i am the dog
wagging my tail
lowering my head for
a hand
or
a handout
if it’s a smile
or a warm word
i receive
i count it
a worthy
transaction
but how often it is
the bone
dry and scraped clean
and how my teeth
break against it
Tag: poem
the runcheon rattles
the runcheon rattles, its chains are long
it keens a ghostly murder song
upon the moors, upon the heath
with rasping, fetid, icy breath
the runcheon rattles, its chains unwind
with wailing moan it hunts though blind
across the meadow, out of the wood
where no child ventures whose soul is good
the runcheon rattles, its chains pulled taut
’tis bloody though it lacks a heart
amidst the town, within the lane
it shudders in the cold and rain
the runcheon rattles, its chains a ruin
its labored breath a grating tune
beyond the hedge, through the gate
it tarries not lest it be late
the runcheon rattles, by chains unbound
all too soon its prey’s been found
upon your hearth a sudden frost
the runcheon rattles–and you are lost
wither, ancient spirit (20161029)
as the animal blossoms
a wild moon breathes out
this soul follows secret winter
wither, ancient spirit!
murmur and wander no more
——
for
Specks and Fragments/Elusive Trope
Magnetic Poetry Saturday Challenge
All Hallows’ Eve Poetry Slam
a difference in pressure (20161028)
hands cupped over my ears
the seas
hands pressed against my ears
the bees
silence never
we all fall down (20161027)
i turn out my pockets
to prove i have nothing
left of you in my
possession
and am surprised
to find
ashes, a little salt,
a brittle molar hollowed
out by those twin mice
regret and despair
and what could be a
hummingbird’s heart
–beating or still i cannot
say–but composed entirely
of smoke
——
eggs (20161026)
if the heart cracks like an egg
will it hard boil like one too
you’ve had enough heartburn to make
centuries of party platters
deviled eggs with fancy star-shaped
piped yolks suspended in tasteless whites
the rubbery texture of the heart
the bitter sulphur taste of the heart
moth (20161025)
although too smart
for another candle
the moth
now with damaged, dusted wings
spends his time
disentagling from spiderwebs
while his insides
turn into dessert
cloudy morning (20161024)
morning rain washes
everything clean
sidewalks, streets
air heaves with petrichor
and the scent of eucalyptus
thin crescent moon wanes overhead
masquerading as a wisp of cloud
today, two cars make u turns
in the middle of the street
what is not forbidden
is implicitly allowed
the sun, that smug bastard
burns through clouds
ruining this autumnal dream
but he draws my eye
like a pointed finger
two silhouettes
against a brighter bank
two souls
rising up on shafts of light
or a pair of angels
falling in slow
motion
night lights (20161023)
will o’ the wisps
glowing in rain
accelerate toward me
like headlights
or those tiny ufos
in close encounters
i will
become less
suddenly insubstantial
riding the back of
a firefly
chasing raindrops
i wish hummingbirds
glowed
in the dark
NEW! Open Mic Reading
Yes, that title isn’t lying. The wonderful Rose, our own Poet Rummager, has graciously added a new reading to the October Open Mic page. Check out her sites here (poetrummager) AND here (slashermonster).
You can catch all the sweet voices on the Open Mic Page.
Also, consider this your last reminder for October to get your readings in for this month. Seriously, people.
Words and Feathers 