floating and leaving no trace
watch them come and go
eavesdrop on their conversations
no one is talking about
renaissance masters
but the emptiness
of the crowded room
goes down rough
like swallowing a
desiccated peach pit
what would they listen to
what conversation would you offer
the slow and slowing beat
of that pump in your chest
that peach pit of an organ
that withered on the limb
lovesong
ironed so flat
cut so thin
you could read
the paper through me
were there a strong
light shining
fold me up
origami style
into an envelope
make sure
i have enough postage
or roll me up
into a child’s
telescope
drop me in a bottle
and set me adrift
i am the message
and my own medium
rap thrice on the table
mr. splitfoot
let me know
you’re listening
all of
us swim
upriver
on hooks
against currents
shedding scales
like dreams
memories
desires
regrets
hate
love
you
me
rattle in the pipes
mystical blood flowing
through dragon veins
or
just the dishwasher
sucking hot water
from the heater
flushing food particles
too small to keep
as leftovers
your voices in the other
room where light
is brighter
music louder
though nothing recognizable
so much breathing
hopefully enough air
to go round
remember
lung is the word
for dragon
wispy clouds reach
tentacles from some airborne kraken
floating in an inverted sea
will it wrap you in its scaly embrace
will it be warm
i too long to abduct you
like some mythological beast
but i offer
only human arms
broken hands
quiet whispers
——
sew on smiles with
threads of disenchantment
pulling up the corners tight
pin the grin on the donkey
in place
with sickly yellow pushpins
of dread
show your best have a great day
thank you for coming face
fingers trembling over the
cash register buttons
and behind your eyes
the sound of dentist drills
and chalkboard screeches
remember your time in the forest
with hawks big enough to
carry you off
you get to fly
if only for a moment
was it a fair trade
the baby lived
and went to
linger with a sister
a velvet ghost of a child
blushing with secret fevers
salty lips, never a smile
no magic kisses to awaken to
bleeding night stars and smoke
——
for
The Elusive Trope
Specks and Fragments
Magnetic Poetry Saturday Challenge
the hospital room
smelled of urine
and chemicals
disinfectants
just conscious enough to grip
the tubing in his nose
that drained fluid from his gut
he rolled his eyes
staring without seeing
yanking the tube out
inch by inch
until the nurses
restrained him
finally strapping his arms
to the rails
your cold hands
send chills down my neck
after our autumn walk
Yes, that’s right. We have another reading added to the October Open Mic page. Pleasant Street offers us a wonderful poem. Make sure to check out the Open Mic page and check out her site, Are You Thrilled. I am!
Words and Feathers 