Revision

 such a special private pleasure
changing one word to another
slightly better more particular exact
meaning elusively in flight
 
anything is game you win
or lose the knotted thread
balks at the needle stuck
with what you started with
 
becoming alien diversity
yourself in lieu of anyone
other actually present
in the all-white dining room
 
the poem never ends you
wander into another dream
where no words rule or care
what you wanted to intend

The Chair

powerful gravity in this ugly chair
bought in Santa Barbara decades ago
for a play I produced at the Lobero
I finally escaped from happiness into this funky

void it must be adding several stone 
I wish my penis was interested in masturbation
idly fondled between my thinning thighs
it lengthens in my fond familiar other hand
I slide loose skin up and down the shaft
how long has it been a week at least
on a day like this  what else is there to do
it feels good if I let it and why should I not
no love sex left so I'm on my own

sultry air smoky sky no one here I'm so bored I
almost fall asleep dick shriveling in my hand
what little lust remains has waned

the chair still holds me in its vinyl grip 

gravity never sleeps
 
8/20/23 4:30 p.m. (revised)