12-30 Icarus and I

Bruises on my back,

Out of fear he said.

What is it I fear? I replied,

curling into my bruises,

under the white sheets, stained,

with razor thin vines curling black,

red, from the needle piercing, the

pieces of my once-broken legs,

forming.

Bruises on my back,

Out of fear he said.

pulling the silver thread,

through his white teeth,
gleaming, hungry, cutting,

silver needle, flashing,

carved out eyes, craving,

Black feather down.

Black feathers, he held me,

Down. Silver needle,

Flashing.

Bruises on my back,

Out of fear, he said.

I fear what I love,

I replied.

whimpering into the pillow,

of his arms, hiding from,

the bright lights, always whispering,

blotting roses, from my eyes,

while screaming, into his hands,

what I love, suffocating,

 on the black feathered down,

silver needles flashing,

he held me,

down,

out of fear,

flashing.

Bruises on my back,

Out of fear, he said.

Why do I love?

Out of fear, he said,

pushing the silver needle,

through my arching back,

with his hungry teeth,

gleaming in the black bottom,

midnight, of my soles, flaking,

dripping dirt and ink onto,

the floor in a cradling lullaby,

of his hands, crooning, lips parting,

silver thread spinning,

flashing, silver needle spinning,

black feathers, he held me,

down, sewing, black feathers,

bruises on my back

out of love.

Why do you fear?

he said, grinning,

flipping me over,

tucking summer beneath his wings,

silver thread unwinding,

black feather’s unfurling,

pushing me,

off the table,

out of his arms,

out of love,

silver needle,

silver thread,

-again.

12-29 I Love You, Sometimes

I love you... sometimes,
but I love you,
Tater, love,

I do this, I did this,
out of love,
sometimes, but I get,
lonely, like you,
out of love, sometimes,
I do this, but I love you,
Tater, love

I place my heart in you.
I placed my heart in you.
I should have asked.
But I didn't, now you feel,
my heart placed in you,
when I should have asked,
but I didn't, because,
I need to be loved, sometimes,
when I am lonely, like you,
I need to be loved, but I do this,
out of love, and I love you,
Tater, love,

You placed your heart in me,
You placed your heart as me,
when I didn't ask,
I didn't want to ask,
now I feel,
your heart placed in me,
when I should have asked,
but I didn't, because,
I was afraid, I couldn't,
love you, sometimes,
when I am lonely, like you,
who also needs to be loved,
held, loved, but I do this,
out of love, and I love,
you, Tater, love,

I love you... sometimes,
but I love you,
Tater, love.

12-28 All The Little Birds

All those little birds,
say he-ey,
hungry rabid filthy beasties,
picking at my carefully spun
gold embroidered
spider-strung threads,
pulling and choking,
my precious music boxes,
precocious pantomiming,
beady-eyed bastards,
I've got eight legs,
tapping an appetite,
on the window,
where you play,
little birds...

12-27 Autumn Throws A Tantrum

I wouldn't follow me,
down this rabbit hole...

the woods I leave behind,
grow a hollow,
in my other heart,
I wouldn't follow,
me,
would you?

I've hung red ribbons,
on their branches,
lazy blowing, skeletons,
dry to swallow,
in the wind,
but I wouldn't,
if I were you, follow,
and hang, screaming,
in the hollow,
red ribbons flickering on the wind.

but if you do, follow,
be careful the amber sunset,
lanterns floating face up in my wake,
dark and shadowed laughter,
careful the gallow,
I create,
if I were you, though,
I would not,
follow,
and float these dreams awake,
to laugh in the darkening hollow,
shadows I create.

I wouldn't,
follow,

me,
but would you?

12-26 Mr. Behr Gets A Scarf For Christmas

Virginia, listen,
he said sweetly,
peppermint on his breath,
nutmeg in his beard,
eyes a-fire,
with the twinkle of champagne,
Virginia,
he said,
barely containing,
a chocolate kissed bowl,
full of a crashing dishes,
Virginia,
Yes.

