Inhalation
As I take in a deep breath
I think of Carol dying,
her body about to inhale
its last flooding gasp.
I like to pretend this ending
a world alien from my own.
As I take in a deep breath
I think of Carol dying,
her body about to inhale
its last flooding gasp.
I like to pretend this ending
a world alien from my own.
“Ow!” was the last thing
she said to me
–into the screen
the hospice nurse
held so I could
talk to her–
as someone
–offscreen–
changed the dressings
on her bedsores
and I was supposed
to say “See you
next week!”
“Like” Donald Trump
Fifteen people who view
Covid cases as,
“… a badge of honour.
Really, it’s a badge of honour.”
Fifteen people hoping the sun
will kill the virus.
“Supposing you brought the light
inside the body,
which you can do either through
the skin or in some other way.”
If that doesn’t work
all fifteen are prepared
to inject Lysol
or perhaps build a wall
and cross their fingers.
15 people willing
to shoot more than warning shots
into people whose eyes
look like their own mother’s
when you’re close enough.
These fifteen..
“going to be down to close to zero.
One day, it’s like a miracle.
It will disappear.”
Pine Mountain Cemetery VI
Decoration
Wish you’d just look at this place.
Decoration they call it, more’s like
A party plumb off its rails. Look
Close and see the handiwork
From each branch of this here clan.
They make a regular mark.
Howard’s favor daisies, Hensley’s
Partial to dinner plate dahlias,
They being a bit fancy minded.
Sargeant’s partial to purple flags,
Clem’s always fashion red carnations.
Tacky, raggedy flower little loved.
Roses? See over there by what
Goes for a fence. One little Pope,
Baby, but soon man and wife left.
Never looked back is what I heard tell.
If you don’t visit the grave, does it make
The sadness seem like it didn’t happen?
Summer
There were rabbits under the porch
chickens in the yard
Morning Glories
climbing up wires.
They bloomed purple
and pink
and red
and blue
before the sun came up.
Old dogs laid around
in cool grass
on hot days.
And when the work had slowed in the fields
the men came in
to be served iced tea.
They leaned against shade trees
with one foot propped on the bark
their hats pushed back on their heads.
Their bibbed overalls were dirty
with hay dust.
They talked and laughed
and drank tea
until they had their fill.
I watched.
I watched until nothing was left
but empty glasses
dirty dishes
and memories of the men I knew.
Then,
I leaned against the same shade tree
propped my foot on the bark
pushed back my hat
and pretended I was one of them.
I would stand there
until the rabbits
came out from under the porch.
It was the last summer of my youth
Tony Sexton
Outside, a landscaper removes box shrub branches
Since the apartment complex has been rebought,
they’ve tore through tree limbs
WHO KNOWS?
Who knows who goes to heaven…
And sings in angelic choirs…
Who knows who is in the host of those
Who eat at His banquet table?
Is it the right seeking,
Those who live upright lives?
Is it those that are overjoyed at pleasing Christ?
Is it those that have repented
And ask just to share in His peace
Because their life was so shattered
And shaped in pain?
Is it those who live a long life?
And after such have thanked God for such an opportunity?
Is it those who having come to maturity
Must give up their lives
To small metal objects, or small living creatures
That for their size still wield more power than
Any weight lifter…
Or is it the children
That only ask to be loved
And instead must never have a childhood,
Whether their death comes early in their young life,
Or they must linger with illness or abuse,
Or whether into maturity
They bring pain and hurt that was dealt them
Not knowing what to do with it.
Who knows who goes to heaven?
Amazon delivered a barrel of monkeys today
just rang the bell and left it on the porch.
I don’t recall ordering them.
When I lifted the lid they climbed out
wearing smiles and bell hop uniforms.
There were no instructions included.
I tried to merge my mind with their minds
so we could relate to each other.
That might have been a mistake.
I can’t explain how we spend our days
but it makes sense when you’re a monkey.
Especially after acceptance into the troop.
The monkeys have taken over my life.
My life is now a barrel of monkeys.
Isn’t that bananas?
break — exit from loop
exit from the smallest enclosing.
OPTIONS
None.
INPUT
None.
EVENTS
Default.
CONSEQUENCES OF ERRORS
Default.
RATIONALE
In early proposals, consideration was given to continue as a preferable alternative. However, this ending is anticipated
a future implementation could take advantage of this
and provide something
like a test
and this might be standardized after implementation experience is achieved.
FUTURE
None.
*Found poem (erasure) from the Linux Man Pages
