Sconce By Any Other Name

I looked again at them during the day.
The small stairwell (interior) had new ones
and the one (attached) on Franklin
took no prisoners.

I lost count. Three. Four. Six.
Did it matter now that I was free
breathing in the sleek millrace air
at six-thirty in the morning.

I understand his choice.
All the focusing on relationships.
But it is not for me. I would rather clean.
Just plain and simple. Isn't that allowed?

Sconces Of Hope

The sconce held my future
in its bright hand so-to-speak
that blank look

this is what
 I have been cleaning
for an hour
fresh stack of Brawny

spider webs their savings
gnats sitting pretty
wouldn't you know
right up against the wall

Alone Not Lonely

The turkeys creep along
out back their Quiet callings
in the grass so silent no wind
he does not like storms
but I still trust him.
The Butte is cool only 70s
today and climbing.

Buzz On The Mezz

There was some commotion last night which everyone calls day but anyway I could not quite get the gist of what was being said because I was busy hauling up the vacuum with the big head up the stairs to the mezzanine. It did need a little going over and later I heard what's her name gossiping about that conversation it must be about the new hire from Montana but you can see it is never that boring in the middle of the night and what is with the smudges on the glass going out to the doghouse anyway.

Probably My Body

A pair of Jays at the feeder
their cries most familiar
and the oily seeds
are so easy to get
in the half shade
of the the apartment
just beyond the train
in the middle of town
my dreams are of corners
the impossible mezzanine.

Back On

They decided to put me back on the mezzanine.
There was a book in the trash
about the artist and his mural making.
I saved it for later
remembered the lamp
edge of the abyss
Knight Law
just another nightmare
carpeted also slate tiles
so slick so shimmering

The Refusal The Stay

I have imagined the magic
he said she said
different
from what will occur
sometime soon I remember
will jot it down
for old times sake
as I run around
these places
looking at the poetry
and finding
nothing there
but pain

Remind me please
why I am here

The tales wander
they half refuse

to be caught
to stay

Lessons Of The Slump

They were oblique
but the lessons
told me nothing
I needed to know.
Now I look
at its caving-in

all the rushing
I would miss

begging on my knees
my ankles rolling
under my breath
could it be
I am still mistaking
everything still

rubble and grasses
nowhere to pick
a way past
jumping into
mad betrayed
landscape

The Whisper

It went around the world
in no time
no mirrors no places
I wondered aloud
the swishing seemed
to reach his ears
although I couldn't say
how much I love
so closed appearing
yes I'm living
same place
feeling
with
at

In Person

This day is in person
so personal so-to-speak
all in my head. I wondered
for so long about the valley.
Each in its place.
So each valley
missing each location.

All Good Things

Too soon too late it is late
soon gone this late feeling
all good things ending

Fragments be damned!
They are my blessings.

Home with me
pieces of home
where will you go
now is all lost--

will not say will not
speak my fragments
use your partial words

Tumbled

Words tumbled down
from high above
dust I could not reach
even with the duster
wrapped in Bounty

Suppose I had enough
would I sleep now
just in case
the answer
obvious

We keep track
but do not say
I tasted something off
but kept quiet
let them scrub off
scuff marks on the doors

Tuesday

Tuesday brings flowers
heads drooping into cool
along with the medicine
thrown away into the trash

What speaks to me
other than those coins
a glass eye found

inside the cushions
of the easy chair

all the cookie crumbs
I did not eat

chips and paper plates
slipping down and away

Any News

About the shirt about the cuff
it's itching and a swim in the pool
will it be the defining moment
my life and it's flashing by
she said she liked fishing
I wanted him to cut his hair
they won't be attending
isn't this usually the case
won't this be regular now

The Extent Of It

A rash keeps time
or it could go away
just in time
for the ceremony
sun too hot
sheets too warm
it is another day
inside the rest

This story too cold
leaving no traces
about where

At least you got this far
and the distance
was so near

O So Boring

forgot to sleep
forgot to eat
it was so boring
to live with these (words)


changing my life
into Technicolor (scenes)
you could almost say
were real (life)


back to the cave
one more time
dragging my feet
there is dirt
under my nails


digging in
to the nitty grit


not for a day
but for a life

This Night

This night will be lighter and brighter
than ever even with the cloud and all
what is happening down on ground level

preparing nobody and no one
so wouldn't ya know under oath
riveting work after all in a day

About The Berries

Let's talk about the berries
and why not

Because everything else
is missing

So moving on to more
about you

What say we mention
ice cream

The table wobbling
slightly

Feng shui and all
here

The Chowder At The Inn

The inn had chowder
it was packed
with salt
from long ago.
The chowder
sat inside
her stomach
growling
ever so slightly.
I know there
is not supposed
to be ly in here
but you only live
once.

Days Spent

Wondering how and why.
It should not be like this
but it is and the town rallied
swirling round every corner
one into another and so on.
Almost there she thought
and somehow it was magic
the way everything flowed
did she actually say that
in between all the looking.

Time Caught

Time caught up with me
in a purple way.
It began with my hair
I knew to avoid orange
a lesson learned too late.
The whole business
the mezzanine the switch
all of it was put on hold
and my attitude
would not change
no matter what.