12-25 Casual Words

traffic horns, blaring,

can't she see, I'm

trying not to listen,

trying not to hear,

two, 

date, 

you,

I tighten the leash on my dog,

frowning,

casual words in my champagne,

12-24 Advice For A Rainy City

and,
you know what they say about advice,
it's like ice,
dry-humping,
my whiskey,
this girl gets weak,
in the knees,
melting into your glass,
until,
the water-works of this rainy city,
distill the flavor,
of my sharp restless,
tongue,
but I'll toss this out there,
with a laugh,
yeah, with a laugh,
sunshine,
dripping from the last,
of those rain-strained dregs,
of yours,
just pour me another,
and this time,
babe-

hold the ice.

12-23 He Saw Red

I laughed.
I had too.
He was just a boy.
Trying to be a man.
What did he think,
of my already worn form,
unfurling on the bed,
in Christmas red,
ignoring his advances,
brushing them off,
with casual words,
and jabs,
avoiding the choice,
he so desperately
wanted me to be,
you'd laugh too,
oh sigh- boys.

12-22 Thoughts On A Dance

home,
as you are,
with me,
touch and laughter,
breaths dancing between,
home,
as you were,
still remembered,
the timbre of your touch,
the almost controlled laughter,
the breaths that never happened,
dancing between,
home,
as we are,
with you,
touching absent,
echoes of your laughter,
counting the breaths between,
dancing alone,
home,
as I were.

12-21 Left

in my eyes,
violins curl
from the dying flames
caressing the shadows
forming tattoos,
welts blossoming,
amber fire soft
and lush on my back,
watching me
always,
from the corner,
blind, his fingers find,
my shape un-forming,
into ashes,
left to smolder,
in the chiaroscuro
after-thoughts of his mind.

12-20 Red and White

like snow falling soft,
on your breath,
you were laughing,
like snow falling soft,
on your breath,

I wore gray,
to the red and white ball,
simple ribbons,
never did me wrong,
but red as bright,
is not my color,
and white, rolling my eyes,
is for weddings, and waiters,
and you,

like snow falling soft,
on your breath,
you were laughing,
like snow falling soft,
on your breath,

in my gray woolen,
glitter driven silver denim,
with matching boots,
sparkle dust in my beard,
dancing from one
button tight conversation
to another, all the while,

like snow falling soft,
on your breath,
you were laughing,
like snow falling soft,
on your breath,

I caught you,
beneath the mistletoe,
and jazz, laughing,
in red and white ivory,
gray eyes flashing,
never quite as simple,

as snow falling soft,
on your breath- laughing.

12-19 A Wrinkle In The Icing

I cleaned the dishes,
scrubbed the dried egg off,
while the rain washed the windows,
for me, watching,
two housewives,
taking the garbage out,
tying the bag tight enough,
so the banana peels don't slip out,
wiping the drippings off of the floor,
careful cleaning his pan out,
with soft utensils, as requested,
pausing for a moment,
to watch the finches gather in horde,
pecking at the smoked worm patte,
before picking up scraps of santa and
plaid paper and wiping up the remnants of
an evening smoke on his table,
when I noticed a wrinkle in the icing
on the gingerbread cookie I left at his place,
frowning, I went to look at it closer,
but the imperfections of my movement,
broke the head off,
I panicked,
thinking he would notice,
running the gauntlet of his responses,
in my head from the gentle back pat,
to the concerned smoking stick of his lips,
judging, the growling crescendo of a bear
in a honey's hive, or the indifference of a
stale cookie left to usher in the new year,
I panicked,
thinking he would notice,
the finches gathering again in their horde,
mewling at the window, the rain
slapping insults and hushes upon the deck,
the scraps of paper left on the table curling,
the balls of smoke blurring, smudging,
the eggs cracked and drying, and I,
a once-again house-wife,
a once-again house-wife,
sitting on the floor near the heater vent,
apron strings tied,
thinking he would notice,
the wrinkle in the icing.

12-18 The Sparrow And The Prince

from my hands,
the heart, cupped,
as a sparrow,
singing, low and soft,
into the night,
your soft brown eyes,
calling him,
calling him,
as your own,
but you've no hands,
to hold him,
you've no hands,
but feathers for fingers,
to sew as his wings,
but no hands,
how then shall he fly ?
why then should he sing?
my sparrow,
in the shadows,
of my palms,
without his wings,
how then shall he fly?
without his heart,
why then should he sing?
still your soft brown eyes,
call to him, sparrow,
they say,
palms open,
I wait for him to fly to you,
I wait for him to sing,
sparrow,
but you've no hands
to hold him,
no hands,
to sew his wings on,
I wait for him to fly,
I wait for him,
wanting him to sing,
but,
all I have to give him,
is a spool of silver thread,
and a melody,
without your hands,
I cannot fly,
without your hands,
I cannot sing,
but instead listen,
to your soft brown eyes calling,
a sparrow,
low and soft,
into the night,
hoping one day,
palms open, heart,
he answers back.

