Ellis

thin fingers, paper hands tensely
clutching a worn leather handle
cold toes tucked into solid boots
have seen some wear, walk to the coast
their lives in flight, diamonds
adeptly sewn into the hems of pants and skirts
pupils focused at the
dim point of horizon, knowing
ships come, to take them to elsewhere

they land in the city of old and new
they lay down the rhythm of jazz
they bicker and carve their place in spite of eachother
they welcome the misfits for schadenfreude, praise tension, angst

their weary children
know their place behind
the birth of new york, the better child
deferring to the cage, not whistling
nor even taking flight in steel
they think the point of argument is something real
the glass window, the missing sky
to gaze up and see no cloud
angry voices, reminds them
of the jaundiced home these vagabonds had found themselves
how unadventerous they are!
waiting for new york to seek them out
hoping
it cares as much as it shames
believing
the serendipity of collision

when the journey was carried in boats
and the waves turned the stomach
those paper hands held fast
to even colder railings
where were you? a dream in the eye
and you think the world is small
but your home is a fixed location
the only dot on the map

the city changes
the city won’t remember
your ancestors
their frugal labored fruit
their 5 block world with its own district
it swallows them whole

and if you fall, miss the rhythm?
and if you want to breathe without the soot?
and if you taste the pavement when you hunger for the earth?
good luck to you then, the smug would say
you’ve earned it
the only world you need to know
won’t need you now

Pressure

do not persist in fear, the wolves will eat you
cowering is no defense
bound with the palm leaves, attack with the stem
you bless your luck you have, you move forward
curled toes, they stub
and bloody stumps can’t run
momentum is required to fly
to lift the flaps, to see the skies
you must trust the lift
unknown forces, pressure filled gifts

changes, consolidation

so much has happened in the course of a few short weeks. i think i’ve lived more in this short time than i have in awhile. it’s the climax of the risk/reward scenario.  i am simultaneously losing everything and gaining everything… my freedom.  i’m so grateful the way it has shaken down, at least today.  lets hope these blessings continue.  and if not, i have resolved myself to the idea that i have enough to give to everyone – every tax man, every punishing homeowners board, every pathogen, every criticizing wagging finger.  i have so much to give to all of you that i can afford to share my money, my time and my love.  i am grateful for the chance, because it means i have survived another day to carry on the greatest purpose, which is to share.  loss of theft isn’t possible when you’re willing to give it all away.

but it’s still a good idea to lock your doors.

Often Named Puck

happiness
peppered with the tiny feet of danger
often named Puck
precipitate a little tear

knowing death can’t end you all
the source of my abundance
like giving birth

holding out my hands to you
who accepts the offering
isn’t just to take
it’s a way of being given life
like giving birth

enduring message
motherly abundance, giving gifts
laying down foundations, bridging rifts
patching up the world is not the game
making new, simple and plain
like giving birth

Soft Wood Won't Snap

i have the latent gift
to bring the fates to men
who have long since avoided them
watching to wait, seeing the game again
it’s never my place

so stand aside and watch the wave commence
cringe for his unsteady footing
i know the way to root the toes
but every word once spoken
mimics angrier commands
teaching the boy he isn’t trusted
to be a man

and i bend like the willow
a branch to grab when stumbling
letting the wash come over
salt water tickles and erodes
but always inspires some new growth
so my arbor arms remain the promise above the surface
the silent oath

It's Only Life

there’s a path or a road or a green knoll
and you take large steps or leap to run
and maybe stumble, for fun
to roll or slide across a wet muck
getting dirty
the cold earth, the errant branch
it’s only life

where are you? off in a head space
arguing theories
thinking tangentially
afraid of the blades
though they’re inches tall
smell it won’t hurt you
the messy nourishment
that comes with subtle danger
it’s only life

are you waking up?
gentle rain drops or a furious slap
either kind wakes a terrified mind
wandering off the earth that forms a path
trying to find the way back into the womb
a safe place
there is no safe place
but it’s only life

going to keep my agenda
plain on paper with a metal chain
holds me to the real as firm and plain
as the hands of a washing woman
survival is easy
if you want to live, play
it’s only life

I Can't Lie, So I Boast

walking into fat gulps
nevermind, running
palpitate a place into
the groove
new york, i nearly forgot you
remembering the pace of you
can’t get off the track

toe stubbing, mind numbing
grace for my ego, i’ve got to go
look at me
it’s an exercise in
my power’s beauty
because asking about you is just rude
everybody’s miserable
who wants to be caught
off guard with sincere concern?
everybody’s practiced story
join in, you learn

who notices anything?
no looking at the water
southern state like a well worn track
potholes poke you and there’s no looking back
racing between the lights
running out of time
new york, i nearly forgot you
the game gets bigger, you’re still denied
each face is a dollar sign
your shell is your pride
keep your sword at your side

ground wire

these movements vastly encircle
the pole between our dancing is a massive ground wire
tracing lines along the grooves

we know these routes
begging at the door of the fate refrain
our tongues long and language plain
simple words are blessed the most
laughing at the ever ascending curve
and jumping the parabola

i know you are a left child and i pass along the right
the tones of our sweet voices, dulcet in the night
clasping intermittent flesh supported by the bone

we hang on
dizzy from the motion of our powered drone

guar 22

if you let your brain go
be careful not to lose it
when you look at the blinds
does it remind you of the truth
if the heat of the day can boil some
sloth out of you
when you fight for a life
do you get it right, will you ever try
wipe the sand from your eye
it’s painful to watch

when i fall i flat, don’t you worry about that
too many choices
but the ones that i’ve made, save me
just keep out the way
move your pawns in a circle
worship your private day
just as long as you’re hurtful, to yourself

let go of the lie
i’m trying to

i don’t want to be blunt, but you’re loving a stump of a heart