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.