Category: Uncategorized

no one word bears the burden of what is happening /
no one wants to know less than those at the centre /
their position is a landscape portrait /
selective light on a still nature lacking the continuous movement /
that undercuts the argument the moment it is spoken /
groomed beasts knowing their best side /
pausing for the assumed crowd nodding in approval /
muscled flank bred to be admired and consumed with the same mouth /
the military commissions the most portraits /
soft images to absorb the gluey stain of pressing out-of-frame figures /
into the theatre floor where each word is seven steps up the ladder /
from the surprising shades of mud tilting into the easel stand /
sign the big names to that portrait /
taking credit for the view

begin the day with a calculated loss /
then dig your hole, piling overturned earth in a mound /
on the one-way street /
that’s the hope /
the luck sometimes squeezed out of accidents /
maybe a dandelion by week’s end /
or fresh organs for deserving folk /
the least visible absences are the ones usually stepped in /
up to an ankle in the chest where the blood pump was /
or a children’s book about cremation /
highlighting the snap, crackle, pop of a withering end /
those holes in the earth /
have the indent of a smile /
chuckling at something we’ve done /
and are still doing /
thinking nothing of time /
that thing we created that /
always comes back to haunt /
boo who?

we are not equal /
though the serial numbers contain the same number of digits /
we are not equal /
though the limbs end in the same dimension /
we are not equal /
though the sand will fill our mouths in roughly the same time /
we are not equal /
though rights are just a language stockpiled in higher climes /
we are not equal /
though sewer rumbles under all our feet /
we are not equal /
though the moon was conquered in our person /
we are not equal /
though none of us ever knew the bones compressed into carbon worlds ago /
we are not equal /
though the fibres transferring day calculations are blind /
we are not equal /
though a burnt tongue still talks /
we are not equal /
though snow only falls here quieting the routine voices /
we are not equal /
though we share a glowing screen

it’s a tight fit, squeezing between official statements /
prepared notes instead of breath at a recognizable pace /
measure the space between words to ensure a convincing dimension /
nod like an undeniable tide /
forcing beach goers to the highest points of the argument /
best to strand the audience in a compounded structure /
where the beginning and the end never meet /
just weighted phrase on phrase, pinning them under national weight /
speech that leaves little air /
drowning above ground in the self-serving thick

the day is glowing with the villagers’ torches /
the scent of lavender mixes with their bellows /
mark another date on the calendar scraped into the wall /
perhaps a birthday today on some plate elsewhere always /
I can touch my hands behind my back as a forced hug /
exercise regularly in the feet I can afford /
there is rain here, too, making the fence look new /
spared so many objects to consider /
only the sea leaning closer /
that absent air above left to hold

the silver tip and white belly are the end of a May long day /
sometimes a prize in the gullet, minnow or frog leg /
pull the thin curved blade to the right /
anticipating resistance that is uneven along the length /
the flesh making a cracking sound like crumpling paper into a wad /
the intestines don’t reveal themselves willing /
drag the finger as a claw through the ribcage /
the insides should come out as a whole /
still bound by warmth and like function /
the fish could be a portrait of landed wealth /
it’s mouth ajar heralding the lord’s dinner /
it was caught in clear water, loitering around green-blue rocks /
the name we gave to that lake, just an outline

though the father passes through us /
perhaps always a calloused ghost /
muttering from the back seat /
drawing the map as he walked /
hunched under low brows /
arriving at the bay with minimal scratches /
and a dry cheese sandwich /
smiling the further from humans and their split chatter /
things do not hold their meaning over time /
keys bound by a safety pin /
measurements in pencil on an envelope /
a bag of metal slugs from utility boxes /
pellet gun pellets in a saltshaker /
these things as heatless as the first true day of fall /
objects only appear with movement around them /
he was reluctant to celebrate anything /
knowing the world has a weight after us

gathering eyes all his life /
filling up pockets of air under the boat /
with grain counts on the beach /
names for every color of insect /
recordings of the sound clipping nails in Algiers /
numbering the rings of spruce trees before their cut down /
an eye for every occasion perched on his shoulder /
trained to comment after the guests revert /
the collection of eyes, uninheritable /
perhaps as bread crumbs back from hades /
seeing-eye doggerel lighting the way /
with unstained whites around pupils /
staring down into all continents for the lowest reading light

looking for man /
beyond the puff in the sky /
where the curious turn loses its speed /
what scatters under clouds isn’t always seed /
but gravel giving up it’s numbers /
all we have is separation pushing buildings upward /
welcome weather into the bedroom /
sliding under covers knowing what to take from skin /
the last man standing won’t claim moisture

when if one takes a two /
there be trim light /
on the ledge barking one offs /
where to be all /
should a time pause its sentence /
0 love, you are not /
the be weighing last week’s groceries /
melting down to a pause /
on every ringing finger