Inner Spin

little Michael measures Halloween monsters
not having seen the movie doesn't recognize
Carrie threatening to burn him down greater
threat a cold or H1N1 if that is what it is can
I doubt it do we all believe anything anymore

now that everything worries us what do we do
to be free or happy nothing matters but would
if it actually happened to us or one of our own
fake horrors contradict real fears anticipate no
ecstasy but inner spin as if everything's all right

Past Bedtime

form emerges unknown as in promises
not broken but forgotten like distant
parents between occasions for feeling

exact correspondence looks suspicious
to the wrong eyes prying into privacy
projected on never more innocent days

just stick to it while it lasts past
bedtime try the title on your friends
can remember the old Parliamentary wit

Finally Asking

what to tell
more questions story point am I
to add it up or is it obvious to everyone but me
beyond gay class youth still the same
is what I mean a dubious example
of something no one had expected
the meaning is in the details he said
and I accepted gnomic wise becoming
is the essence of being one
not so crazy thing after another still
here and no more changes but I
never did see what is coming far ahead
say what am I about to do this is it
which hardly answers the question
finally asking

Two Worlds

gargle salty warm if living
well if dying what does it
matter who else will suffer
two worlds is helplessness
a cause misery any solution
despair your only hope do
something awful strangers
perish you too never more

Unceasing Comfort

walnut stains poor carpet poor
poet declining parent what a
world wonders unceasing comfort

colds last longer in corduroy time
warmer legs make breaking habits
easy to say harder to survive

but this always challenge as for
growing up is overrated few
know better than laugh or cry

Second Stanzas

reproach not sameness patterns revolve
like galaxies afloat on antimatter timings
ponderous as molecular memory traced
as analog grooves in gelatinous medium

thoughts have second stanzas sometimes
thirds beyond what everyone anticipated
further following in altered circumstance
new dimensions renames plain repetition

Slide Show

crabs come cooked after mollusk
dreams coincidental hard to eat
but worth it to honor the animals

who am I to criticize but I always
do who says what he really thinks
in a small town why else be here

this questioning doubtful leaving
party dancing in the street to wit
Bill's slide show made me laugh

Less Wearing

performance survived now if I
don't get sick all will be well if
I do well brr and what mstake
there you go who knows mind

them I give small town donuts
to spoil a mismatched appetite
for pure pleasing therefore it's
worth more than less wearing

some learn some already are
ready for any jump-up whiter
wishing we'll come again why
there's a howdy if you like it

Play On

unalloyed joy germ-free play on gaily
as if there be nothing to fear it is all
imagined far away tomorrow another
day or person meanwhile I am here
you are close healthy strong ready
for anything we can think of rain or
not necessarily good never in doubt

Soft Regret

how can music against tragic human
failing to rise gifts again oh get off it
isn't your fault even practice is willing

possible joy asserts another welcome
who living with sorrow can be happy
that's my way forgive my soft regret

then let it be known that something
more grateful responds to generous
heartfelt fiction not much but better

and swelling anger departs in minor
thirds given to conservatory training
some not all will master the clarinet

Smart Enough

honey more than sweet nay scrumptious
knowing you'd think of something smart
enough and elevate occasioned raptures
while reason wilts and no one minds that
western culture welcomes cowboy poets

I am not one of what you might be going
along with serious young men who lose
charisma sadly fail to persevere despite
the promise of their furious intelligence
reproaches my diffident nay lax reserve

Folded Mind

even worded thoughts intangible residing
only in the folded mind viz. remembered
dreams remain erasable until written out I
have to lie abed rehearse them not daring
more lest they be lost mysterious layer of
real experience as valuable as any action

