unfinished: given that it is morning

given that it is morning

certain chores must get done

forget the teeth the spare skin

littering the livingroom's floor

first you must jump the puddledull

sing alive the lights and have a look

at yourself deeply brightly

dark with adjectives the mirror is well

unlock the door kindly beg each deer escape

and one by one spy their fur for stolen brushes

pilfered digging hands you recognize the one you

miss leaping through the plate glass door

as much from the puddlesharp reflecting

what crushes scratch rolls across the AM sky

( unfinished and entombed: from 8/6/2009 )

Jayson

"Those he command move only in command,
nothing in love: now does he feel his title
hang loose about him like a giant's robe
upon a dwarfish thief."
[Shakespeare's Macbeth, Angus. A5S2.]

Dreaming in pictures
television tongue-cut
a black man, strong black
man guts the air with fingertips
paints each hungry leaf an icy blues
something crawls behind his ear
like a cricket chirping with intent
inhales through teeth
lets pass
two beats
into the too cold room the creep
a stench runs past his feet
couch, tv, used books bought cheap

The simmer eyewild Jayson sees:
red tricycle, white wheels gentle
tipped on its side hangs in the honeyed sky
Jayson dreaming dreams and the kudzu climbs

Hand-me-down Sony stereo wet
grinning bug darts behind an airless blade
sliding colors stir by the pricking of thumbs
Jayson wonders what beast he'll now become

Beyond defeat lay no living disgrace:

But we know, we know Jayson drowns
that room stomps out that bug turns
the volume up Real Loud and hummmms
along to whatever stirring noise, just for fun

Oh Jayson, just for fun!

of blood

sorry for what you've become

while you were sleeping i fell in love

it didn't take long, i know

maybe i think i could be wrong

gypsy handed rush of blood

ruby-eyes crush juvenile love

desire wet dependence, addiction addled remorse

soul's resolved divorce transfixed as she drifts off.

Canova & Venus

Comfort or quiet
nothing echoes when
the windows let up their gaze
snow falling somewhere, breath inside
soon a child's steel will freeze
no thing can satisfy me no
you will never be enough, mollify.

I walk beyond seasons all the glass
surrounding the lattice

I am the windows are not quiet
storming, their work is tempered by chariot fire
by mythic largess by greed by

I though afraid as I am of comfort
or quiet or you or the deep polish
of window panes I choose I choose

Together we conspire
the hard wet world
strapped into his claws
or that pours her sweet apple
pearl rolling down his flaying edge
(cloud or breath the shape of digging
smaller till the brutes' stomach fills
no more the sugar of syrup
no matter the salted reflective cast.

no throttle

... discourse into the vein

but how in? the image

rides or bursts like a bust

of Ludwig Van dropped

from the super-story sky scraper

passion lines wheezing behind

or or or mashes across viscus

pink micrometer slugging

wrinkle above her crying eye

i'm not describing the image

to spite what i've said of course

this is love then again swirling

and red and rushed and swinging

i'll come back in time

in time

to spite what pains of before.

'With so many guides, the sky was left alone to sew his disguise.'

Battles #1

Bright and burning in my pumping veins

the lonely morning before you rise

spent dreaming others' perfect names

darling, there's only you

can lip me from this edge

one memory left to toss

so I think real hard about

the time at that old house

heard teens coo 100 miles out

breaking bottles with their shoes

you always knew what to do

you touched me

you coughed

eyes cast out toward the bridge

not quite ready to push off

at the tree we both might have lost our kiss

caught beside the harbor's sinking ships

you fading like a sad ghost at my fingertips

me, I was a lost child only waiting for a gift

now it's morning and I feel stronger

think I'll stay inside a little longer

wear that silver chain you gave me loose around my neck

the cool quick medal swings across my chest

its you, only you, and you're about to come home

pearl morning light, my lips cotton to your cheek bone.