Skeletal

Up the ladder
and into the dark
clouds gather

Speak of data
empty cavities
hide it

long and thin
wind is weeping
calling crushing

Numbers change
with the season
happy happy

A spell is cast
for a moment
did you feel it?

Artist

Flying structured shadow
nobody can define
I sent a card too late
it will arrive after the big day
America walking more
than usual walking sugary
down avenues tall
thoughts about songs
their meanings
flowers so fierce
from what I remember

Flying Cool

Oh wrapped up
ready to go
despite the heat
in spite of day

Ear plush cave
you know how you
inspire fast sound
Flying out glistening
perfect cool so
great to hang with

Druid!

Invite me to that bon
fire moment your heart
of hearts between poetic
appointments large scatter
winds hardened into stone
thousands of years old
a thousand you prescriptions
said take you before sleeping
call back the morning.

Future

Is that what the future holds?
Your name parked along the curb
poems at ten and two
of expert interior dash
of radio song perfume
turns clicks dials
gauges phosphorescent
under olden jagged mineral
landscape of pools of light
without any static
awaiting my interference.

Mineral Sky

I drank water just a sip
from the dark lagoon that was
all it took to throw the data
topsy turvy into a realm
of forgotten deadlines missing links
remote mineral sky.

What had I expected? More dust to grind
chomping on shreds plant material
it was old hat I was newly hatched
a minute past noon daylight savings time.
Those twins their transfusions
my dream of them free free
walking around in animal form.

Analyze Key Events Through Examples

Maybe then it will make sense
empty room all chairs in rows
ready for the mundane for me
they carried elsewhere
across a bridge into the future
I need you to help sort it out
to place a dinner plate shining
on the checkered cloth next to
utensils bright as the moon
through the window melatonin
clouding it all up despite the rinse
polish squeak ready for another use.

Hunting and Gathering

Either way the island is different
viewed from afar as a preferred sky
moon amazing to imagine powdery
nobody there almost untouched
outline of its allure its far-off shape
instead of its close up shape diluted
edges large and furry h and g.

Tall Order

I learned new tricks
practiced them until
it was not pleasing
or didn't work as well
or time or an accident
disguised my attempts
everything for the pleasure
of others in one way
trying too hard to balance
poetics force gravity magic
sweat satin salt reptiles good looks
youth a game played on a flat surface
part of the tool a homemade shovel
they told me to make my own then dig
hot sun overhead with low overhead
I licked my hand pretended it was you.

Must Go On

Sad or happy decide now
which it will be crazy hair
everyone laughs 
under the big top

on the way to Sparks from Reno
through the desert to Pyramid Lake
Bertha and Tina the Amazing Elephants
Ethyl Gasoline
Boozin' Cruisin' Lookin' For A Bruisin'

I realized later I held it down
with my foot with anything that's why
I laugh and cry when handed a shovel
to dig my own grave quick call the union
as more and more climbs out of a tiny car
evaporation the only way to leave

Shift

Weather goes through it. Through
over beyond. Here you feel small.
Giant nut trees crashing thumps
see-through pines their stars
ignore takeover by clouds
I thought there was an extra light
beginning to show the lack of shelter
from what I seek and find and think.

Evidence & Support

The thunder was late and loud. I appreciated the grey wall
then it became more and didn't go away but gathered
in the cool. Like love it was mostly hidden from view
difficult to find and then would not leave until exhausted
spent even dogs ran away I believed in my own power
but it was nothing compared to what dropped eyes closed
I remember a ranger saying palm oases existed
only due to tending meaning the careful love given
as frequent burning over the course of a millennium.

Tilted Clouds Sunlit Rain

Landscape an internship
in a second language my second
chance for credit
appears to be 
blue by nine
if those downpours are to be taken
endured believed polished seriously
framed sparkling thought
filled in by your thoughts
about Rabbit Island.

What It's Really Like

Bliss lights nearly electric
pronounced with lots of k's
had to gain attention chipped in
ready-made crinkly a glow
so strong even trees can't blot
wind waited there we fixed up
gutter with tape and spray foam
Bohemian happy I'm glad
it would have been more leaking
more yin flow than what was wanted
ruining everything down below.

That Certain Something

It ran away again and again. Bohemians
wise to this lurking swaying fact
day and night sealed in a silent code
I could not crack if only my plan
could be remembered minute to minute
what glassy eyes I'd have seeing beyond
daylight or night light rumpled into one.
The ideal can only be seen looking back
weighed down with stones small and famous
the rest of the family a few echoes away.

Night's Throat

Chirps underwater drops
dripping stars fall into pools
while night swallows
ripples gulps down small signals
what was it I had all these years
thought there would be a pinnacle
to it that I'd know something
about this chapter of island living
be able to see all of it at once
a map my life not more edges
of a lake more flimsy shorelines.