things end,
like love affairs
and lifetimes.
good times.
bad times.
things end,
no matter
how we try–
or don’t try–
things end.
things end,
quickly or slowly,
way too soon, or
much too late–
things end.
things end,
whether loved
or hated,
good or evil–
things end.
things end,
for a story is
not a story
until it ends
and a story
must end
before the next
may begin–
things end.
note this down slowly. sometimes
forget yerself unremember let it go
im not scared of hangin in a breeze of bad grammar
i spent a whole summer on my tummy in the crab grass
trying to fly away from a mess of myself guess what
didn’t work. forget yourself! that plain enough?
ok so I drove a car without permission
so I was filled with booze and scarves
ok so I stopped for gas down the scary alley
so I ate pizza with garlic and kissed you real good
well boy o boy a live one shes done it now our baby
A crazy spieler on the corner of 105th street,
words, unintelligible and over half way to heaven,
will not stop long enough to catch a breath.
Point your finger.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t
notice how silent you’re become
since we’ve met. I’d say
what if I’m worse in person?
and you’d laugh, but now
I’m just another person
to follow on social media,
a backup copy to your real
relationships with people better-
suited to the community you’ve
created for yourself. I’m not bitter
or sad. I’d say, told you so
if I felt like messaging you first.
it’s the end of june
once again
and it’s been
eleven years
three months
and twenty-two days
without you
and somehow
my world’s still spinning
and i keep going forward
progressing without you
and i’ll never be able to tell you my secrets
and my soul will always be missing a piece
but i keep trying to string together memories of you
without you
i try not to miss you
i’m sorry
but
i do
Gesture of Kindness
I walked down my lane
with money Dad gave me
rattling in my pocket.
Three blocks down,
then right onto Maple
where the big houses line
the street. I knocked
on the door; Missy answered.
I asked her if she’d like to walk
downtown, and get a malt.
I even described its smooth,
creamy “mahogany” richness.
She told me she’d love to go.
Then she stepped out onto
the porch, and hit me. When
I asked her “Why?” she just
said I was a good guy.
Go figure!
Leftover cornbread, always yum, two pieces, cold;
steamed forono beet from my garden, skin and stems on, cold;
cold cantaloupe slice, given me by my next door neighbor;
three tablespoons of cottage cheese, cold. Ah, the colors.
Add a cup of hot black tea. Delightful.
Last day of June spooning into July.
She’s dead now.
I forgot to tell you.
A long time ago
So many years I don’t remember,
I had a friend in West Virginia
Named Jennifer.
She tried to
Pierce her ears
With a thumbtack
And stick a thumbtack
In an outlet to feel electricity.
She thought my nails were
Too long and too purple and
I thought
She had too much access
To thumbtacks.
Jennifer had a friend
(Invisible)
Named Janice.
And any time something
Unusual
Happened
She also had a daughter,
And cancer, turns out.
(Also invisible)
I don’t know what’s come
Of her daughter but
Jennifer is gone
And Janice
Doesn’t live here anymore.
