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
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
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.
everything i think about is glass
thin
brittle
stretched like a sheet of paper
over my face
close enough to catch my breath
but still there
a window i can’t open
and outside
sunlight air birds traffic laughter
good god
i am filled with lead
not the hot lead
you would expect
being slung around
by cagney or bogart
but the kind that
fills the blood
coagulates it like venom
presses down on the muscles
demands your eyes to close
and you you want to say
yes
what did oedipus see
after he pinned his eyes
in place in his skull
all
he banished himself
not because he was unfit to be king
not because he had brought a curse upon thebes
but now he could see light in every corner
under every stool
he could not bear the illumination
he was tempted to pull those pins free
but stayed his hand
if his eyes ever moved again
rolling in his sockets
their sudden freedom
would have blanketed him in darkness
and his sleep would have been peaceful
and his voice silent
Words and Feathers 