12-17 Sober

two twists of lemon rind,

squeeze,

five shots of vodka,

soda water, sprayed

ice...

4, 3, 2, 1

I am the fairy god mother.

I am the fairy god mother.

The prince has lost his tie,

and doesn't know where,

I found it, I found it,

Cinderella, Cinderella,

Stop the masquerade!

Every mask a glass paper,

wrong ball, ever-after,

can't begin till all,

return their hearts to me,

at the Grand,

hit it, sister,

1, 2, 3, 4,

Lucky, I am the fairy,

godmother, send, STOP,

I am the fairy,

raining ivory, from the sky,

I am the fairy,

shouting it out,

raining ivory, from the sky,

lucky to be a fairy,

raining ivory, raining, 

always raining,

SLAM!

phone dies...

ghosts of pbr past, enter,

beards as low gray brooms,

sweep tats and biceps,

off the voodoo floor,

lit the wind, blows,

low,

lit the wind, blows,

rustling fingers on the voodoo floor,

oh?

hugs, kisses, oh my's,

we are the sisters of the

midnight men,

stealing kisses,

hugs,

from the oh my's

of the midnight men,

we are the,

Fairy Godmothers

at the Prince's ball,

never the Cinderella,

buy me a bottle of wine,

slip me a glass, sister,

and we'll tell you,

how lucky we are,

to be

(bridge)

wait for it, 

wait for it...

raining ivory.

12-16 Catfight at the Man Store

the shark-man,

circling the store,

smelled blood

on my petticoat,

I flipped and flitted

about the shelves

as innocent,

as a clown fish

ignoring the looming shadow,

that smiled at me,

with hungry teeth,

you would look fantastic in tweed,

the shark-man said,

of course so would I,

he murmured,

looking longingly at the strip of 

golden amber fabric,

I won't cat fight you for it,

I squeaked, spitting bubbles,

his eyes lit up,

but I will,

and he grinned,

showing me a cavern of white shards,

gleaming in the dark,

I reached out to take the fabric,

concerned the way his eyes unspun

the amber threads that formed around my chest,

but soon ignored, for the vest,

was an adjective on me.

I gleamed, a flash in the recesses,

of this forgotten part of the sea,

he circled closer,

you should, I would, 

booming a silky bass,

behind my shoulder 

as if to bite of the buttons,

one by one that bound me,

I flinched, and turned around,

but he was gone, ripples tickling,

a shiver down my backside,

the vest came off.

12-15 Form

Conte crayon,
blurring a harshly,
driven line, bleeding,
through curves downward,
rust forming, torn,
hands softly,
coaxing, graceful,
circles undoing,
brushes stroking,
becoming,
curves, lines-
form


 

12-14 Mr. Snow and I Have A Conversation

the weather outside is frightful,
right?!
but the fire is so delightful,
hmmm,
but since there's no place to go,
it should,
stop,
please,
I don't know,
let it,
(sigh)
snow.

it's not me your kissing goodnight,
right?!
but you gotta go out in the storm,
hmmm,
but the longer you hold him tight,
(sigh)
all the way home you'll be warm...

that fire is slowly dying,
right?
and maybe it's time I was good-byeing,
hmmm,
but since there's no place to go,
it should,
well,
please,
maybe,
let it,
(sigh),
SNO-ow!

12-13 Laurelhurst Meat Market

you've got crazy,
unbuttoning down your chest,
in the casual bulge of your forearms,
gesturing wicked,
while you flash the waiter,
your pan-sizzling eyes,
ordering him up and down,
the meat rare,
thick, as you flick,
your thoughts,
sparking the
over flowing,
champagne,
into a frothy
cacophony
of a
boy.

