Time Immemorial

It is said to not even exist
blob of dark mountainous
stopping right before
the very new
dump right at the edge
shopping center million dollar
police station investigating
crimes of significant next

Where were the other parts?
Up in the palms wind feathery paper
over under the Noni cool against moon
glow breathing gravity releasing blink
ocean garden up on the hills they study it
create paths it looks inviting to walk there

The Viewing

Today is the field trip to see
where it stopped by the dump
before the mixed recycling
covering asphalt wild meets tame
an arctic plain investigating itself
meanwhile edges burn and widen
one stage of grief will be addressed
time to move on life goes on Long's
back in business even Jungle Love
a frozen animal Earth caught
in the act trying to take it back

The Relentless Quit

Glad to see Jackson Pollock younger
than ever celluloid serious will he break
under pressure of the gold watch voice
opera voice of the chart paper jeering
metal Eskimo yo yo too heavy to lift

turning inward that moment anything it takes
to become American ruthless shortening life
just outside the rain smears windows
the moment rainbow bouncing to a halt

Ye Olde Ghoest Town

Hardly a place to stumble upon
single file over rocky streets
decorated by tumbleweeds
square buildings false fronts
left unlocked extremely difficult
to understand when everything

modeled after my face
hair ash blond dishwater blond
wind said this greasy by mid
morning Mom brushed hers upside
down starting at her neck underneath
in Germany everyone knowing how
Dad crushing beer cans creatures
strange at the picnic breakfast
leftovers in the now getaway van
zooming from the place we still
hadn't seen hours and hours
relief visiting mile after mile

Invention

The view pretty all signs and symbols
what did they mean sunk down
self wasn't an open door no matter

spirits exactly out in the open
impossible to measure or tell about
I said I would and meant it the long
short of it nearing the shore sinking
getting there the rest of the way
at least from one place to another
gold dredge off in the distance

people in their roles thank goodness
but also the very thing that destroys
this poem its speaker the point

Voyage

Reading dreams the moon
up early over mountain pastels
forgot mind's parameter the open
wound of education and educators
roundness almost tripping down
stairs on the way out not seeing
her tail a telephone cable underfoot
my shoe rolling off water ship's deck
worrying all day returning all forgotten
forgiven life flicking side to side

For That

Look to words as creaky corroded
rusting rails orange burnished repose
strange muse continuing to speak
crumbling shrill under clacking lights
out it will happen quickly that part
meanwhile slow trains most romantic
Eugene along the river the place new
before the sun drifts high listening in

The Black Pelt

Moving clicking through town
the way to the land beyond
with a furry load all asleep
until the next stop you're
reading the fine print
date stamped what does
it say now to trees their
shadows before issued
fear of the pedal coasting
on it slightly relying on
next twenty years at least

The Green Carpet

With leaves without under pines
false pines that's why it looks so good
after cutting the grass laying one down
matching lamp fine when unfolding
switches distinct elegant effortless
almost too many sounds afterwards

Fetching Madness

Pressing dreams against ocean
silent but the pull to speak of ocean
topic slowing thing inside what was it
ordinary fool speeding delay

Starlit

Moon surrounded feelings
forest honey almost
old documentation
flakes and platforms broken lilac
trail alongside the volcano
interesting in fact newly
forgotten small traps protecting
overlooked dust ash compact

Nettles In Moon's Cup

Humming behind up-anchor put to sea loose
clouds unblinking between fancy upturned edges
slight warm yellow color yellow ink sky indigo
yellow gold cupping ink inky yellow edges
fancy handles cold tab over top more than half
moon on its side in repose legs up in the air horns
uncovered merely decoration ship impossibly
capsizing no chance of tipping either way
would this be happening sometime likely
did it pass under clouds passing alongside
nothing only the view how it went home
unmoored nothing much only the darkness
disturbed by constant light darkness holding
contrast indifference to light beside blank
time worn this way as thought as part way

Moon In Sheep's Clothing

Tied down to nothing but
spinning it stays there stays
put and placed just so real
light all the time--real time
of day at night day so near
so far with clouds and surf

Case Colder By Half (Moon)

It became basic compulsion then more
now half he sd she sd
handing revised documents nonsense
dates changed names remaining the same
importance of tidbits tit for tat
letting it become bothersome even on

The weekend seeing snow near the live
volcanoes in the park the ranger saying
sense flies out the window near lava
shoes touching just a little bit getting
closer is the thing irresistible just imagine

Was it imagination or just plain dumb luck
walking around then the glass artist and his
wares gigantic tears meaning joy and sorrow
this is simply life can you endure it even
go to glassexperience.com called bittersweet
air cooling it so new for naming beyond eyes

Their Country

Large the country sits longing
for peace lines drawn redrawn
we hear about it at dawn

knowns
cruise the outskirts now
central to believing
it will be soon over
with all these strikes
which numbers are larger?
Who has never wondered
about it

deep inside enemy lines
lurking now patiently
spidery names misplacing
streets how to keep it
distinct

Step

The lamp is clean a surface
little dust the ship is leaning fast
There is a person walking
with a phone automatically
the doors open and we are
looking back before we get
there entering the other places
only the machine is confident
my heart is elsewhere going
back to the cave I found
with a lot of coaxing where
swept the floor to a fine
smoothness arranging my
thoughts or so I thought

First

That way it can be tried
air made regular stirring up
life warm interesting although
seemingly used up messing
just turn a little and you see
light later history together
defining in some way how
remembering does not stick
that's why they sing while eating
dance while laughing going there
even though the others say
don't go to the triggering town
to the waterfall on horseback
those places nobody knew or saw
right under their noses out in front

Clouds Barging In

Our moods restless no place
frozen even under rocks leaves
chai special at the Lighthouse
they don't make you join
searching for answers
faces huddled at the tables

Is it a twin someone
they say waiting
pomegranates on the counter
so ripe easy to peel who
can resist opening staring

Flat With Hawthorn

Robins hunt the field
upright listening
near the soaking
our steps crunching
grass
slippery leaves
where they live
how long it takes
why are they so hungry
what happens at night
before the fog

The Past Is A Hat

To take on and off
expression changed little
it is now her face extending
with hair no hair she survived
one breast hanging mornings
are anxious in the fog the frost
never so hectic itchy and small
January second January second
geraniums waiting in the garage
blossoms bright in the cold dim

Direct Tongue

Sun takes over the noise
frozen any movement
in the Umpqua Basin

freedom so early
birds rest their intent
the infinite distracting
work attracting first light