Face The Facts Of Fall

Leaves drop dark trees
hard to catch first out
shaking the food dish
works every time

The trick is only inside my mind
go anywhere and I will tell you
who is older and older still
that's why I would consider
staying here forever

The Victorian era hall
all the treasures of an alcove
and boasts two mezzanine levels
just imagine the renovation
happening in the distant past

The Building And The Skeleton

You know
what they go to
even without
seeing
their numbers

I think you look
at me this way
because I got
unlocked
by you

The Unlock

your keys

are many

each one has its use

so many doors

waiting 

to be unlocked

The Night Belongs

Night rests her head on the moon.
I did not figure you into this life
aren't you from one of those

we lived back then so happy
too much water and then none at all

we traveled to Yermo and back
spiders gathered under rocks sticks dust

Maybe you'll become a week a day my life
if not now then when the singer sings it

I am captured held hostage
by your smile just like all the others

Night Of The Mouse

Tracy Chapman sings
if not now

then when

the song
a sort of
promise

to the night

and my
homeless

memory
is raw
and exact

let out
into the night
onto some ferns
in the courtyard

What It Took

My hands touch.  the door
I leave my prints
too late

 B.     B.   wipe clean

a suitcase my hairbrush
a poster with bicycles
your face

what is inside you.      what

the mask is what you put on to show.  the world
who you really are

 try to change.    your mask. match
the impossible world

What I Told Myself About Beast

What I told myself about him
did not change
when it was supposed to

leaves & their trees
all the rest--

how do I say
I have found my twin
when there was nothing lost
in the first place

When I Realize I'm Dreaming I Want To Stay There

But I feel the slipping sliding into the disappointment I can almost touch the other world where I was real where I did not mind my own business instead I knew I was a spy being chased chasing through tall grass the river nearby my language matching everything even though I had not been there ever before

Dreams In Fall

Questions arise they melt into apples scarlet maroon and folded golden lakes goodbyes goodbyes a torture a still life never still at all think of me there beside myself you are somewhere nearby as usual maybe I hear your mind turning everything around

Bear's Son + Bear's Fool

She was a fool always waiting for his glance it was her food more than gold he dished it out mostly evenly to her so she could nibble chew thoughts about this or that Until one. night. she. could. see. she was the one who was glancing staring at him like there was no tomorrow of course she thought he is my friend even though she was still a fool maybe she was about to step in. a Trap what to trust? her own heart flying around and difficult to place

Read All About It

Extra when it is clear and clad like this moon down to business between branches scratch out a life with hands and feet I will obey your tangle We could play with the apples isn't that what they are for I will be the hero and you the king servitude servitude servitude Change this idea and there you have it how come this is all I can imagine

Foldable

These days I can belong where grasses split hairs many times there are complaints this I know this I remember please belong to me inside my time these things are changing they divide all the flowers glance towards winter ignoring the year they were the date I recall my own missing I think of missing could it be sooner or later could it be here Alone I am swimming alone this is my dream what else can I do but remember

October Moon Face

Her face is half of leaf moon and stones sit in the wind sun and now there's frost dew dry by late morning however it falls the rain tears they fall then more food on the table who will eat They do not touch the owls even when they could they are spared they were little bird brother and sister be careful it could be you

Found Out

I found out too late I found this now these crumbs on the carpet all I have vacuuming away leaves twigs needles they won't disappear into the machine stuck on the mat their edges dig into threads fuzzy loops scrubby surfaces time is up time's accoutrements weighting even the river air noises from the train

Sham Battle Part 2

I remember when the students would play sham battle at lunch in the gym their favorite they got so sweaty tired out from all the action those who were not readers and those who were how they battled till the end life or death Does it even matter love I have it because I know already that first night being told about the cadavers what one had to do in that room what else was all the looking remembering this short life

Run Don't Walk

If I run around looking for you every leaf sticking to steps of the building I could slip I worry you are somewhere else what I hear is the train its groans and clicks squealing its brakes trying to slow down instead of you and your hands my hands yours

It Is October

And I don't see you missing you is beside the point over by the trees where we entered the forest just me and you how at first it was easy the so difficult now easy again but I do not know why Another plan of mine this day this evening how can I be so patient like you

Day Light

I've never seen you by day have never held your hand walking side by side down a trail along the river with the brambles where the animals live would you be totally different in the sun under low clouds bright would we automatically seek the shade or would our skin be lucky to be so exposed instead of sheltered cornered

The Apple Tree

The apple tree leans over the reservoir belongs to another time. Pelicans, coots, and otter tracks go back to the water at night What will it be like tomorrow when we have saved every drop of this day in the freezer inside the spaces of the bank sand crumbling and the land pulls its trees alongside into the sky

Turn Down My Heat

It is almost winter your eyes turn it down as necessary just when I thought of the wet leaves sticking to the stairs and how the users might slip but I won't mention the moon furry and its slice forgotten while day makes a debut my heart beating so much help me

Movin' Out All The Extra Pain

All the extra pain moving it out from under our feet permission it could be said that's what we do

The Ruffian, A Regular Houdini

She held his leash his new metal chain and harness while he ran around a true beast then it was back on but then a small shake the pile of metal links pooling around his paws and him leaning into her hand

Besides The Orchards

Besides the orchards I could write on and on about his hands his beautiful thumbs in particular. I cannot endure fall too many leaves all the dust of summer how the moon won't ever leave under the sun let us think about the night