Wise Enough

there must be something to say
that hasn't been uttered privately
in love and happiness can't resist
good will genes vigor luck strong
constitution affirmative practice

so what if it's obvious is exactly

what needs to be expressed not

just by me know nothing of other

lives and minds only one person

can imagine a little of the general

and who will listen if I speak will

you or wait to say your piece wise

enough but deaf as I am blinded

flinching brightness too much to

comfort precious breakable heart

Lost Pioneers

type poetry don't wait who knew compute

great weight against war and poverty rise

like birdsong crying sky favor on all of us

beat back wasted year-long pauses feeling

ravages of hungry women in pants desired

work to make true art among lost pioneers

hurry the day is gone the right phrases are

used pre-owned batteries of geese squawk

unheard music dissolves the separate bed

Eat In

weeping for Keats fills my need

after neat manipulation of 9/11

conspiracies and others time to

drive right home eat in reading

Doris Lessing surviving the 60s

like oneself recalled earlier ego

episodes learning to live with it

Strict Obedience

taking care of busyness consumed

another private interlude as if I had

all world time unlimited present a

unity unique enables processing to

be is chosen like Beethoven sonata

written down in strict obedience of

freshly made up rules out of bed

and straight to the anvil inspired

Every Prick

vulnerable teeth okayed at silly

cost mind following every prick

of the pick om-ah-hum let work

drive swim drive shop eat donut

bit drive car cleaned inside then

it rains drive home for my lunch

seductive nap what time where

must I move wash up improve

the stew be functioning human

Revolving Mind

the same thought again

whether the antenna is even connected

no way of knowing releasing

asleep or awake

I just had a shower at home

every single time as I head for the pool

and you

do you think the same things too

and others yet slowly

revolving mind processes forward

improvements are made

work done

Better Biting

wrongs unrightable bitter taste overwhelming sweet

denial better biting wins cooler academic overtures

so we go on because it's worth it public good poets

make up for lapses egos vital signs of signification

and peace is centered in art commitment whether

another wills connection or fakes it unconvincingly

remember friendship even if others betray mislead

ensnare sympathetic instinct as if one never learns

Storm Windows

the drive is as long as the play

three lives and a walk a house

restored storm windows clean

reading diaries is no surprise I

remember what I wrote is what

I actually did entirely different

not that easy to excavate story

hidden in facts seldom obvious

what what happened can mean

Even Cats

no one answer even to the same

question much less what to think

or do or say given widely varying

situations personal qualities and

even religion we might as well be

all the same but evidently we are

not even cats have their own way

Clear Glass

a stone cottage thistles washing

windows and the tractor cash in

the garage how does one sunny

day make sense when everyone

acts for made-up reasons as if

explanation were a good excuse

clear glass tightened screws let

a weeping woman look inside a

clutter seems to function which

barrow or hose earning its keep

accumulates webbing I attack in

five more years in a better mood

Less Admired

"To work without one thought of gain or fame"

like Cyrano but more concise and less admired

nor rhymed nor beaver to cock nor eager sword

nor bitter or unloved a character in my own play

what is the dream again the sophistry of myself

dissolved in too much world or too few enemies

Natural State

summer seems like the natural state

permanent by now it's all a little dry

grass brown everything thirsty tired

in Santa Barbara I'd think oh no not

another beautiful sunny day must I

go outside do something enjoy it as

if mocking fear of going on breathing

get used to it and then it's over joke's
rain on me cold dark and never mind

Original Fact

writing rises early

the whole day free

dark light enough

given electric help

being original fact

without me no you

chance of weather

determines outlook

as in rich or poor

nothing to blame

Lining Up

stupid needlessly tormenting dreams

bickering curtains that won't stay up

blunders idle matrons heedless of fire

inexorable mind its own worst enemy

escape into now chilly morning dark
conscious body reminds itself of ills
lining up to interrupt better tolerates
romance or movie's constructed story

Singing Tone

practice makes better always more

to notice fingers do what mind can

tell what speed possible after time

no virtuoso I was sensitive singing

tone my specialité and it still is still

the notes must be there every one

not bad for an amateur I'm happy

playing serious music so beautiful

tender pure profoundest pleasure

Figured Out

the moon doesn't wait so why should

I waxing waning and it has more time

like forever close enough we animals

while imagining immortality are not

a few thousand years what's that so

I won't wait until I have it figured out