the world tilts

right now she’s thinking of where he is
she can still taste him on her tears
hear his last words to her
telling her she would be back
and though it was a sunny day
she had an unshakable chill

right now he’s still sitting where she left him
he can still see her hair flipping, hips swaying
hear her say goodbye
even while in disbelief
and though he was naked
he was burning up from the inside

right now nobody knows or cares about two small stories
they can fill in their own tales of woes
after reading other eyes
hearing other cries
and though not much can stop the spinning of the world
it sure as hell feels like it’s tilted on its axis anyway

November 6, 2013 0

scream to the trees

clearing her throat before screaming to the trees
the moss buffering her cries
nowhere else did she feel so free
to sit and laugh and roll in the leaves

not a nymph or a sprite but a real human girl
finding solace in the forest all the same
on her own despite having some place in the world
but she never felt connections like this or felt heard

she reveled in the seasons and how she changed too
how vibrant then faded they all became
stalwart her tree friends, they listened, it’s true
closer she felt to the earth as they grew

November 6, 2013 0

empty vessel

a vessel
there are a thousand other words
that can be used instead
but the best is the image of
an empty vessel
something that’s created to be used
unadorned or flamboyant
earthen or plastic
but alone, empty
waiting

fill me
use me
I’m nothing on my own
shape me
mold me

November 3, 2013 0

Ascent Into Mercy

Abandoned but not alone
Beaten, but past the point of no return is the sea
Finding the way to the sea
Torrid, filthy, terrifying, exhilarating
Treacherous
The Greek chorus telling the tale
Not thriving but surviving
This whole night’s been bad and you’re just a part of it
Such fearsome want
Despite themselves
Spinning thoughts hurled out in epithets
Spray painted by a revolutionary
Proclaiming gibberish
Too cool to translate
When even they don’t recall the meaning
They’re so far down; they’re not even on the map
Drawn together inexorably
Follies of boys
Fighting for ten square feet of ground
It’s still on
Bloodied
Who wants to hide
Exhausted
The future is ours
Demoralized
What about me, baby
Pushing on numbly
I’m having a good time, let’s go
You never know what you’re gonna run into out there

November 1, 2013 0

corner store #1

there’s a cowboy at the corner store
a showgirl in his truck
he’s dusty from the trail
she’s covered in stale glitter
I can think of six stories
and two limericks
right away
but catching his sad eyes
and her vacuous gaze at the horizon
I reckon on leaving their story
just a picture in my mind