Ma clothes had more holes than I’d never seen
and ma gun, my musket, why it was all rusted
worthless
Then I ‘membered ma dog
Ah hollered for him, “Wolf, Wolf!”
All I could hear was the wind, blowin’ through the trees
Have you seen Wolf?
He’s about yay height, skinny, black splotchy fur
No… I don’t imagine you’ve seen him
From what I could tell
a whole lotta time had passed by
Heartlessly foolish
I don’t really mean it
when the hatred you harbored
was kept like a secret
you lost me in the ashes
in the burn of the phoenix
now as P!nk once sang,
“just give me a reason”.
In the darkness you whispered
in shades of red and blue
“what do you need darling?”
we did not allude.
to the temptress and her coming
her ever-longing subdued.
To the beat of your broken
and to the melody of my ache
was this fantasy a farce?
Do you mean the words you say?
So when you can’t fall asleep at night,
and wonder what’s at stake
remember the girl you saw burning
and left lying in your wake.
It’s not what you said
it’s how you said it.
The tone of your voice
was harsh with raised voice
and a timbre of disrespect.
There was a disregard for the
safe guarding of human life
over cost and the preservation
of a naturalistic way a life.
More simply said, it was a verbal assault
from a gang of petty heartless tree huggers.
a plentitude
of words
no feelings
to attach
this poem
remains
as yet
unwritten
The words were written…
Poured
Out
In fact…
Never submitted.
Because there was a “malfunction.”
Eerily metaphorical generalization of what appears to be a consistent theme…
Defective.
Appearing functional. Flowing beyond expectations maybe even.
And they all cheer!
They show up… More than anyone has.
It is authentic… I think.
Or… do they pity me?
The pages even do.
So, they cave to support the weakness in me,
Overcompensating.
And just when the settling into believing maybe…
Maybe… Just maybe
It’s enough… I’m enough…
Malfunction.
Internal? External motions to blame?
When what appears acceptable, or useful,
Suddenly doesn’t service…
The equivalent is…?
Tell me.
Even the page couldn’t manage.
Overused. Overworked. Underserved. Illmaintained.
And yet shocked by the ceaseless
Malfunctions.
My shirts are backwards and inside out
the dresser hasn’t a single folded sock
No bottle opener in sight just a bic lighter
Summer dresses and one pair of boots
The same towels, old buttons, and shoelaces
a yellow chipped vanity from 1950
One hundred years of solitude still resting
on my great grandmothers night stand
Framed Monet leaning on each wall
people will know you, not this way
resting with wet hair.
the rain came down like crazy.
just let me melt now.
Anywhere but here, I wanna be, anywhere but here, missing you like crazy and wondering why the last time was the last time. I wanna be anywhere but here filled with regret and wondering why I didn’t let that last argument go. Anywhere but here, I wonder if you knew how much I love you so.
Anywhere but here, I see your face and hear your voice. Anywhere but here with you feeling like you had no other choice. I wanna be anywhere but here without you.
Anywhere but here, let’s reverse the direction. Anywhere but here, let me be your protection.
the cat licks the Funyun dust off my fingers
one more time, and
like before
it’s the salt he likes
and I think, now in this June coolness,
is this really all we need:
snacks
companionship
a cold beer (don’t forgot that again)
and a purpose
or is it all moot?
the cat licks his lips
and I realize
missed our chance to find out
