NEVER carved and slash inked
in the metal below
a train window, last car
fleeing the gorges
glass and steel
and vowing just NEVER
Holy Hell
holy hell
you speckled dog
you turned the ashes
in my mouth to sweet
something i don't want to swallow yet
but the blue
under my skin
to brine.
your black nose
and deep ears
filled with me
and filled me in
and under my skin
holy hell
i wanted to fall
and grow there under your paws
but not crossed
shadowed homeless birds
or you as you stalk
uncovering
where they come from
unbraiding the grass
blue in my wrists
do you smell the trail
do you come or run
and guard your neck
nov 26, 2011
you speckled dog
you turned the ashes
in my mouth to sweet
something i don't want to swallow yet
but the blue
under my skin
to brine.
your black nose
and deep ears
filled with me
and filled me in
and under my skin
holy hell
i wanted to fall
and grow there under your paws
but not crossed
shadowed homeless birds
or you as you stalk
uncovering
where they come from
unbraiding the grass
blue in my wrists
do you smell the trail
do you come or run
and guard your neck
nov 26, 2011
Currency
currency in
trampled cigars spent
measured in
how sick i get
when full
exchanged for
sunken shoulders
trying with their all
to make room
the shape the shakes
of my body take
given and taken in
behind a wall
from the wind
hand to handed
in tight doorways
lent
trampled cigars spent
measured in
how sick i get
when full
exchanged for
sunken shoulders
trying with their all
to make room
the shape the shakes
of my body take
given and taken in
behind a wall
from the wind
hand to handed
in tight doorways
lent
Chinese Tourists in the Park
The Chinese men stroll so close
their knuckles knock
and though the darks of their eyes
are not the ones i miss
in confusion i conflate
all darknesses alike
and wish my hand
could knock against theirs
too close to avoid it
as we break new language in
their knuckles knock
and though the darks of their eyes
are not the ones i miss
in confusion i conflate
all darknesses alike
and wish my hand
could knock against theirs
too close to avoid it
as we break new language in
Land of Mine
this land of mine
not benevolent or civilized
but i will train your eyes
to see
my trees are filled with onyx crows
their roots tangle with pitch and sloe
the blood here doesn't run, it blows
but i will teach you how to breathe
you may not just go where you will
the hills leaden darker, not lighter, beyond hills
but i will teach you how to abandon feel
your way to me
i've built scaffolds over the deepest parts
when you're exhausted i'll build wheeled carts
but don't be disgusted with the dark
it's the only way my land knows to be
not benevolent or civilized
but i will train your eyes
to see
my trees are filled with onyx crows
their roots tangle with pitch and sloe
the blood here doesn't run, it blows
but i will teach you how to breathe
you may not just go where you will
the hills leaden darker, not lighter, beyond hills
but i will teach you how to abandon feel
your way to me
i've built scaffolds over the deepest parts
when you're exhausted i'll build wheeled carts
but don't be disgusted with the dark
it's the only way my land knows to be
Once Lives
Are the leaves kicked
layers of integrity
once part of a whole
once lives
layers of garment skin
ribbed and thin
rubbed weak
down to bits
or curled like exhaustion
in lungs
flattened like exhaustion
in eyes
layers of integrity
once part of a whole
once lives
layers of garment skin
ribbed and thin
rubbed weak
down to bits
or curled like exhaustion
in lungs
flattened like exhaustion
in eyes
Cloudcover
In this town of angles, lines
the clouds roll over
barrel chested but mute of thunder
staying to the margins
we'll never build into
their dissolute shadow dissolving light
reminding us we are spherical
our straight legs and strong
rely on arches
buckle over the brim
lean into the bend
lie like sickles in our sleep
the paths we drive
only seem level
but always bow
always carry us intentionally
back
around, arriving at the place
we set out to escape.
Find old bones
of our own limbs
torn from us
to make the getaway.
We find them precious again.
Though no memory
of the pain they bled from us then.
the clouds roll over
barrel chested but mute of thunder
staying to the margins
we'll never build into
their dissolute shadow dissolving light
reminding us we are spherical
our straight legs and strong
rely on arches
buckle over the brim
lean into the bend
lie like sickles in our sleep
the paths we drive
only seem level
but always bow
always carry us intentionally
back
around, arriving at the place
we set out to escape.
Find old bones
of our own limbs
torn from us
to make the getaway.
We find them precious again.
Though no memory
of the pain they bled from us then.
Rocking Sea
sails sun tattered
wind pushes through
on its way without you
alone you rock yourself to sleep
or something like it
in a crib of moaning waves
wind pushes through
on its way without you
alone you rock yourself to sleep
or something like it
in a crib of moaning waves
Slow Travel
Our thoughts have habits
of slow travel
winding weeks making a way
re-establishing the road,
gravel up, each time
keeping it firm
no matter the miles
keeping it straight.
So forgive the wasted time
now that you're here
i'm used to caring for your words
as pilgrims resting from travel
i've put them in my mouth
to keep them warm
i've taken them in my pockets
to keep them awake
and i've kept silent
as they stretch their aches.
