My lips are painted with the red sky tonight … she has kissed me hard pressed against the weather pane — I’m twisting in her words, full-sail, piercing air, a dappled blanket sheathes a sorceress’ spell spoken Burn me, melt me, make me whole, cleanse from me a darkened soul, calm my waters in a…
School-Day Mornings
6:30 — Mom wakes me — I love Mommy and Mommy loves Me 6:31 — Pull the covers over my head and wait for her to remind me at 6:35 6:35 — Reminder 6:36 — Lights are turned on and curtains flung open — sun unfairly attacks my head 6:36 — Pillow over head for…
Slammed: Fatherhood
[author’s note: read this poem aloud for full effect] I was slammed as soon as I walked through the door in the weeds, so deep in the weeds that I couldn’t tell the dandelions from the nasturtiums from heads of romaine I was on the line before I knew it on the line, way down…
A Wish for a Time
I wish for a sunkiss to lay in a beam upon the thick pile of a green shag carpet catch the tail of my cat who sweeps it into my face bends an ear into mine then lays in a beam purring up my lips. I wish for a fire’s dance to lay in its…
Would You?
If you could read my mind would you say yes? If I tipped the barista at the bar would you know my character? If I opened the button of my collar would your eyes brighten in a smile? If I spoke my body in word would you melt with my eloquence? If I took an…
Platform of Surrender
I’m crawling on your shores It was all a dream — I woke up like this Up on the platform of surrender Abandoned on a beach that is a dessert so I drank from a fountain of mirage now I’m crawling on your shores My hands are cold drawing hearts in the sand on my…
A Child’s Lament
Oh god — it’s not fair, you rip the seam and rend my dream oh brother — it’s not fair the creaking door, the footsteps upon the floor oh mother — it’s not fair your tender voice that breaks the silent noise oh father — it’s not fair, the smells you make, that homemade pancake…
you remember when
I awoke … Asleep with a weight upon my upper lip and a hush upon my ear. My unconscious mind was struggling with a conscious world of pain the torments and disappointments of my memories tearing at my being. A mother who wept when I was born a father away much of the time and…
Insomnia
What is this? this thrashing and turning this hunger for an end this thirst for peace and nothingness? What is this staring? this spot upon my lidded shades this search for darkness this looking into night for a piece of blackness in shadow? What is this quiet? this rhythmic breath this autonomic pull I count…
Unmade
Cast your eyes into tomorrow’s sky Steal perfection from the light Make the room dark for the night Squeeze the jasmine around the twisted air Tear the feathers out the angel’s wings Stuff a pillow with heaven there Fire the wick upon reflecting eyes Project our figures onto an unwritten wall Melt my hardness until…