Able

Able 7/14

I am able to go days without eating anything substantial
It’s not really a super power                        more of a test

Smuggle

Smuggle 7/13

I watch sparrows for signs of seasons changing
their eyes are reflection – mirrored unbreakable blocking

I want to know what you watch

Do you mouth words to songs in the condensation on the mirror
I sing Nina Simone in the shower
            shake my ass – I can convince myself to feelin’ good

Late at night I sweat in my room and do nothing about dehydration
            my cat wakes me up at 5am on my days off
            I don’t go out on weekends – I’m a catch

I am convinced that I will bump into you as we turn a corner somewhere in Brooklyn
            That you will be wearing something purple
it will be like a movie

Swindle

This was an attempt at a mood more than any real narrative.

Though I suppose there is a story here.

There's always a story.


Swindle 7/12

You take off the purple shirt when the sun goes down
Placing the iron in the cupboard while it still glows – you’re
            using the mister on us – the fan’s
going at gale speed and I’m putting on my leather

Lacing up the back – taught and crushing ribs
            The purple on the sand looks like water in moonlight
Puddle of t-shirt – spoonful of sun
There’s that song about it weighing a ton – Superman
            couldn’t pick it up

I did think it was time to get on the boat
The tourists will all turn their heads when he says September
            11
They take pictures with their Sonys – save ones where breasts
look pendulous – bronzed

You leave your clothes in on the shore – denim breadcrumb
I will pick them up and wash them – wait for you to grow legs
Swim like that fish in that movie for me
like some koi in a pond in Santa Fe
They’re just expensive goldfish – just enlarged morsels

Gut-buster

I should point out that I do not find horses sexually arousing.

But they do have nice skin.


Gut-buster 7/11

A horse walked into a bar
            on it’s hind legs
That subtle arching below the knees
            that slides gracefully
to the hoof
            Is what caught my
eye – made me notice
            that this was a real honest-
to-god horse
            It had balls and cock
and the whole wax
            A mane all running over
its shoulders like some Fabio
            A clopping of metal
shoes on wood floor
            This horse was 100%
He sat in the corner alone
            ordered some horsey
drink – I watched him all night
            feeling that burn
between my legs
            His dark oil pool eyes
blinked at me with long lashes

Halberd

Halberd 7/10

This paper is filling with your blood
                        It is a mosquito gorging – small footed
and resting gently – unnoticed – on your neck

This page is pressing its tweeter into you
                        all novocained up – sliding
until you feel that pinch

This paper will bleed you dry
                        An army of leeches – suckling at your
gangrened stump – inhaling the rotting ends of you

This page is a mercenary
                        I am sending it out – rolled into planes
It comes back periodically – I pocket the toil

Providential

I spent a week in the south of France. I lived in a farmhouse and ate amazing home cooked food prepared by this great French woman.

We visited a pilgrimage site.

There was a thumb encased in glass.


Providential 7/9

The little glass sphere is full of a dead fuzz
            It is filled with green foil and a lump of flesh
                        The sphere is the center of the filigree cross
The cross is a green and inside the sphere is orange
            Around the orange is a discoloration
                        This darkening is the space of the fuzz
Which is a deathly gray staring out from its tomb of glass
            The lump of flesh is purported to be a puce
                        A puce is melting in the sphere
A puce is a thumb a big toe this one is a saint
            A melting saint puce in its orange and metal coffin
                        Waiting for something to break glass
To steal crosses in this small French room

Parc Ferme

Parc Ferme 7/8

The tree is blooming orchid faces            tiny
and falling into the water            it’s dark and muddy
            but moving through the trees

The leaves are needles            black lacquered green
that crushed velvet coat on New Years

We watched him dancing in the middle of 12th street
His legs kicking out from under him            the street
            waves of soot

Scuffed black dress shoes skirting yellow lines
like some sort of nursery rhyme breaking backs
far away from here            tonight

The quiet of that street            he was humming
Rainy Night in SoHo            then kicked that can
            into your lap

At ______ there were lights on
            making the spires black the grass amber
The city was cut out of the sky

It was splintering            wood panels in old libraries
into needles            green            frail            opening in the water like lilies