Forgive me if my jaw locks
now like a blank page
when you're gone
these powers will return
just when you're out of sight
i'll remember how to curse
and regret not practicing
talk in real time.
But for now even curses
click hollow barreled
until i've filled them up
with that road.
nov 12, 11
of slow travel
winding weeks making a way
re-establishing the road,
gravel up, each time
keeping it firm
no matter the miles
keeping it straight.
So forgive the wasted time
now that you're here
i'm used to caring for your words
as pilgrims resting from travel
i've put them in my mouth
to keep them warm
i've taken them in my pockets
to keep them awake
and i've kept silent
as they stretch their aches.
Forgive me if my jaw locks
now like a blank page
when you're gone
these powers will return
just when you're out of sight
i'll remember how to curse
and regret not practicing
talk in real time.
But for now even curses
click hollow barreled
until i've filled them up
with that road.
nov 12, 11
If Still Green
If our mouths are still
a bit green
they'll ripen by then
they'll dry by then
they'll fall by then
they'll build by then
with a tiny heart of air
by then they'll crack and light
together they'll ignite by then
nov 8, 11
a bit green
they'll ripen by then
they'll dry by then
they'll fall by then
they'll build by then
with a tiny heart of air
by then they'll crack and light
together they'll ignite by then
nov 8, 11
Don't Let the Rain Put This Out
the light rain hisses and spits
on a wall of blazing vine
dying. fingers smolder at the ends
of a warm body. the world
is the emotions there are no words
for. here the word earth strains
it lies in taut grafts
inflamed by our need to say what
we cannot. only strike
and send up flares.
nov 7, 11
on a wall of blazing vine
dying. fingers smolder at the ends
of a warm body. the world
is the emotions there are no words
for. here the word earth strains
it lies in taut grafts
inflamed by our need to say what
we cannot. only strike
and send up flares.
nov 7, 11
The Backs of Books
I've turned all the books around
in shame in fear of their faces
to know what i've been doing
The days the same
their dawns waiting
nightfalls crashing
I'm huddled for cover
hidden in chatter
distracted and wound
oct 30, 11
in shame in fear of their faces
to know what i've been doing
The days the same
their dawns waiting
nightfalls crashing
I'm huddled for cover
hidden in chatter
distracted and wound
oct 30, 11
Shut Traps
we don't believe each other
we shut our traps
unsure which side is in or out
only of the lock here
my reasons and yours
between
my body and yours
and as long as it takes my hands
to rub down these walls
or world for another pair
it's fine. they won't be yours
i'm looking for. they won't be anyone's
unless that one can see my fists hide things
and leave them closed. leave me be
let me sing and swear
i want them empty
but never pry them from their gnarl
nov 6, 11
we shut our traps
unsure which side is in or out
only of the lock here
my reasons and yours
between
my body and yours
and as long as it takes my hands
to rub down these walls
or world for another pair
it's fine. they won't be yours
i'm looking for. they won't be anyone's
unless that one can see my fists hide things
and leave them closed. leave me be
let me sing and swear
i want them empty
but never pry them from their gnarl
nov 6, 11
With Thimbles
If our bodies go away
we sew them onto our feet
in flight
we know them as shadows
multiplying
a light abandoned trail
we sew them onto our feet
in flight
we know them as shadows
multiplying
a light abandoned trail
Dunes
the clouds on her thighs
make dunes
they hit the moon
she sifts them
hard-won time
she undoes them
new things
shows them
for what they are
what they are to be
from now
from here on
nov 6, 11
make dunes
they hit the moon
she sifts them
hard-won time
she undoes them
new things
shows them
for what they are
what they are to be
from now
from here on
nov 6, 11
The Honest Word
wake up, let me in
my lips feel like your cold hands
my mouth feels like the words
out of line
some old grammar
some buried thing
the honest word said
is no
a chant that goes
up from our torn out bodies
nov 6, 2011
my lips feel like your cold hands
my mouth feels like the words
out of line
some old grammar
some buried thing
the honest word said
is no
a chant that goes
up from our torn out bodies
nov 6, 2011
Whole
Take all my insides out
lay them aside
one by one, swallow them whole
there's so many things a mouth can hold
there's only so many things a mouth can hold
nov 3
lay them aside
one by one, swallow them whole
there's so many things a mouth can hold
there's only so many things a mouth can hold
nov 3
Walking Lines
Will walking lines be all i give
staccato, stalk, and slip
away along the slabs
and stare into where the starlight should be
cinch my shoulders
by the houses, shambles and sheets
sunken and still
silence my cymbals, make my steps
passing their septic sleep
sharing sidelong looks
stealing shadows from their dreams
nov 2
staccato, stalk, and slip
away along the slabs
and stare into where the starlight should be
cinch my shoulders
by the houses, shambles and sheets
sunken and still
silence my cymbals, make my steps
passing their septic sleep
sharing sidelong looks
stealing shadows from their dreams
nov 2
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