What Did They Say

What did they do
for money
what did they use
what was
the use
pulverizing people
homes history it is
us that we're killing

Home

I looked for my home
up in flames it was reported
I asked the army of boys where
I should look they were not the ones
to ask but I did not know this until later
when I risked everything to go there meet up
what else was I supposed to do when nobody cares
I would keep going back to it to the same things I thought
real then turn away still looking without logic crazy ruining what
was left my body all in one piece (almost) except for the loss of blood

All Clear Signal

Listen for clock-like or unusual sounds
divide room in four heights
ground to waist
waist to head
head to ceiling
above ceiling--false ceiling
Interview the person in charge regarding
the nature and gravity of the threat
Seek a blueprint or floor diagram
visual check suspicious article or device
immediately report to police

police or other authorities will take over
immediately upon arrival at the scene

Earth Dust Broken Shapes

I walk near Fair Oaks Grange
see a wrapper from a Charleston Chew
Plat B Road to meet Nonpareil tall firs
where the slender American Kestrel
roughly the size and shape of a Mourning Dove
wasn't there this evening across from the cemetery

Plunder

Makeshift moment drags out
we see their faces their blood
what can be done fear knows best
through generations mowed down
out with the trash kept in the earth
life is what gets away goes chasing
ghosts who resist after all is said
done that day who will touch this
unnecessary indiscriminate killing
of a large number of human beings
or animals as in barbarous warfare
or persecution or for revenge

Desist

Time passing does not erase blood
does not belong where it dries as
violation excuse obvious life as trash
nobody calling out stopping leaders
even larger bombs to no end no speaking
leaving things to play out with no goal
Where is the stopping point where does
this change walls should be blasted instead
why are the solutions difficult why do they
hang out with down time so young afraid
next to nobody left in huge small worlds

While Hidden

The people returned after the blast
seeing where they had prepared seeds
managed the garden under starlight
same moon stars clouds sun wind rain
About the flash of light all it was
Surviving without broke her heart
she said this on the small hill near trees
why would they bomb so close to a church
right across graves statues decorations rich
inside stony silence dusty cold in summer
after so many false alarms which was real
her heart dying of its broken pieces held
together supposed to integrate hide no
place for this the others changed

Luckiamute River

Muddy land water will not raise my dead
arms from haying heading for the coast
salmon memories even further away
grasses July ends soaking camas
swale new raven drizzle berries ripe
fruit not falling off wall of green
thinking of manzanita madrone jay
higher up glittering slanted canyons
going into the Umpqua the rustling brush

Killing People, Traumatizing Generations

She has a rash on her neck face and eyelids
they are swollen nothing hurts her as much
as it did before does when others have to go
through the same bombing terror confusion
repetition the future will be difficult to read

without the help of the president double it
eight things one should do for longevity
if you want to live a long life that sounds good
to me I really don't feel we tried to call she was
the only one actually now I think the other person

pictures of the stumps up there one continuous line
you were at Dry Creek Store as a baby we have
a picture of you sitting at the table same light
on the pavement constant saw a big truck cats
caterpillars they move the trees to another place
to cut it looks one sentence runs into another

Worry

Water trim and pull in case
it will be forgotten in the next days
weeds sprouting blackberries stuck
taking over dandelions dominating
grape vines pulling the others down
knowing all the things to be afraid of
refusing to know worry for a few minutes
let go don't tend what is constant grating
sun dry wind put lavender around roses
deer don't like the smell won't even try

Around

The crater didn't move but looked different
angles it stood out from the rest
landscape due to its size and shape
dropped off to desert on one side the Great Basin
We usually took the wrong road that sprang up
before the real turn that was a shortcut to the station
manned by young people this time cheerful
Every single thing had personality even the pumice
even the railings at the overlook into it you could
look at layers and see the blasted out geology wonder
what the people did when it blew they died came back
later the same people worked down at the lodge she said
the matches were free unlike anything else in the store

To Bits

We meet up on the hill unable
the possible betraying thinking
returns to the recent and does not let go
round and round horses of advantage
swift grouping dispersing disappearing

beyond it look for shade pockets
where the earth has not been disturbed
patches around famous flat breath of road
seeing dull mirrors our dinner plates smoky
where to look we are animals today same
body blood pain so then what is real

Wail

Sing the old songs
once they stop weeping
grief prayers popular
party music it is mostly
a careful garden
along the evening river
in then
down
to ocean
you can't run
from

Moon Houses

Recorded wrecks craters rubble fires
broken everything seeing everything
seen everything years don't lie
they are on your dusty face
turn into a rat live that way
garlic soup always on the menu
something would later give
die in the round suddenly direct

