stretch, curl, reach
pull the moon in for an embrace
let fall troubles of the day
let cool light creep in and stay
trip through gardens, go home
with the sky full of stars, never alone
alt parade
choking on bile from out of tune banjos
the twang was a bit off
the whole parade route was tainted
running beside the float
the goat laughed and played his pipes
while hungry throngs
waited for candy to be thrown at them
a few bibles were thrown
a few daydreams were interrupted
the teacher’s red pen ran dry
a marching band from another town
played right through
forcing a pleasant dissonance
the marshall enjoyed his doughnuts
while flirting with the diner waitress
opting to ignore the parade filing by
the checkout girl at the fruit stand
watched and dreamed of riding a float
surrounded by flowers and balloons
she’d ride beyond the parade route
further than the horizon
the newspaper boy ran beside the band
dreamed of heralding a great battle
of chariots and lions
the goat tripped the boy
the band hit the wall
the balloons floated away
the banjo played on
slam poetry
he wouldn’t kiss her
but he’d screw her blind
slam her with poetry
blowing her mind
thrusting with phrases
up against the wall
spotlight trained
pants around ankles
no whispers
or platitudes
nothing empty
everything full
bursting with life
coming with applause
she’d scream for more
he’d softly rhyme
she’d cry out
exhilaration
he’d repeat more of the same
streams of consciousness
trickling under skirts
Latin and nonsensical praise
leading to a finale
starburst poetry
where skin met skin
tendril
tendril
gathering thoughts
in the dark morning
sputtering rain
outpacing the heartbeat
waking with a tendril
afraid to move
for fear of losing it
what was that phrase?
it had been perfect!
now it was a garbled mess
with opening hands
the tendril
was free to roam
she quaked
throwing the coat over a chair
throwing propriety right out the fucking door
bourbon burning a memory in her throat
she unfurled what was kept in a tight coil
all day
stripping bare
she closed her eyes and danced
swaying gently at first
slowly with her hips
keeping time
her heavy breasts
marking an aching rhyme
her lower lip
in her teeth
she felt the beat
moving more forcefully, righteously
she took over the room
in a primal flash
she was all and nothing
she held answers with no questions
the chair was empty
but she was not
the music quieted and faded to nothing
but her thrumming continued
as the very room quaked with her
for her
The Word Rummager 