Category: Uncategorized

time for the universal weapon /
not the growing frost of the freezer /
nor the disconnected power line /
snaking in the breeze /

it’s a quiet day for the jury /
setting up croquet hoops in the park /

this weapon was born small /
yelling more than breathing /
soft fists always there growing /
and something just less than /
a sun firing in the chest /

birds hatch everyday without name /
I can’t afford not to be seen /
handprints on glass when waking /
outside and inside /
right where last night’s moon /
still holds true for now /

we’ve been promised x-ray machines in the streets /
for years now but simple addition /
remains impenetrable /
stuffing the children’s backpacks /
with a sweet formula /
coating their mouths till the last yawn

one organ too many /
and the body tips over /
digestive or filtering /
pulmonary or reproductive /
a border along the sternum /
keeps the sides equal in all discussions /

turn on the lights with two hands /
so both limbs benefit from unexpected shocks /
swearing with a hand in the heart /
massaging the insides of its jittery walls /

if god were made of blood /
he could swim everywhere at once /
we know no one well /
well enough to say goodbye /
before we meet /

the subject is moving away /
to another century /
where matter is closer to the mouth /

I could say so but it’s not quite dawn /
and the crows are too quiet /
theirs is the punctuation to follow /
leading kingdoms to ruin or commemoration /

the citizens have no arms /
that was an early calculation by council /
to control noise complaints and lost exotic pets /
less limb chewing and fist waving /

I will die /
pulling the desk closer each day /
stationary rolls everywhere /
clanging through the heating vents /

everything we make never stops /
drawn towards that bed /
of countless atoms /
to rest finally in fitful sleep /
and a hand draining in the air

lead always with blood /
butcher, reporter, priest /
teacher, accountant, puppeteer /
candidate, mediator, second line dancer /

everyone can see blood /
even when there is none /
it’s the first option /
in any unknown /

a last party glove for the hand /
glowing across closed eyelids /
ready to dominate the discussion /
standard colour for boardrooms /

cardinals are easy targets /
at the fall fair midway /
poking hats attracting pellets /
like fruit flies /

the realtor can’t talk /
without cutting the inside of their mouth /
spitting a predicable splatter /
on the upsold kitchen counter /

time to close, time to close /
ring the surgery room announcer /
5 litres will cover the stage perfectly /
right up to the lip of the audience /
carefully folded in the corners /
like a final notice envelope /
I have a heart and a half to spare /
should anyone trip on the aisle’s squish

the condo buildings have fins /
to slice the breeze /
carrying whole molecules /
aimed at warm dinner plates /

those are the same vibrations from yesterday /
thrumming through the kitchen tap /
shaping drops of water /
into expiring typeface /

that letter she never wrote /

the sun is here early /
reflecting pronounced patterns /
off mirrors before /
they have a chance to solidify again /
all that silver flowing /
each night behind glass /
something investors have been bidding on for years /

traffic patterns match her scars /
even accounting for population increases /
a gentle purple zags over the belly /
stitching the spine of a book inside /
read through the sag of age /
by the human device untested

red is always blood first /
even dried, red looks ready to drop /
insects know us better than ourselves /
where to bite /
where to lick our salt /
where to burrow /
they know under the skin /
we are all red /
saturating their many eyes /
with the possibility of what’s beneath /

red ignores borders /
bleeding outside defined space /
the painting leeches into the kitchen table /
staining mashed potatoes /
a sliced toe hue /

the border agents avoid decorating in red /
they know it can spread easily /
mouth stains just wide enough /
to pucker internationally /

rothko teased red was /
an idea first /
where ever applied /
it will escape /

red tyrannizes landscapes /
beheads portraits /
forces a summary on any abstract /
that lands as a stain /
on a sunday lap

where are yoo? /
yoo hooing toe tips /
under we’ll come mat /

diving board send off /
one for each foot /
of pond water /

enough! she said /
to kill your nap time /
saliva bubbles sink /
in the last rattle /

attracting tadpoles /
to test their new legs /
on mountainous back & bottom /
landscape for a hatching season /

is it a smile? /
below the surface /
telling that environment /
all you know /

come back to the e-z chair /
above ground we have our own insects /
they’ll get to know our cracks /
pulling the crosswalks apart /

fare skin to drift across the river/
take this hand for a day /
remembering the shape of happiness
till hell’s mood changes /

blood makes us bold /
that’s what our species is told /
despite losing an inch a year /
to the wind’s latest jeer

tear apart the every greeting /
tanned hair on tanned hair /
spiraling around a toothpick /
standing in the street /
ready for the grand mouth /
practicing its hole for /
the commuter line leaking /
its own fluid onto the sidewalk /
shop spills in god’s lab warping /
the weekend with far too many /
atoms on the plate left after /
dinner dulled while a new species /
would not stop in its own language /
peeling off family wallpaper and sunny diplomas /
ranking the backgrounds of hinged heads /
smeared behind screens /
refreshing airless space between /
me and me and me and some me /
peeling the corner back on colour /
camouflage hiding uneven skin /
that pink shines throughout the night /
cursing the neighbours for their warm hands /
pour one more mouth /
drinking we forget teeth /
flashing for hard consonants across the street

that old creep again /
rubbing against the back of the sofa /
wearing a mouth-shaped hole /
in thin fabric /
hiding the cavity we paid for /

climbing up the slight slope /
of the lawn /
belly gliding along dew /
eyeing the clear picture window /
for some human colour /

whenever we wait /
we wait for the creep /
in the dentist’s office /
tooth pulsing to the beat of convenient music /
at the boarding gate /
breathing in one another’s air /
in traffic pointed homeward /
each vibrating each other /
above the long dark stare of asphalt /

there’s an itch in another room /
that the kids can’t pronounce /
scraping a dining table leg uneven /
tapping along while we swallow /
dragging food through us /
with a steady signature

better to be worst /
and see the future first /
grabbing the tail /
feeling the bend of the earth /
coming up quick behind /

what happens happened /
brand new is only a cardboard box /
all the guts are gone /
maybe a centennial penny /
to give it a curious rattle /
and fresh nostalgia /
with a soft coating of irony /
for tiny teeth /
each argument gets a silent laugh /

I’m meeting up with my ghost tomorrow /
to go over his itinerary /
pencil in the cancellations and collapsed venues /
update the playlist /
for a 12-month winter /
layering the sites /
with a final sameness

there’s little traffic /
left to stand in /
the only breeze is a draft /
puffing over the double door /
pin wheel limbs drive /
the emptied air /
yawing until sleep /
closes the day /
build a building /
only for the roof /
sun, the last eye /
to blink /
there be a lonely language /
yet elbows still /
on the table /
agitating the uneven top /
concerned for the future /
before the future /
the one now sawing through formica /
organizing a blood drive /
for its arm alone /
for the rest /
there were those uneven eyes /
that death nods over to the table /
a wink or a fit /
knowing the final questions /
are waiting patiently /
for matter or mind /
to dissolve first