1
so i caught her once
caught her eye across the forest
a ray of sunshine through the trees
can you imagine the luck
and she flew right up to me
all feathers and blue and curious
she ate from my hand and
when i fed her well and gently
she did not fly away
2
something that
doesn't want a cage
something that wants to unlock a door
3
sometimes late at
night
i hear her in the trees
somewhere nearby
singing strong
and clear
she's such
a
rebel
Poets at Thirty
Poets at thirty
learn to hide well
Under the cover of bookstores,
Thirsty for a glimpse
Of those who might buy their work.
No one sees them,
Hesitant shadows behind Sandburg
As they count
and recount their books.
Wipe off the dust,
Check for a pulse
Then slip a few on display.
Reluctant to leave,
They are swept out the door
At closing time
Like unemployment lines,
Afraid
Wondering how the rent is to be paid.
con-trary
having known desire
having drank of pleasure
and purple pain
i stand in front of the mirror
a ghost stirring inside me
inside my musty mind
a hand and
suddenly a razor
rushing through me
one
day someday
one never knows
justin at
thirteen
for hours i lie
awake
fascinated by you my
son snoring slightly
like an old movie
projector
across the room
in my mind you are
instantly twelve
eleven eight seven six
five four three
two years old again
then the baby with such
serious eyes sometimes
flat on your back sometimes
slightly snoring your
head in my left hand your
limbs dangling from my
arm swaying in rhythm as
i breeze about the house
so many things i want
to say so many thoughts all
crashing in like hitchcock's
birds such relentless
things reluctant lessons
i like to think that
i have learned
and all of this just to say
learn all you can learn
about something and still
love it or be prepared
to lose it
dino
party dolls and
scotch
on the rocks
smooth
on the stereo
in the background
and on t v
all my life
in black
and white
surrounded
by pretty women
gold diggers
pretty much sauced
every time
chain smoking
flirting but oh
so syndicated never
the less
Instructions
for Lars
A must... any sexy
lingerie
Stays home in her dresser
Drawers promptly roped
Appropriately gagged and
Held captive until I arrive
Pink red and black panties
Replaced by sensible white
Cotton make sure she wears
Dark sunglasses every day
And every night glue them
To her head if necessary
New Dancing
Shoes
New tempo
New beat
New step
New rhythm
New swing
New kick
New moves
New confidence
New strength
New faith
New desire
New music
New taste
New tricks
New shoes
New attitude
Cherry Pit
After
The
Sweetness
Before
The
Cold hard
Reality
Becomes
Regret
Spit it
Out
Resenting the
Shark
Dragging blue skin
through blue water,
Chilled to teeth chattering bone,
We keep an angry eye out
For the tell tale dorsal fin
Or swiftly swimming shadows,
We squeeze through the Atlantic
Hungry for the drifting boat
Stormy
Your lips of
crackling thunder
are lightning shocks crashing
through me when we touch I
imagine it every night in bed
torrential wet sizzling kisses
hissing under red silk sheets
The Circle of
Faith and Healing
It’s the circles of
rings on our fingers
That spread so carefully we three
Each dipping our hands in your urn
Each dipping our hearts that burn
A circle of ashes around your tree
So the love of wife sister son lingers
