SIMPLE
meeting house bonnet sugar chest
chair sister brother
peg rail stair broom plow
gift simple lamb lemon
Replaying the day
in the creek
with the guy who told her
that country boys have sex
on horseback and yes,
in creeks
refreshing on a hot afternoon
when he taught her how
to use a chain-saw
both of them sweaty
and buggy, bandanas
across their brows
cutting down a truckload
of cedar saplings.
The day pulsed
with adventure
and stamina.
That was after her husband
had walked out.
By day’s end she knew:
I am going to do just fine.
The world is burning
and no one stops
to ask if we’d like
a drink.
We will die and
feed the earth.
I hope it takes pity
on our children
for the offering.
I hope our bones
and the soil our
flesh fed
will remember
that some of
us tried
to extinguish what
we did
not ignite.
My tongue, fossil in my mouth
Happy to know I can see you this way
You with humbly allure I adulate
Laughs with the twinkle you always display
Appointing me peace, my favorite trait
We meet at the table to often dine
The lighting never shows your aura dimmed
Snugly you remind it will all be fine
Drinking from a glass of milk that’s been skimmed
Within this soft slumber you never fade
Unceasing and same in spite of my change
Death divulging how my thoughts are arrayed
You know me ongoing sans an exchange
Do you visit others and bring esprit,
or is that you locked in my memory?
Breathe in
Breathe out
Breathe in
Breathe Did I turn off the dryer Where is my phone This chair is hard
Breathe in
Breathe out
Breathe I’m sure I turned off the dryer Why can’t I sit still I need to rest Stop thinking stop it stop it
Breathe out
Breathe in
Breathe Breathedammit Concentrate Stop thinking be here now What is wrong with you I can’t take this any more How long has it been Don’t look at your watch Don’t look Don’t Oh god it’s only been three minutes Seventeen more minutes Stop looking stop thinking stop it
Breathe in
Breathe out
Places to hang wedding veils,
dress coats, barbecue tools, mixed drink
glasses. Even an orangery.
Before thy years did come to be
‘ere the herald star shone
thy mother didst choose thy name
and where wouldst be thy throne
Thy father did in battle fall–
‘twas gone ‘ere thou wast bourne
his last words spoke, just ‘ere dawn
keep my son from scorn
The library and records did I keep
and sought to teach thee well–
in time, revealed the ancient tomes
and did the secrets tell
And so, my prince, the day did come,
manhood on thy shoulders laid,
wi’ thy father’s blade didst thou sing–
his enemies all did pay
