floating and leaving no trace
i slip out of bed
tiptoe to the kitchen
through
midnight house darkness
meatloaf
awaits me
in the fridge
in its own congealed juices
it needs companions
brown bread
mayo and salt
eaten cold
eaten silently
eaten quickly
it settles happily
in the gut
but in that house void of lights
except for charging phones
the loaf delivers
hours of indigestion and
nightmares on chipped, bleeding hooves
until breakfast
——
the hawk lands
on the wall
behind the abandoned
bird feeder
disappointed
use a plane
the kind without wings
take me apart
one layer at a time
each strata reveals
subsurface fossils
memories, anger, fear
desire trapped in amber
light shines through
bright enough to cast shadows
old bones glow
beneath translucent skin
my insides projected
against the wall
——
holding your hand
during the fireworks
fireflies in the sky
strontium carbonate
rainbow popcorn popping and burning
calcium, sodium chlorides
dandelions made of lightning
copper, barium, and magnesium
neon donut sprinkles
the soft smell of sulphur
the light on your face
the woman sits at the loom
thread in her hands
she measures a cord
an arm’s length equal to
the length of a man’s life
if she coughs
or bored, looks out the window
as she pulls the skein
the measurement
might lack
if she sings freely
a song that makes her smile
or remembers a boy lost
to all but memory
she may add an extra span
she adds no knots
weaves no pattern
that task goes to
a sister already tangling
measured threads
the pattern and the knots
disguise the true length
hiding years, hiding dead ends
hiding where the third sister
kissed it with her blade
——
for
the secret keeper
Weekly Writing Prompt #43
SONG | WOMAN | FREE | NO | LOST
between are and am
a never moment sky
a where with me
a when with you
makes a quiet wish
——
the morning angel decays
linger, ferocious ghost
slow kiss
embrace desire’s star
steam is magic
rhythm is perfume
words are sex
——
First call for the monthly Open Mic Invitation.
You know you want to lull me to sleep with your mesmerizing, velvety tones. So why not, I say. Why not? Grab an ice cold lemonade or iced tea (or an Arnold Palmer for those JUST CAN’T CHOOSE), wet your whistle, and hit record on your phone/computer/ultra modern recording studio.
We’re all waiting to hear you.
Here are the steps you need to take (reduced to three for a limited time):
I will post a link with your name and poem title RIGHT HERE and on the new Open Mic page (it’s above in the menu).
Remember, it’s an open mic invitation. NOT a challenge.
Also, if you can think of a way to improve the format, I’m all ears.
******
Poet Rummager aka Rose Fluttering
******
Crow the moon and the crickets
******
Poet Rummager (aka Rose) Scylla
******
Pleasant Street hotter than eggs on a pan
******
REVELACIONES ÍNTIMAS DE UN ESCLAVO CAR-di-NAL
******
Crow caught without umbrellas (20160727)
******
1.
white rabbit
white rabbit
white rabbit
2.
but today i saw
a dead rat
in the street
a very alive squirrel
inches away on a fence
and two brown bunnies
eating in the cool dusk light
3.
the peach tree gave me
her last four peaches
they were perfect
the color of summer
you walk away
and i let myself
watch your hips
today this summer sky
has no clouds
——
Words and Feathers 