transformation (poem 20150515)

full moon
but i’m not going to get
all lon chaney jr. on you

no sudden transformation
not much of a wolf
not much of a man, either
not likely to change

this little light of mine
i’m going to let it shine

no teeth and no fur
(except on my back)
and a useless heart
(except as a clock)
you can keep me around
as a paperweight
big as an eclipsed moon
and as inviting

Poem 20150104

in the car
the radio plays a beatles song
come together
and i sing along, loud
and risk a glance
you move your head
and toss your hair
but you don’t sing
even though you smile

i tell you some trivia
i learned as a kid
about the song yesterday
and it’s original title
scrambled eggs
because i like to look smart
around you

the familiar song on the radio
changes
there’s a bridge
where there shouldn’t be one
and i realize that this is a dream

i want the dream to stretch out
to see where i’m driving with you
but like a candle
the light flickers out
leaving smoke and the stink of burning
–the only evidence of the flame