12-12 Sugar Bloated Plum

I'm a sugar bloated plum,
waddling- fairy boy
wet with the morning,
after-dew encrusted,
should have eaten spinach,
but didn't codpiece in white tights blues,
da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, plop,
a half-hearted butter melting yawn,
sprinkled with silver, tarnished,
glittering, muted make-up,
cookie-cutter circles smudged,
under the eyes, hands reaching out,
to the fluorescent, all too-gether,
light bright cringing halo, of a perfect
flour-less swoop of a half-remembered-attempted step,
da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, braaaaagh, blart.
boo. fairy wand in plumped-over hand waving.
whatever-boo.

12-11 Slap and Tickle

slap.
not right and right not,
walked down an alley,
neon signs blaring rainbows,
christmas lights hung like nooses,
from  their eyes, when
tickle, slap, tickle
the ghost of the christmas past,
said He-ey,
oh no you didn't girl,
and slapped the shit out of right not,
while not right, smoked the tobacco stick,
green laughter curling from his lips,
tickle, slap, tickle,
it's for your own good,
he said zipping his leather up,
slap, slap, slap,
not so fast, sister,
the ghost of christmas present,
showed up with a hurricane of blizzards,
roaring the fury of a thousand sunrises,
blaring headlights into not rights eyes,
tickle, slap, tickle,
with this ring, I thee,
right not, laughed, and laughed, and cried,
and laughed, spanking the crazy,
out of his cocoa sprinkled eyes,
slap, tickle, slap,
it's for your own good,
when,
slap, slap,
what was that?
slap, slap, tickle
not right and right not looked at each other,
slap, tickle, slap,
where the fuck was that coming from?
then clap,
clap, clap, clap, clap,
a slow crescendo of a clap,
tickled the back of their spines,
and slap,
went their feet on the pavement,
running, laughing, running,
out of breath they stopped,
beneath a wreath strangled lamppost,
where snow fell,
not right shifted uncomfortable,
right not, looked up at the winding snow
the halo from the lamplight,
glowed dark around them into the night,
silence fell around them, breath frozen in pastry puffs,
slap,
not right hit right not's shoulder,
slap, tickle, slap,
right not smiled-

it's for your own good.

12-10 Kindred (Introducing Mr. Champagne)

if you ask me why,
today I will lie to you,
and point at the sky,
remarking, on the way
the snow fell, twice,
while I divert your attention,
with talk about angels,
snowmaking men,
but,

if you ask me twice,
today, I will hesitate,
looking away from,
your smile that wants to be,
careful, but can't hide either,
from your soft ,
almost sunrise eyes,
while I divert your attention,
with talk about sisters,
soul-catching their mountains,
but,

if you ask me again,
today, you might hear,
in the after-silence,
the small hush of my heart,
watching you walk away,
the tiddly-pom of it's beat,
whispering to me,
while I divert my attention,
with the first notes,

of an almost-forgotten winter,
song.

12-09 Uncomfortable

the day and I,
seemed,
at odds, as if,
the room shrunk it's corners,
and placed them where his arms should be,
he kept trying to hug me,
and hug me, and hug me,
and I, bruised easily, running into the corners,
so,
we stared at each other instead,
counting the hours till we,
didn't have to see we anymore,
growing impatient with our careful plodding,
a minute by minute pantomime of a routine,
that both hated-agreed upon,
but felt necessary,
to bite the illusion back,
that nothing had changed,
but yet,
something was different in the way,
he not-looked at me, and I side-backed at him,
something was off-odd,
and I itched to be gone,
but couldn't-
married, matched, and made,
so I lied next to him in bed,
and stared at the ceiling,
feeling his heat dry the skin out of my eyes,
forced into a crawl between his lips,
and prayed,
for the long impossible scratched out sleep,
to steal his breath away.

12-08 And It's Monday Again

Mrs. O'Hara sat at the kitchen table with me,
clicking her scarlet-drip-painted fingernails together,
musing with her wide mouth, eyes almost laughing,
looking pity at me and my curtain-less house,
the cold wrapped around my shoulders like
an ill-advised bought-out-of-passion stole,
sweetie, she said, putting down her steaming mug,
of southern comfort and bitters,
apple dripping from her words,
sweetie, tomorrow it will be,
Monday, it will always be, 
tomorrow, sweetie...
the stars that blushed in my eyes, sighed,
in bluesy sky-falling harmony,
right?! I said,
shrugging off my peppermint pink pinwheel moment,
with the ease and care,
of a once dreamed upon shimmering silver dress,
what are we going to do?
Mrs. O'Hara laughed, choking, on the effervescent,
champagne of her kissed-want me lips,
oh sweetie, what Can we do?

