air conditioner hums
makes a melody
in the silence
on the tongue
not bitter so much as
unsatisfyingly bland
aftertaste of being
in an almost empty office
no getting over
that first goodbye
of the day
last rides (20170314)
one of those here-today-gone-tomorrow
carnivals, set up on the green lawn
right next to the rec center
never let anyone tell you carnies
don’t know how to market themselves
small affair, few rides, few games
a couple of food booths
long before everything was deep fried
lucky if they have hot dogs or nachos
with cheese sauce from those industrial-sized
barrels like it had been sucked out
of the earth
one ride makes me realize
i will never go to space
the hammers
twin metal cages on long
pole arms
on either side of a column
thrown together from
some kind of adult erector set
they rotate
spin toward each other
probably so you could wave
at the idiots in the other cage
I didn’t have time to wave or
even look at anyone else
all i felt was g force
quarters flying out of my pockets
bouncing like meteors pinging
and ricocheting off the metal grills
it’s the first ride i’ve
ever just wanted to stop
just
stop
with empty pockets, i stagger out
of the little metal box
and my stomach wants to empty out
and i can’t even look up
at the stars i will never fly to
because the vertigo spins the ground
like an lp around the axis
of my feet
——
for
dVerse ~ Poets Pub
Poetics: Amuse me! Take me for a ride!
in the spring (20170313)
no gentle spring rains
from the wretched grandfather clock
just the constant hunger for winding
we feed it tension and time
it belches chimes gears and fears
that reek of aftershave
brought tears to my eyes
an empty chair
a thousand sour, empty threats
——
the ethics of video games (20170312)
i don’t care for squirrels
–i know this about myself–
and i know i should probably
feel bad every time
a coyote or a yellow-eyed hawk
gets one for dinner
but that’s nature
one less squirrel
means one less marauder
of my peaches
–i do feel bad for the little
bastards when they get hit
by cars
(but i hate people
(especially drivers
(especially any driver
in front of me)))–
and i can’t explain why
even in a game
i feel guilty about
hunting a fox
because i would never do that
in my real life
and i know it’s not even real
but i hear the barks
and i think
–that’s a sin–
Scarecrow Pretends on Open Mic
Robert Okaji, who is peerless in my opinion, has contributed a reading. You can find it on the March 2017 Open Mic Page.
If you want to read some poetry that makes you say, “I wish I wrote that,” be sure to visit his site.
how blue is your heart on Open Mic
Today we have a newcomer to Words and Feather, J. Matthew Waters from jdubqca.com. Check out his site after you listen to his reading on the March 2017 Open Mic Page.
scent (20170311)
i want to smell you on my clothes
when i’m driving to work
still have the taste of you
in my mouth
on my mouth
so that when i am stuck at my screen
i can take a deep breath
and you will be standing there
next to me
Benefit of a Friend on Open Mic
Pleasant Street (her blog is here) is first up at the mic. Take a listen on the March Open Mic Page.
And then submit your own. SUBMIT! I command you!
conversation peace (20170310)
you motherfuckers
can’t make me shut up–my heart
grows a mouth, whispers
March 2017 Open Mic Invitation
What’s that thing March comes in like? A lion? Are you ready to roar?
Well, lube up those lips and start your mouth exercises. It may be late, but it’s not never, so read one of your poems out loud, record it, and share it. Are you waiting for a written invitation?
Cause….
The Skinny:
- Record yourself reading one of your own works.
- Post it somewhere.
- Link to this post.
- I will post a link with your name and poem title RIGHT HERE.
- It’s an open mic invitation. NOT a challenge.
Some tips:
- Go simple.
I record using my iPhone, then email/share the file with myself. I very rarely edit it, unless I really waited too long to start talking. - Want better quality?
You can get a relatively inexpensive mic on Amazon that you can hook up to your computer. Some of there come with editing software. If I do edit, I use Audacity on the Mac. It’s free and pretty easy to use. There’s a version for Windows, too. - Hosting.
If you pay WordPress to host your site, you can add your audio by clicking on the Add Media button in the post editor. Have the free WordPress? You have options. All of the sites below will let you upload audio. Some will host for free up to a certain amount of storage. (I think with Youtube, you’ll have to upload a movie, but you can use a still image and add your poem.)I’ll even host it for you if like. Just email me the file. - Questions?
Ask below or contact me using the contact form (up above). I’ll try to help you out!And if you have any tips, feel free to share them!
March 2017
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Pleasant Street Benefit of a friend
words: https://areyouthrilled.com/2017/02/08/lengthy-courtship/
audio:
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j matthew waters how blue is your heart
words AND audio: https://jdubqca.com/2017/03/10/how-blue-is-your-heart/
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Robert Okaji Scarecrow Pretends
words: https://slagreview.com/2017/01/17/robert-okaji-scarecrow-pretends-poem/
audio:
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Pleasant Street will you let it go
words: https://areyouthrilled.com/2017/03/15/will-you-let-it-go/
audio:
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Frank Hubeny White Snow Last Night
words AND audio: https://frankhubeny.blog/2017/03/16/white-snow-last-night/
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Poet Rummager FIVE HAIKU POEMS: PERSISTENT WINTER
words AND audio: https://poetrummager.com/2017/03/17/five-haiku-poems-persistent-winter/
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Dormiens VigiloMan in the Mandala
words AND audio: https://whilesleepingwatch.com/2017/02/24/man-in-the-mandala/
Words and Feathers 