11-28-14

(Born to Run) Maybe Part One

Let us go then, you
and I, blasting off
behind the wheel of
a 98' Mustang. The
squeal of gravel flying,
I want to die with you.

We'll run away,
along the sides of
freeways and intergalactic
expressways.
Leave the top down.

I hold the gearshift,
wind whipping and eyes
locking. We'll crash
and burn, like we always
have, like we always will. 

11-26-14

The Symphony

The eyes that have seen the

face of God, the eyes

that have turned away

to stare at wooden planks.

Those are the eyes of

a graveyard, a

tombstone snared in

the strangling embrace of ivy.

How tired this old man

looks. His body, a

coffin, carrying a spirit that

faded long ago.

When he meets my

gaze, I feel nothing

but pity and remorse.

My father. My captain.

His is a life I cannot take,

for he will never truly

die. His is a life destined

for doom and misery.

I think to my parents

and music. I think of

surging emotion

and love.

Never again will I know warm

embrace. Never again

will I see the snow

fall on Nantucket.

Never again will I

hear the cry of a child,

or smell fresh baked bread.

There is nothing left to do.

I have nothing more to say.

The birds are circling.

11-22-14

Past Memories of Kid Cuisine

Walking in through the door
a paragon of awkwardness.
Do you still bend your
knee in that little crook
that slight stilt that
sends shivers up your spine?

Come with me to the old
lands, and fly with me
on the backs of unicorns.

And Dandelions. 

11-19-14

Towels

Soft cotton embrace
I'm reminded of the way
that my mother used to
fold you

Frayed edges
threadbare and lost
I hold you and breath
in.

11-17-14

Summer of '99

While everyone was waiting for their
Hogwarts acceptance letter,
arrived via snowy owl on a Sunday
evening, I was busily practicing
my skills with the blade.

The lightsaber can cut through
anything. It's pure energy, pure
awesome. I worked hard, concentrating
on that pen, screaming at it with a flick
of the wrist, a wrinkled brow -
MOVE.

I waved my hands around
like an air traffic controller,
trying to convince my mother.
Lucky Charms was necessary.

Jumping, waving my sword around,
I frightened numerous squirrels,
keeping the evil empire at bay.

I won many battles, but I
lost the war.

Dust gathers on those old
boxes. 

11-16-14

Police Sirens and Mac 'N Cheese

Lunchtime in the city was
always something.
She looks tired,
guiding the train
into the station, a look
of tired glee on her face.

Cries and grins of joy,
and the child doesn't
know any better.

She glances up at the
television and sighs,
silently wringing her hands.

The snow starts to fall,
snow cone flakes of pure
sugar. 

11-13-14

Drums

Thundering drums that build
and pound my ears
make my heart beat realign
and thump thump thump
to a different thumping

The crash of cymbols
like thunder
like gunshots sing
and shake
the ringing of steel

Reverberations echo in
my mind and in my
heart

I watch as you pound
the buck skin heads
shaking your head and
melting away into the
air

Lights flash and shine
your body contorting
eyes closed and passion
flying like a hawk
diving into the music and
attacking it

The song is over but
we keep our eyes closed
remembering the melody
the thumping pulsating
rhythm and never forget

Your sticks clatter to the ground
I down my drink and let the glass
go
a little bit of honey left at
the bottom .

11-12-14

Dreaming of Root Beer

And the way that it used
to fizz and bubble in
my mouth, tasting
of earth and black licorice.

We used to love root beer,
staying up late
in our sleeping bags,
mixing it with vanilla
ice cream,

and waiting for midnight
to tell only the
scariest ghost stories
to each other, listening to
the wind shake the trees. 

11-9-14

The Ant Tyrant

He rules his ant farm with an
iron fist. If they don't obey -
execution by magnifying
glass.

The queen?
A puppet.

He put her into power,
knowing she'd bend
the knee to his will.

The ants weren't aware that
they were in a farm. The massive
figure that loomed over them,
brought food, struck down
their insect brothers with the
light of heaven. He was more
like a god to them.

One day maybe, they'd
rise up, revolt and bring
down the tyrant. Viva la
Ant Revolution.

Poem of the day 11-6-14

Rock Star Poetry

He fends off the paparazzi,
signs autographs on
chapbooks,  waves to
the crowd of cheering
admirers, begging
him to recite a few cantos.

Sunglasses, slick suit,
Queen of England nodding
in approval, clapping. The
premier of his new poem
attracted more than the
Presidential Inauguration,
the Super Bowl, and your
average WNBA crowd.
Combined.

Sauntering up to the podium,
he removes his shades, sliding
them into his jacket pocket.
Viewers in the front row
swoon and need to be
removed on stretchers by
paramedics.

He pulls a folded
piece of legal paper from his
back pocket, the paper crinkling,
the crowd roaring. A quick
wave of his hand -
silence.

As he reads, the
crowd is so lost in
the experience, giving
themselves to poetry,
that they don't realize
he's plagiarized  T. S. Eliot.

Poem of the Day 11-3-14

Things You Never Hear Spoken Aloud For 200, Alex. Part One

I walked into a
Blockbuster Video
the other day, and
what surprised me
the most, I think,
was how expensive
it is to rent a VHS.
13 Dollars is too
much for the Director's
Cut of Kangaroo Jack.

Poem of the day 11-2-14

The Bird Watcher's Wife

She begs him not
to go, to stay and not
risk it all. No one's
ever photographed
the Sicilian Vulture
Owl before. Dammit
Jim! It's suicide!

They both know how
dangerous it is. Climb
the sheer cliff face, hike
for 7 miles, spelunk
into a cave, swim
through the mazelike,
underwater caverns,
navigate the labyrinth,
befriend a dragon,
ride him over the mountains,
defeat a leprechaun in
battle of wits and riddles,
bring together the four
keys of Ahrman-Suk,
and finally make a blood
offering to the Goddess.

Is it worth it?
The red plumage,
only written about,
the arched neck, pointed
beak. The adventure of
a life time, probably
resulting in death.

He clutches her close,
sighs, and watches the
sun slowly set through
parted window blinds.

Poem of the day 11-1-14

Grocery List

4 Pack of Fluorescent bulbs
Gallon of Milk
Pack of Condoms
Cheese
Lettuce
Bottle of Whiskey
Lighter Fluid
Ice cream
Pills
Lip Balm
Some rope
Goldfish
A shovel
Popcorn
Pick up prescription
Gas
Razors