OverPoetry

nature notices us /
measuring our veins /
to tie the hedges together /
in a wet knot /
I’m fortunate /
there has always been a floor /
floating high enough /
for a crawl space below /
enough elbow room to get lost for decades /
mind the crows overhead /
they’ll remember our scalps for generations /
the unexpected steps we placed /
taking that old argument outside /
at the end /
the pores open wide /
challenging the sun /
for centre stage /
the eyes are last to pull away /
stubborn muscles /
still splayed for a toying world

a less than compelling poem /
about ephemerality /
there may be a need to write /
but avoid needing this world /
that noisy matter at the end /
of the broken curb /

sleep before everything /
even kitchen fires /
the house becomes our last meal anyways /

please don’t care /
enough of us already filling space /
sit quietly as air leaks into orbit /
hugging all the floating debris above /

space junk is an industry now /
with promotional swag /
and embossed business cards /
attracting all the attention /
at the job fair /

aspire to be an untethered garbage man /
time and a half pay /
for breathing recycled oxygen /
the industry’s tagline: /
“everything lives forever in space” /

snag the scrap /
and set yourself free /
room to roam /
until another time finds you

hitting the political contribution limit /
early in the year /
gift cards and upgraded children /
for the remainder of 2024 /

the king was evident on everything /
teaspoons to public squares /
here we save a royal laugh /
for unmapped rooms /
and hotels without roads /

the helicopter has a name /
staff are instructed not to blink /
as it lands /
lifting hems /

this minute is worth what? /
a land restriction reversed /
a right bleached out /
an approval on a birthday /

now relax and remove thyself /
from this earth /
the chocolate croissants /
are to die for many times/

instruct staff to record /
infant mortality rates in pencil /
graphite is most susceptible /
to elevated elements /

a road washed out /
is a design flaw /
snagging the developer’s /
brunch speech

I found my parents singing /
one is dead, the other sinking /
into the lightless loam /
I didn’t know either of them /
knew a single song /
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” as an anthem /
eyes closed, fingers nearly touching /
facing a white brick wall, bellowing /
the sound lifts up into the water stains on the ceiling /
their windows are colourless /
rattling with shifts in key and tone /
they hold a minor key down /
until the basement crumbles below /
children know one song /
and this ain’t it

to age is worse than dying /
feeling the body shrunk-fit to coffin-size /
as many moans as words /
severing sentences /
or not enough will to draw the line /
to an end /

dogs pity the decline /
jaw on lap /
knowing the end is already sinking inside /

some can afford pity /
having more quarters to ruin /
some, merely an exhale at first /
with little sound reaching westrun shores /

die, but do not do /
motto for mostly /
perhaps if I had detonated /
an IED earlier at the championship game /
an aster breaking amongst the cracks /
floating above the concrete levelling

soon after the death /
christians did not recognize one another /
a cave is quiet enough for prayer /
marry away from the world /
every finger given to wedlock /
the ghost throws confetti /
its toast is a whisper /
nonreturnable gift fills the table /
first and last thing on the registry /
there will be no house, no children, no anniversary /
that first soul flattened across the equator /
advertising quietly for others /
the abstract on earth /
for the kingdom arrives late /
claiming all the addresses as its own /
the shine on their waiting faces is blinding /
there will be more sons of man /
it’s our side hustle reversing the ideal /
turning air into brick

there is no forgetting /
except plastics in the box /
contemplation born out of /
an indifferent environment /
to be everywhere is intolerable /
I make something here /
the other from the other /
there is no not setting the tree on fire /

except for the odd poet /
the lie fills every air, /
that we are not alone /
building sound on each block /
to scare migratory birds /
the spruce trees, birch trees, ashe bushes, /
moss, trilliums, quartz veins /
are not afraid of us /
they only know us /
after they are gone /

black water carries an old child /
under the trestle /
through the marine traffic allowance /
aluminum belly floats free in the lightless water /

there never was a poem on crown land /
but disregard for the considered thing /
the child makes and makes back /
fitting education for a lifelong /
quiet explosion trying to /
attract the red-winged blackbird /
humanless /
for a shared second

feel up /
through the veil /
of blue haze /
holding our feet /
below our heads /
make a case for weakening /
the bonds strapping this body /
into 1 form/
maybe several megatons at lunch /
to dissolve the deli meat /
cradling the stomach /
bring me back to a particle /
an invisible unit of energy /
blasting the dust off family photos /
there was me /
a collection of points /
walking on as one role /
detonating the asides

always an insect /
escaping the light /
so cold at night /
they freeze on the highway /
the rumble and whine /
of cross-country traffic /
fails to wake them /

the birch leaves tremble /
in the morning /
the breeze lifts and settles /
no real wind /
just a soft wave in the trees /
twisting everything slightly /

shifting the scene beyond us /
absent of anyone /
play on, ignoring the human wail /
the audience was always our idea /
one too busy to pay attention /
when our death is no interruption /
not even a wink from outside /

the cemetery is being paved over /
for an open-air penitentiary /
the prisoners should be as healthy and tanned as possible /
Mars is aggrieved /
that’s what my horoscope says /
the tea pot fills up /
like a drowning lung /
steaming rather than screaming /
reliving its last day again tomorrow /
can we seem to float, just today /
I washed the floor /
delay the spitting /
turn the traffic lights off /
set up the lawn chairs along 16th /
test those bones at the intersections /
fireworks are a sentimental reminder /
of successful wars in the suburbs /
souls exploding in the dark air /
making a show of their short lives /
see or be seen /
those are the options in this A.D. /
everyone’s their own fool /
flashing a thinned shine /
going down for another last time