Uniform scrubbed-apple faces with turned-up noses folded their hands to pray.
I thought I was a bastard until the pine needles crunched beneath my feet.
Rain plunked on aluminum sididng as thunder exploded.
A novice served the clergy's dinner.
Everything tried to hold its breath.
Break bread with me and shut the fuck up!
Stealthily I trip and fall, causing an ant to drop its food.
Somebody starved to death.
I would never presume to be so uncouth
as to cross myself when entering a forest.
Glass
Because we had a veil of loneliness
we groped in the dark till we found each other.
Our faith in each other grew
until it manifested as resentment.
Now
in my self-contained conspiracy
against your mercy,
I see your strength
that mocks me.
So I shout
I am alone on a hill, dressed in rags,
and I am calling out your name with pride.
My words shatter you.
Your steel is glass.
Water
As if some god were skipping stars
across the unassuming waves,
dancers shine and soak the wind,
breaking in a swirl of madness
across the unassuming waves.
They move above the silent black,
breaking in a swirl of madness.
Hands that force the night to come
move above the silent black,
make the dancers leave the deep.
Hands that force the night to come
sway and grope in silent depths.
To make the dancers leave the deep
seaweed stalks of dancing hair
sway and grope in silent depths
against the pressure of the sea.
Syros
Lured into the Aegean by
fantasies of floating
on life-sized
paintings,
I push--------->and >--------pull my arms
through salt and p l a n k ton,
innumerable goods
suspended by physical laws.
Displacement
would calculate my f a t content but I don't care.
I am slick and m-o-v-i-n-g......
I am swimming in a
treasure chest
too large to bury
Ghosts of pirate ships
with deadwood holes
crumble past the cove and I think maybe just maybe
they will swallow me and I will be
bellied
in their hulls, a suburban Jonah.
I will light a fire with bones of those who came before me
those who were not
spit out
those who were bellied forever
because they learned their lesson.
Tigers
A ziploc bag filled with infected water
light a candle
purify
Burn the corners of the blade
my blade
hot steel
red pulses
and look for a door
but I am sealed,
tucked inside
Ladder, please.
Shadows in the hall
find a door to bleed out infection
rip
pull
cut
a lullaby to swell tears from my eyes
Cut a door
release the lies
tiger stripes dripping red from
arms
thighs
wherever clothes cover
and infection escapes,
at least a little.
Every night a communion
flesh and steel
years fly by and every night,
sometimes day,
medicated bathroom stalls
whitewashed walls
I want to feel anything
but I hide
empty tears salt tongue and lips.
Ask me a question and I just might lie.
pencil on
torn napkin
another door
bigger than tiger stripes
amoxacillin to an infected soul
Shadows fading
light swells
tears
real tears explode supernova
without question
without glory
Scribbled lines on a torn napkin last longer than scars,
and push
full water
tiger-strong from bloodshot eyes.
White
If I were small I'd sneak up on the elves and catch them line-dancing.
Branches crossed await a new messiah.
Sponges soak up the sweat and rain.
Melting into steel I shiver as I sink northward.
Orange berries pull me down until I swim.
Scrubbing the sink until it wears away I am layered.
Bravado lurks and later manifests its shame.
Quietly I creep through the tunnel and rest my blisters.
Even now I cannot seem to eat tomatoes.
So very white, this pen will sing for its supper.