Category: Uncategorized

hey subject, get ready for the big bus /
I ignore you most of the week /
but there are still days where something should appear to be done /
I’m not going to repeat myself /
because I don’t want you to repeat yourself /
one reflection is enough /

rations again today /
from some 1960’s military exercise /
you don’t need much flavour /
just a taste to paint the floor /
where everyone can stand chewing on their own teeth /
with a little salt /

you want names? /
that’s only for assigning responsibility for a gift /
a person like a person /
will slap a Hello I’m tag on a fire hydrant /

noon is not bedtime /
and sleep is not a story /
don’t try to get out of this plank so easily /
there’s still a family barbeque /
that needs detailed pyrotechnics /

claims are being processed as we write /
your language stamped on these forms /
building a mystery of absence /
and what happens next to suspect prerequisites /

this tale is a rectangle /
lying low so as to not attract attention /
skirting the third dimension /
a carboard cutout with a pencil and two lines /
no stabbing today /
when the yous are over there leaning against stockpiles /
comparing flat photos of their travels /

not quite yet may even cross the river of a record/
in a flat-bottomed boat /
anticipating no waves at all /
enough level space for a comfortable stroll on water

the room is filled with tiny tables /
no space to walk in or through /
tan legs so straight commanding /
the shrinking floor beneath /
nowhere to sit so nowhere to eat /
like a new paragraph on top of an older one /
read upwards /
tricking the eye that what happened /
has yet to come /

the thermostat is not right /
showing red when it feels blue /

I’ll stop this plane if you don’t stop spitting /

history is delayed /
but the gate is still open /

all you humans /
I’ll find someone to pray for you /
not for salvation /
that vehicle’s been stolen /
but for language at the end /
that is almost always now /
the hanging door chime /
that keeps perfect time /
on the way out

no, not enough stir /
in the morning churn /
echo of the door squeaking /
a last time before the signature flips history /
into a new saturated colour /
it would be useful if we were all coloured red /
bleeding into each other /
in crowded photos of a sidewalk moment /
Yonge Street 1984 /
the face of god at Eaton’s Centre /
pock marked and all the atoms /
searching for a river /
to survive it’s important to ignore other people /
accept that they have already expired /
unless they have a sun chained to them /
make me as useless /
as noon in the arctic /
or the memory of a kitchen timer /
keep a million dead in the loop /
hanging in the town square air /
swaying with the cries and shouts of the heated citizens /
every dock is half a thought /
the waves make it clear /
there is much more

if I stop eating locusts /
will you reclaim the world? /
cover fleshy things with /
the hiss of your wings /
we are in need of a sound /
above our own sound /
something tamping and wide /
like a collapsed circus tent /
across this nation /
molding over perfectly /
our raging heads bent back /
angels are for coffee cups /
machine washed squeaky /
but your numbers will lose count /
aiming for our rasped mouths first /
dragging this race’s posture down /
to a ground level murmur /
and the sun’s light /
will have more space /
over your reflecting backs /
and the calming chitter /
tying continents together

things are everywhere /
the plan is to not stop sleeping /
things in dreams are never met the same way twice /

that new house on Sheffield Drive is death /
that new vehicle upgrade is also death /
that new pine sideboard is also death /
that new lab grown necklace is also death /

buy me nothing on every occasion /
steal all the raw materials /
especially the ones that are known carcinogenic /

Christmas will fail this year /
the presents are still unassembled /
in their open pit mines /
flickering their parts in the in the dirt at night /

lead me along the river bank /
blissfully aware of the slap of the rushes /
cleansing the skin of any notions /
other than skin

weep for the children who see things for the first time /
line, space, colour /
their little hearts calm /
blinking steadily in warmed wonder /

when is the last day for us? /
your face seeing time and timelessness /
that soft smile still /
holding me across whatever invisible border /
I must skip across /
our love adding to the space between things /
at best, driving a world between worlds /
and that word we have /
damning all future lovers /
who walk too slowly towards the silence

burn all the baby clothes /
bright enough for the ISS to blink /
like an early solstice /
pushing back against restful sleep /
the blinds lose their colour /
a yellowy bleach bloom outside /
trying to peer through the fabric /
children are so last season /
a tired shade of black /
dusted with a fine skin of dust /
there actually may not be a need for people /
crimping back the lids on their eyes everyday /
letting what was seen saw skate softly over the orb /
I would gladly suck the poison out /
leaving a tiny, clean sphere unblemished by our single pupil

a crater in the frozen food aisle /
leaves the shoppers whistling high /
mark downs have reached the lower mantle /
warping all the decimal points /
the smiley faces twist into /
a dark green smudge /

back into the typical atmosphere /
blood donors drag their arms /
through fresh concrete /
molding the future with three foot long fingerprints /
a species extinct before even being interviewed /

a son is in the garage building /
a monument to our successors /
using leftover paint to smear a tumble /
of all possible shades /
hedging his bets on the new dominants /
staring into our window /

love is eaten at a late lunch /
leaving no leftovers for Sunday’s long hours /
all the matter of the world /
should be so soft and so sweet /
folding our teeth back /
for a larger gape /
a welcome opening passed /
from neighbour to neighbour

another child squeezes its soft head into this building /
though leaves, flowers, trees, rapids, all is a building /
greater, grand opening every day /
and sales, sales, sales driven by the commission of exception /
on all items born yesterday, still conspiring /

why all this wordy faff just drives one crazy /
always something else to stir the inkwell /
not content to savour thread count or reflection in polished plates /

the construction crews work through the night /
constructing a launch pad in every quiet space /
tended meridians are perfect as are required green tracts /
stretching across the suburb’s pale arm /

get back to the orifice left behind before conception /
shared by the all not-I-yet /
consuming an airy, aired, airing meal /
grand enough for any galaxy still to be born /

time is leaving us /
not through the door as in the script /
but at dawn through every hinge in the house /
where the cracks are lubricated for noise not light /

grow more hands to climb the walls /
winning awards for just being there /
it’s never enough to divert traffic over the ledge /
but there must be a pageant /
to count more crowns even for the heads /
propping the door open for the next test blast

the sacrificial bull is in love /
he’s slammed the gate on territorial battles and /
locked stares at passerbys /
the short knives make him giggle /
he’s stopped drinking /
saving the puddles for his own reflection /
magpies play hopscotch on his back /
he can look at the sun all day /
waving his tongue at the loitering clouds /
the rumbling under his hooves is a tickle /
as he turns away from the stampede /
now he searches for an empty spot /
where the landscape is unbroken /
to let a stray thought get tangled /
and warm his wet mouth for the first time

that last day was a doozy /
all the hornets converging, swerving down the street /
the chlorinated, ultra blue water /
elevating out of swimming pools /
the dogs searching for the darkest place they can find /
power lines glowing red to green to yellow /
enough heat to treble the hairs on your head /
whirlpools in every puddle dragging down any mis-step /
crow’s eating everyone’s lunch without argument /
a cloud for each person, more me than me /
even when the heated currents pulled them apart /
the fish tanning on the shore with a glassy-eyed smile /
all “I love you’s” stopped up behind the bile /
valentine’s day cards exploding in school yards /
memory poorly parked in the street and clipped by the stampede /
animals finally casual, enjoying the show /
and us, with keys still in the pocket, stroking the lock /
each leaning into the din for the warm shape of applause