Family Loving

a moth is an evil butterfly gin rummy harmless metaphor boats fly over water displace our weight exactly paddling in harmony balancing the wind a week at camp renews enough time resumes my strength flunked the test of climbing passed hiking barely standing up won family loving purely meant for good

Solid Opinion

once started the children are tireless how do we manage our toys as kittens play together when released around the bonfire women laugh men drink single malts hold solid opinion they are doing pretty well so far roof sounds fog on the lake the fire fails to catch yoga anyway light everywhere waits bell to begin again

Boats Waiting

apart from that what am I thinking am I thinking does it matter how leaves dip as rain drops how gray wet the lake do I need to think of something else time stop automatically fill day decisions about shirts what to do when and read and yet the rain makes every stillness laugh at history sauve qui peut between families birds boats waiting for others to come

Actual Children

every day practically nothing like the one before actual children in the house so lively and delightful weird to go without a computer how can I think if I don't write is still possible with pen on paper swimming comes around again even the lake everything same flow same anticipated change even if I am not the me I might have been if this or that which link lasts best in random order

Mere Evidence

not to be read as poetry this jotted mere evidence existing self-created like the chemicals each breathes out substances transformed in process of life do you understand my thrust toward art is something else handmade filling space time paper pages different in kind is that enough to begin again lines pile up because of style choices made for me in daily doing inescapable except by going away here it comes we said we would do it thus will

Poor Me

if I can think of anything I will talk about myself as others do can't be less interesting surely impossible to be someone else whose every thought he thinks of general concern not a word about my play poor me I gave it every bit of self except ego fine disregard it at your peril

On Ice

don't mind me I said this arbitrary intercept because you didn't call or give me an opportunity to seize I don't know how to right the write is that all well then let's improvise the critical mass is anyone talking about us that way hearing another brother-sisterly convention on ice it's hotter than ever later windows wide waiting for someone to come in bring poem drink tea leave me what would you like me to play

Full House

strange noise over bottom half of Brahms duet crack changing wood hot weather coming scares me I'm alone many rooms not used to it returned from dose of city more Proust full house free play reading gnocchi wild mushrooms converse Trader Joe's drive mind erased

Real Color

from a certain small mouth words phrases sentences shoot out like rockets lightning bolts meaning be damned I see them then Christopher sings darkness approaches is amber a real color or what difference a father's opinion I only want to help

New Meaning

utterly called for cinnamon toast the answer whatever the question an answer anyway the Oak Room character changing through time as if anything still the way it was when you got its measure things changed as much while external circumstance lent new meaning who do you take yourself to be now that you know better than ever before what you can't know until it happens then it's too late

Less Adequate

instantly arising as if waiting to be summoned words bring their own meaning don't even think what should be said if intellectually responsible moral purity can never be constrained by silence inevitably part of the noise going day and night cleaning the air indifferent light fall everywhere confounded separation as if we are not all part a western whole less adequate than multiplicity

Only Habit

what I have learned is do it say it gnawing on it alone doesn't help I am easily fearless only habit to correct expecting diffidence and hesitation our weakness become our strength as working on them works no one will hate me being honest this is my concern face it

Without Philosophy

empty of what no it really is me what little I control existentially responsible shut off that inner fickle reason voice wait be cool no hurry time will be revealed something is more real what happens who says does have consequence and immediate pow slowly realized can you handle it without philosophy

Old-Fashioned

it's old-fashioned to answer your phone ironic to wear a watch who cares what time it is unless you have a rehearsal or work a job even a job-job I never really did although anything can be tiresome making a violin is drudgery you have to like it at its worst like people you love

Inviting Thoughts

how do I feel when I feel good like singing inviting thoughts arise wander manifest acting undaunted by any demands tomorrow I will be almost well the next day entirely he said then what young again fresh to the possibility of meaning

Good News

I cannot unsee you come in dreams is all forgotten if you think so then I said what was lost is contrary to our intentions if good news can ever be believed thus formulated obvious true thinking isn't enough poetry to change us all

Medium Dogs

composers get commissions why don't I I'm open to it is anybody listening hellooooo equine Guinevere jumps in the back of my car with two other horses medium dogs that gets me up though I'm not good for anything can't breathe dizzy summer cold

American Roots

fireworks satisfy at a distance from the road through a tree after memorable closer thrills I will refrain from blaming my American roots or customary obligation I can accept or not a canopy of sparks the noises might be alarming if not seen to be harmless ritual release

Honey-Roasted

Everything must come from the heart. —Pina Bausch among the almonds I am bitter but you'd never know that I am honey-roasted lightly salted as if delicious but no one eats me is the issue whether recognized or satisfied with the thing itself in order to go on sell out truth inheres in continuing making

That Long

Look up from my desk on the 73rd floor and there is the future falling into the past. It takes that long, or would if I didn't see it coming. In fact it falls in slow motion: the latest present lasted a couple of months. Stop motion. Then another limbo of anticipation. Then another.