Bear Veria

He wrote a longish poem about what he saw
his senses working overtime just like the song
what did I sign just now in Roseburg a few spaces
down so everything would show that's how it went
It is hard to trust anything it moves slower than
on TV but ends quicker eyes blink it away and then
gone spoke about how she first saw the mountains
realized how beautiful they were small plays she
was in so much more intense than when everything
was so real it took years of imagination to see

The Beach They Now Wanted

They walked through our site
sat there smoking It did not matter
food Where we slept the daytime
night moon falling quickly
What would happen
it was the beach
ruined before anybody
didn't mind sharing
lives over entirely And why should we
Paid for it watching trees grow into animals
others carefully ignoring us Jealous
kids to kill us More than ordinary
Only air alive on our side

Wilderness Is

Your mountain has liquefied
it has become a steep waterfall
a stream then a brook a tiny river
grasses heated a motion overstory
dozens climb here squirrels flying
at night edge of a crater filled
with water find a home here
over the boat house you and me
above it all but close zipped tent noise
something killing something else
the lake pearl-colored splashing
night animals under cloud-cover
dust from the old explosion grit
scrubbing dreams of thousands
the fish catch this keep it down

Into A Chore

I chose them but she took them back
returns desk two greeting cards
for the memorial someone we barely knew
constantly heard about a burden to no one
this was later on this person was an artist
trust fund never spent forever fearing

Got the money back too expensive she said
one of a butterfly one of a dandelion
next would be a blowzy state
the wind coming up just a little
seeds all over the place

After the war she worked her routine
on railings at the hospital entrance
gripping thin metal swinging around
after watering her parents' graves
at the cemetery across the street

I sent them anyway they didn't seem
for someone else we never knew
signed our names sealing the deal
the deal forever taken away again

To No End

He called his sister a wurstkaetzchen 

but it was in a nice way although rough

she was called schlampige these moving

in the room by the sink memory another 

invisible family member a twin a ghost

always at the table so hungry eating 

nothing but making due now it's the last

thing she says before going to sleep what 

is the total why does this infuriate me

Myselfie Alive!

Told me to quit it cut it out have at it
still myselfie persisted in bringing out
things, woke up in a cave of leaves
a cave of flowers
clouding my judgement.
All for myselfie-- hair clothes attitude
I bought into more than ever
got into it, promoted, got
promoted by it.  I worked it
worked it good
came and went
without anybody knowing
my excellent hiding places.
What myselfie was really about
right in front of their noses
plain as day flash lovingly
held at arm's length.

Temperature Museum

Round shadows flat
kingfisher zipping
crumbling scree
gold mine pay dirt
where childhood
would've been located
mint water liquid mountain
Douglas fir blackberries ash

Dimensions of the Fourth Kind

Transient understanding why
trailing lights glittery
crackles thuds tracing sighs
explode one two nights per year
messy explanation mainly
entrancing twenty-five minutes
in chairs on blankets
not like somewhere else
the other side of the world
where everyday meals
come complete with the uninvited
elegance color light of the real

Loopy

Shouldered my responsibility belt slung
full of holes useful pockets ignoring stars
their inviting twinkles moon crossing into view
almost harmless wandering around in a circle
got dropped off there with a map spent days
searching for the animals that hid in the daytime
night was a different matter the sage cool a path
it was fun tracing my way back to America
who would have it after all who would find it

Undercover

Under branches trees early rocks
light moving along the river deep spots
who would've known about it except for
an arrow pointing over a dripping culvert
the path slips past a guardrail poison oak
to the land of the stone flies in their casings
across a stand of snags below The Narrows
so much air heading from the mountains
breezing down the canyon in the sun

Flourish

She signed her name with blood
of a lemon on paper held it
over the toaster cold then hot
war was in progress her
signature everywhere evaporating
a perfume on its way before her
also left behind she walked so

It was a slanted line she drew
with her finger on small screens
in stores at their booths awnings
It meant she was agreeing to being
there to her a performance energy
before and after so easy wasn't it

She stared trying to find out what
an expert analyst found so amusing
(hilarious) embarrassed in front of everyone
Later matched it with famous names
traits not so funny but strange in the everyday
world a small carved stingray dangling outside
around her neck it looked heavy despite its size
inside weighing a lot for a thing so small

Us

There's Sober Girl and Teacher A

I am close with Educator yet despise

when she drinks her coffee black

Deli Counter is for back-up

all she is concerned about

then there is Investigator 

under investigation most indefinitely

Teacher A forced to be Teacher

but Educator substitutes steps in

takes charge carries the ball forward

full of hope even on the losing side