Over Poetry

I used to fret about the last human /
not anymore /
they’ll be whistling as the days close /
envy their footprints folding over the earth’s edge /
the tracks no longer a sign someone was here /
the grand fluff is finally done /
the speakers have cooled /
and the monitors have drained dark /
consider this first birthday /
with a last celebratory breath /
blowing out an unrecognizable candle /
all the chances pitched /
the colours named /
the numbers raised /
now close the eyes /
not quite sleep /
more a stalled frame burning in seconds /
and blind planets pass by as always has /
except for our hurried click

don’t sit quietly /
fidget and force the chair over the riverbank /
unnumb the fingers from lone-syllable gravity /
prepare to draw a claw down the landscaped back /
everyone is another one leaning forward /
like an eager toothpick /
stay sick so the sidewalk crowds see the back of the mouth always /
don’t trust those who shine cutlery /
few need a blade more brilliant than them /
collect obituaries as literature /
not a novel, not a short story, not a play /
a ghostly surgeon’s warning /
best not to have been born /
before the species tripped over the horizon

a little gravel in the bearings today /
can’t claim to be a machine /
except for the leaking fluids /
I had a tail once /
full and furious /
folded it over my head in the rain /
the occasional clot of shit /
more humorous than concerning /
one morning it was gone /
no warning or note why /
now the rain worms into my ears /
shit follows me everywhere /
and the laughs have dried up /
all the “missing” posters are torn down /
who knew a tail was so critical /
lurking behind close enough to keep one warm /
catching the last light above our heads /
if one is found /
keep it under a brick at night /
and straighten out each morning /
primed for the bluster and sway

scream when born /
and don’t stop /
let the boat leak /
until it swallows the ocean /
fill the air /
with counterfeit notes /
an unrecognized currency /
gumming up nano trades /
until the top floors flood /
cry till the door falls off /
then that summing whisper /
more a tune for the closing of the birthday card

forget fingers /
they had a point so long ago /
now the desk hovers over the head /
and ink is sipped in a morning mouth /
dark hole clapping for food /
wait, the bus blue past /
and the neck never launched /
craned over a dried well /
pecking for its own order /
what a dismal portrait lurking at the unveiling /
the feet are down there /
where the sparrows feel little need

all the dawning deflated santas in the world can’t save christmas /
I believe in the ideal /
although I see no evidence on this earth /
I am a quiet god /
polishing my myth in the mornings /
I can see you forget /
the falling of your face /
the warmth turning towards the corner /
I may die today /
figurative or otherwise /
and take the world with me /
that’s my promise to you /
leaving an emptied space /
where new fauna can be invented /
where the always lingering smell of humans is removed /
the freedom of starting at 0 /
nothing before you always /
no need to sleep /
no need to turn away /
breathing in all environments /
air water soil /
all you created moving through your body /
you everywhere and all things again

so long carcass /
wading in your own fluid /
droopy eye for passing charms

rising early this millennia /
so often, no need to nail the door /
though some new organs would be appreciated /
and black light teeth for those midnight awakenings /
make it harder to end yourself /
that’s what everyone says quietly /
this story buys a beer at most /
few step back or sideways anymore /
this spatter is the only time raising interest /
it’s habit now to cross on a red /
relaxing for the hard weight of the grill /
to break this rummaging sleep /
opening a smile in the dark

the knife is too obvious in the study /
coyly position an inkwell instead /
it’s rarely the cuts, rather the pricks /
that shift organs port or starboard /
the rivers dip into us and recede /
knowing we are not the true points of direction /
sift still and witness the tides that are dust /
maybe a squeaky toy to pop the weather balloon

better than ever is then /
melting windows again /
solid to liquid to gas /
scales progress’ slogan up /
back to the beginnings /
where all are one undistinguished form /
dreaming of the devil to move /
us forward against the other /
thee great interrupter /
rewriting the human map /
to resemble a billion length ledger /
rewind back to a single cell screaming
so many bellows assuming ears in the future /
dripping in all directions /
demanding its own own /
sprouting a first hand /
to needle at god /
what do we know now /
of this space we breathe combined?