thanks for the epiphany (20161120)

for a sudden insight
i want to thank the asshat
who spaced out at the intersection
until i flashed my high beams
–saw it twinkle
–like a lightning bolt
–out of zeus’ clenched fist
–in his rearview
and he decided it was okay
to turn right onto the
empty street

and then i had to follow him for
two miles
–not stalking
–we were both headed for the freeway
he signaled
to get on the northbound
and then changed his mind
long past the p.o.n.r.
and swerved back into traffic
so i could follow him
onto the southbound

and my god
i realized that the only
way hell
would work is if you had no
idea you were there
because if you knew that shit
was going to just keep going on
for fucking literally ever
you would just refuse to cooperate
and curl up into a ball
and sisyphus could roll you
up the damn hill because why not

but what would the point of that be
as either a deterrent
or a punishment
if you didn’t even know you were
being punished
you wouldn’t even develop
stockholm syndrome and that would
mean god is just a dick

and how can we tell
that’s not what we’ve got
on our hands here anyway

pennies (20161116)

i stare at the screen
my eyes closing
sleepy but tired
is not the state
i have achieved

my teeth ache, feel hollow
every footstep
every ringing phone
sends vibrations
along the floor
up through my feet
right into those last
nerves still active
in my caveman jaw

if one more person says
not bad for a monday
i might just
need to see the dentist
with my mouth full of shards
and the taste of pennies

the problem with temptation (20161113)

turning the flashlight
pointing up
into the tree
the white beam
punches me in the nose
suddenly i smell
the oils of the needles
feel the resinous pine
sap sticky on my fingers

a small green insect
dances into the light
caught in the beam
as if in amber
still except for the furious
motion of its cellophane wings

that’s the problem with
temptation i think
shining a light
where your eyes
aren’t accustomed to the
darkness
what you catch there
may be taught
to fly into a flame

——

for
as everything turns grey
writing prompts by J.R.Rogue and Kat Savage
8. The Problem With Temptation

time for dirty hands (20161112)

time to get your hands dirty
time to get your knuckles bloody
time to snarl like a tiger
and leap coiled spring that you are
made so against your will

but really
this is the only fight worth
clenching your fist for
gritting your teeth for
we are all stars
let’s give them one hell
of a sunburn