A volatile object explodes with the intent to destroy you.
Do you run?
Fetch water?
Let yourself burn?
No. You respond with questions and sincerity.
The object collects itself only to redetonate and make a second attempt to harm you.
Approaching with caution does not work;
This is not your problem.
You can only respect the object’s placement and move through the pieces that pierce you.
mid-June day
rare cool breeze tousles
my hair goose bumps
my bare arms reminds me
of Wisconsin summers
jets’ white vapors draw
a tic-tac-toe board
on cloudless blue my finger
marks an X
in the righthand corner
Midnight in Harlem
on Pandora Derek Trucks works
his electric guitar
into a howling blues solo
dry white wine refined
in vintage etched-glass one
of four stemware snagged
at the thrift store
poplar trees thick grass
hostas hydrangea
mandevilla pump the air full
of oxygen
and sweetness I gaze up
through swaying branches
twirling leaves catch
a stir of wings
I am more
than
forehead wrinkles
eye skin crinkles
graying hair-mop
brown age spots
brows grown thinner
weird chin whiskers
full, curvy figure
bold thigh jiggles
flat-as-flitter feet
evening edema
dry, flaky dermis
forever forgetfulness
However, I moreover
delight in the shadows, NOT in spotlight
see through clouds silver glint of moonlight
accept responsibility to be the “old and wise”
appreciate variety, uniqueness, and surprise
frame my view with rubies and roses
embrace weirdness and solid closeness
thank my body for reliability and hard work
walk miles in others’ shoes and refuse being a jerk
tread softly around painful ground
swell with love and spread it all around
thirst for resilience to easily bounce back
remember grace and forgive my lack
and that
I am more
(In celebration of the aging process and of me. Life is too short, friends.)
I cannot stand up on my
surfboard, not for lack of waves
in Kentucky, nor because
I am past my athletic
prime. I must have the wrong board.
My new longboard barely fits
down the stairs to my basement.
a poem in cup-lets
Fill your cup – a cup or more –
for you’ll gain something from each pour:
First cup vanishes, sip by sip,
the daily comfort brought by lip.
Then, a second to reinforce
the caffeine in your bloodstream’s course.
Maybe you choose to drink a third…
less delicious or helpful acts have been heard!
If, like me, you’re drinking four,
you’ve probably got a long day in store.
No one can judge what they don’t know,
so drink ’em fast or drink ’em slow!
Traveling breakfast eating
Dishwasher sloshing
Maytag thumping
Dryer whoofing
Bed stripping
Water running
Yet a silence falls,
One coin rattling the penny jar
All that is left when
Precious company packs, hugs
Turns back to hug again,
Then hurries the car away
Before tears catch up.
Will you come for another stay?
Kids children ninos
Snot sleepovers screaming
Husbands wives partners
Disconnected discombobulated
Playing roles smart socio economic matches
Nothing in common no get to know you period
Incommunicado
Tell me about your day
It was good The car payment is due
Strip down let us have sex while thinking about other people
Or what we are gonna have for dinner tomorrow night
Chicken I hope we have chicken for dinner tomorrow night
Jesus I hope he finishes and falls asleep soon
So I can masturbate
I can’t believe I said til death do us part
My friend gave me the number to a good divorce lawyer
She’ll just try to take all of my money He’ll try to turn the kids against me
I guess it’s easier staying together
Good night sweetheart
Good night honey
It began as a small vesicle
in the center of my cheek bone
enlarging until it split
a gash forming across
hair sprouted above
my vision changed
and a third
iris
sees
*A nonet
