseers who pull off the road to gawk are ticketed
no obligation to ever die
hello, lover
the earth broke its heart
it attempted to love way too much
we were crawling home
it'd been one long long day
in a time when huge people deflate easy
in a place where all language turns to grunts
we went up the mountain
we placed first
we sang the proper versions
now we are nervous circumspect children
waiting for our treats
hello, lover
no obligation ever
give it up
all we are
all we could ever hope to be
right now
in this moment
we might not save each other in the end
but it's never the destination that counts
only the journey
give it up
we each got our ticket
this ride is something else indeed
it's the only way either of us will make it home tonight.
scott
october 27 2008
soundtrack to boys don't cry
