Simple Answer

the simple answer is what you expected
if you thought about it at all sometimes
things go amazingly smoothly without
any of the setbacks you might anticipate
if you were foolish enough to think that
something terrible is likely to happen it
will but probably not right this minute

Careful Knowing

the internet is a transient phenomenon
take advantage of it while it still exists
like the many poets I can't bear to read
seriously pretending to be deliberate to
choose the words they use with careful
knowing art is anything you make of it

therefore go out of your way to swim
if you must be improved in the tasting

Perfectly Easy

summer speeds past these precious long slow
evenings doing things outside waxing moon
sails among harmless clouds as if everything
were perfectly easy fruit falling off the trees

we do our part tractoring branches of a pear
that grew too big and never bore sharing my
blueberries murdering wasps that wouldn't
let me sweep the porch fiercely swarming

rain in Boulder even as I talked to my dear
friend suffering depression further slowed
by ECT I knew on some level glad I called
hearing voices means we're still ourselves

Barely Noticed

even if nothing is hidden everything told
nothing is known even to yourself this
minute so much happening you need to
block it with a story carefully made up
to fill the space with nothing left over

actual life is merely background to the
background where you actually do all
your living composed of decomposing
memories of people and events you may
not have understood correctly at the time

this builds up gradually barely noticed
as if what you are doing was the real
though you can't pretend it's interesting
enough to account for how much you
care about how it comes out in the end

Actual Self

dramatic revelations not enough
decisions adding up new views
replace old assumptions killing
fathers disappearing mothers if
what I read is right what does it
mean for me trying to do it too

strategic or instinctual pretend
automatic writing amounts to
the same things come through
I never know what can be said
my prayers part of going to bed
as actual self was taking form

How Many

all is lost at least eventually
uncounted don't even count
how many few remain kept
for another nonexistent day

spend wise now tomorrow
you may not be in position
make moves decide wrong
erasure denatures all intent

Favorable Conditions

each egg is egg-shaped each chicken
pleased with itself everything ripens
in its time under favorable conditions

words spontaneously rhyme without
meaning to or purpose so few they
look alike and confuse most readers

some may think we understand what
one or another intended to say but I
disbelieve the general perspicacity

still the sayers say on millions we
arrange and space 26 letters as if
all possibility can be considered

as if nothing really happens if it
isn't written down but that's silly
you know it if it happens to you

The Other

who said what when why
removes all further endeavor
as if meaning were logically
implied as if that's enough

nothing else matters but
our lives go on some don't
some crash and burn some
didn't make it to the gate

who is the other member
who signed my name who
ate well at my expense
who cannot be forgiven

Different Fruit

if the plum jam jells
if the jars seal
if the book sells
if the story comes out
all normal precautions
all you can do
different trees bear
different fruit
is it interesting
is it true

Go Sleep

plus minus I'm still here
again as if never gone

my chair my Air feet up
on my mother's afghan

take off those shoes go
sleep like everyone else