Author: crow

I'm a writer and a dabbler. I live in Southern California.

Poem 20141230

crow

–show me a magic trick– she says
sitting in bed
knees drawn up
sheets pulled up and tucked under her arms

–i don’t have any cards with me– i say
i don’t want to move
the bed is warm
and the floor will be cold

she pouts, a fake
–come on–

–how about i hypnotize you–

–no way
you’d just make me do
something dirty–

–not anything dirtier than
you’ve already–

she hits me with a pillow
her cheeks redden and her eyes brighten

–please–

–seriously–

she nods and i
get out of bed
the floor isn’t just cold
the wood is ice under my bare feet
i taste metal in my mouth

but i run to bathroom
and come back with a towel

–close your eyes–

she does it
i drop the towel
hold the mirror up to her face

–open your eyes–

she does

–what–

–the sun shining in the middle of the night–

she complains about my cold feet
when i slide back under the covers
but it is her only complaint

Poem 20141229

crow

i trace it with a finger
but not touching
touching is not allowed
i get so close i
can feel something
like electricity
like gravity
like air pressure
between my finger
and the smooth
arching
curves

Poem 20141228

crow

struck in the thigh
the warrior drops to his knees
tasting blood
in his mouth
mixed with bitterness
mixed with fear
mixed with defeat
mixed with regret
he remembers a sunny vineyard
where the dust rose
as he ran the among the rows of
bulging grapes
remembers a girl
with skin as brown as a chestnut
lips as sweet rose petals
and hair the color of

Poem 20141227

crow

with a dead wood stick, tap the gate
one-two-three
and wait for the answering knock
one-two-three

enter into the shadowed glade
beyond the wooden threshold
leave the sunshine
behind the wooden threshold

this is not the inner maze
though cowards remained without
this is only the first gate of many
but you hear their fleeing feet kick up dirt

you turn to see you benefactor
the one that answered one-two-three
you turn and see a bull-headed man
with blood smeared lips and hooves

no thread will save you now
no easily turned woman’s heart
and you never made the first turn among the hedges
before he charges