i dreamt i was the moon, but the dream seemed real upon waking, so much so that i checked the mirror for craters and dark sides. i found nothing of interest–no man living there, no celestial maiden, no mochi pounding rabbits. the memory of that cold embrace of the dark sky, being held by nothing, floating and shining with an impossible weightlessness of being both far away and as near as a reflection in glass haunted me throughout the day and well into a moonless night.
Tag: poet’s pub
no warning (20171023)
a bone will creak
before it breaks
much like a dried branch
stepped on in summer
that makes the birds
go silent
but muscle
say
–a heart, for example–
will make no sound before
shattering like glass
or perhaps it is beyond
human hearing
——
expectations adjusted, unmet (20171009)
autumnal orange light floods the parking lot
while soft snowflakes fall
even though these aren’t snowflakes
even though the greasy stink of smoke gives it away
hills burn
and wind pushes ash toward the sea
i hope the sunset–at least–
will be beautiful
——
tiny slivers of glass on a dusty floor (20171003)
the when of you
an exhibition of
my ten thousand pieces
–miss alignment?
–no, mrs
clocks offer offspring
wound/ed/ in the knees
and the stars
winkin blinkin and nod
off
my ten thousand pieces
brokered bartered battered
before the sun went down
when you were
——
Day 8/30 of the Tupelo 30/30 Project (20170808)
you smile
like i could pick the shadows….
——
Want to read more? You can. My poem toothpick is available to read at the Tupelo 30/30 project page. And don’t just read my poem. Take time to crawl over the whole page.
This prompt is brought to you by a wonderful poet who wishes to remain ANONYMOUS. (Actually, it was brought to you by Janice at On the Land. It just came in anonymously for some reason.)
This poem is also a response to:
dVerse ~ Poets Pub
Poetics: shade
Twenty spots left my fine friends. Don’t make me get al Dr. Suess. Go to Tupelo Press’ Project 30/30 page for more details.
what are you afraid of? (20170731)
we are all monkeys screaming in trees
look out for the eagles
look out for the snakes
all fears are now equal
life, death, children, resources,
sex, power, violence,
not being able to sleep
without the tv on
and sleeping with the tv on
——
shutting up (20170627)
sew my mouth closed
pack my tongue in
pickling salt and alum
i have no benediction
left
blessed are the hungry
they will be told to get a job
wire my jaw shut
pour fast-drying wet cement
up my nose
and leave my head in the sun
to dry
blessed are the infirm
they will die in misery
replace my head
with one of stone
use my vocal cords
for penny guitars
blessed are the other
they will be forced into corners
into alleys
into slavery of all forms
cut out of their skins
and trapped within them
——
untitled villanelle (20170622)
move along, there’s nothing here to see
broken bits like discarded crystal spheres
you should know i don’t care if you agree
my workings loosen, all at once set free
while you tell me, beg me, to persevere
move along, there’s nothing here to see
i’m no clock to wind with a secret key
much more like a badly hung chandelier
you should know i don’t care if you agree
the chain creaks and strains–then just debris
against the curling, faded veneer
move along, there’s nothing here to see
time reduces to rust these moons in apogee
an irritating hum of the inner ear
you should know i don’t care if you agree
i’ve had much practice as an absentee
all too soon this sorry shade’ll disappear
move along, there’s nothing here to see
you should know i don’t care if you agree
——
rule observation (20170620)
i catch fire and burn for you
but the flames scare you
and you retreat a safe distance
afraid to lose your eyebrows
though all the kids are doing it
you’ll be back when it gets cold
i’m certain of that fact
you were never one to enjoy suffering
you’ll be grateful for my radiance
and that I ignored the no smoking sign
——
the life you save (20170606)
approach from behind
place your arms
around their torso
under their arms
[if you can manage it]
if they’re flailing
and their eyes are
rolling up
staring backwards at
frontal lobes
just go ahead
and encircle their arms
as well
[since it probably won’t
make much difference now]
bracing with your left
make a fist of your right hand
and a stone of your heart
drive one or the other
forcefully into
their diaphragm
force those lies
they’re choking on
up and out
clean their face liberally with
water and allow
to air dry
——
for
dVerse ~ Poets Pub
Poetics: Poems that could save your life
Words and Feathers 