In This Life

they have given up trying
to make it out
in middle age
I have just started in old
I say because
it sounds good
truly alwats was but poorly
missing moments
fooled by foolish
imitations of being normal
my parents' lives
a flawed model
wounded betrayed superficial
I'm no different
but still trying
to make it out in this life

Can I?

unnameable emotions
elusive inspiration faint
glimpses of possible
strategy can I make
something I enjoy
effectively share dig
deeper and find gold

Fast Enough

(for Philip Guston)

like paint the words
fill in the background
figures emerge cloaked
in personhood smoking
to stay awake hatching
patterns on the zeitgeist

go figure how transform
before the heavenly music
ends without resolving
questions of medium rare
insights into how it works
if you imagine fast enough