Author: G H

peeling the skin off daily /
it’s more of a way to /
force the world to /
wait at the door shuffling /
pre-emptive pain /
painting the room in a neutered colour /
gravel grey /
perhaps some sparkles /
standing in the eaves now /
after summer failed /
to ignite /
all smoke, no plot /
to see us through the aisle /
sometimes the pain is calming /
a low hum spreading the body /
over the floor /
a hammer as a musical instrument /
pressing unlikes into a faint melody /
only millimetres above ground /
dissolving feet into /
prehistoric glitter /
that started the first fires /
terror and awe on a late /
paleolithic Sunday afternoon /
how how do we make this world now /
from the nothing so many have?

ditto on the ditty /
jump into the low gleam pool /
below the chlorinated fizz are /
concrete barriers tipped over /
and rebar poking through like rusted ribs /
swimming from the straight lane /
is folded over centuries /
measuring the reinforced door stumbles at time /
take it to class /
and identify for all /
who are the wedge /
driven into lightless cracks /
scraping up to the dollar store /
there’s the tag

y write /
when so much is within reach /
b convenient /
staple everything together /
with a one-finger prick /
rain finally /
all those drops /
ready to be counted /
by thee god amongst us /
9:12 am /
drink first /
push all else off the planet /
the halo begins to flicker and crackle /
I would relish crying /
force old air out into the street /
all worn belongings spread across the lawn /
soaking today’s rain

so smoke /
fabricate the lungs /
from landscape mulch and standing water /
wear them on the outside /
swaying like a fraternal medallion /
reflecting the sun into a toddler’s soft eyes /
the body is always over there /
shifting its weight in the corner /
not knowing what as the conversation expands /
if only it didn’t wander off in a carnival crowd /
and mail itself back the next day /
edges darkened with grease and volcanic ash /
managing to find a prehistoric eruption on the prairies

full fulcrum today /
hoisting menus and business cards /
over the neighbourhood’s bubble /
there’s liquid silicone massaged over everything here /
lubricated with hovering chatter /
that never touches the ground /
that spit goes nowhere /
presses familiar shapes /
which neither lean nor twist /
safe scissors /
slicing through sidewalk-crack foliage /
no thing arrives here roughed /
shark skin sanded down /
may Eris move in next door /
and pull another seething mass /
near this district /
showcase one utterance /
that is not owned /
to move the other continents closer

a new now /
wanted whole /
with a healthy mix of soft and hard consonants /
so enticing, a second stomach is formed /
to swallow all and the more that keeps frothing up /
like all paginated magic /
this is replenished by consuming /
a font tapping forth /
a second sun cracking the window

the dead don’t stick around for the credits /
they know indebtedness ends /
in a thin flash of late evening light /
stumbling down the stairs /
a monologue in need of captioning /
the dead leave the movie early /
deciding the production does not serve the story /
sticking their hands in the projector’s beam /
stealing the crucial image that ties the plot together /
writing their reviews on cigarette-stained windows /
spoiling the prequel already in production

to the letter /
as if anything else is possible /
even blackholes have names /
shout into the wind /
try to surprise it in this time /
described as a peak amongst peaks /
it will fill your mouth with /
something you don’t know /
space with shape /
not a line anywhere /
how to get from A to B? /
cleave the tongue

here comes the other planet /
just on time /
pulling up tight to the curb /
its rivers, a flowing smirk /
clouds hiding volcanic eyes /
it know us, our cascading needs /
our heavy foot on narrow necks /
and doesn’t attempt to wave /
as it leaves us in our own exhaust

a screed /
a screed /
scream the crows /
having perched over /
the shoulder /
of every aspirant