12-07 If Only In My Dreams

the champagne, effervescence,
of my hand, moving with my heart,
in song, a year ago,
make a wish,
snow falling,
in my head, in my hand, in my heart,
snow falling,
blow a kiss,
a year later, moving my heart,
with my hand, in the champagne, effervescence,
of a song

12-06 Sisters Of The Parting Glass

cinderella sisters,
ain't no pumpkins crashing,
at this after-party ball,
one could get used to our,
bibidee- bobidee- bam,
of drinking to heaven's-deprived,
Prince-o' the charming's last rain-stained call,
screw him and his glass slipper,
strike midnight in our patent leather heels,
order up some whiskey and teardrops,
for tonight we diva this princess west-o' the chills,
and if you should fall and I should rise,
well then sister, sweetie, I love you,
but get off your fairytale ass,
pick yourself the f'up,
order up another round,
drink to our health,
then slam down, and shatter,
your parting glass-

cheers.

12-05 Opening Night

it might have been the mistletoe...

or the way, his voice,
in the afterglow,
brought out in us a song,
how will we ever know,

Oh let it snow, please let it snow, yes, let it snow,

there was magic in the air last night,
our frozen flakes glittering in the sky,
when we heard his voice, the holy night,
the way he sang, to all good night,
the way he danced, with hands of light,
the sparkle in his twinkling eye,
the crisp white snap of his bow-tie,
the flash of silver when he sung on high,
and then...

champagne,

in the cold and bitter,
wind and winter sky,
you...

champagne,
and I,

it might have been the mistletoe...

oh let it snow, please let it snow, yes let it.

snow.

12-04 Rehearsal

nine,
flitting combat ballerinas bouncing,
eight,
shimmering, shammering, shimming, shazamming, sisters-of-agnus-dei
seven,
ways to sway, swoon, swan, snow, sally, say,
six,
measures of oh-my-god-just-breathe-through-the-magnum-oh
five,
men whirling, swirling, to the rafters, ringing, singing, hi-ya-hi-ya-hi-ya-
four,
comrades that ere I've known da-dahing champagne into their glass
three,
drummers beating out a rose on the holiest of nights,
two,
maestros waving maniacal mysterious ministrations of majesty-most-marvelous,
and
one...
reaching out his tiny hand...

Happy New Year!
(black-out)

12-03 Advice For Vincent

love,
I guess that is my advice,
love, though I feel a bit like,
Merriweather, or Flora, or Fauna,
my wand hesitates,
searching for a gift to bestow...
looking for storms,
but all I see in your future is sunshine,
It's enough,
to keep the dragons,
whatever they be at bay,
and a few dragons are healthy,
especially the kind that own bookstores,
reading into the dark of the evening,
with wire-rimmed glasses,
but I babble,
so sunshine and love,
what more could you want?
hmmm, let's do this,
beautiful boy, the gift I give,
is memory, in case you ever forget,
you are sunshine and love,
share it with the world, sweetie,
sing it out,
that's how it's done,
sunshine and love.

12-02 Gloria

I wonder,
if you walked the empty stage,
of the Newmark Theatre,
hearing, ghosts singing,
calling out your name,
a choir of footsteps,
rhythmically answering,
gloria, gloria.
Did you turn around,
to see if anyone was there?
Or did you continue walking up
and down dusting awake the aisles,
counting the notes in your palms-
were they all there?
When you felt his hand on your shoulder,
whispering, as he always has,
in your ear, a,
gloria, gloria,
I wonder then,
what you did?
How did you know,
it was him?

gloria, gloria,
deo.

12-01 Mele My Kalimaka, Right?

Glitz me,
glamour me,
babe, swing my hips,
sway to the gay,
play, way,
I say,

Stay.
Don't stray.
All these tropical holidays,
have me,
hold me,
swoon, fold, and sashay,
me, away,
but, you,
oh, you
continue to,

smack those lips,
crack those whips,
sleigh bells, hell, silver,
spangles, glitter, glow,
don't you know,
back to you, then to me,
then to you, and oh,
babe,

should I,
will you,
can you,
mele my kalimaka?

11-30 Laughter

There was laughter in the air,

Something different,

Something new to wear,

Laughter in the air,

I was laughing,

Walking down the square,

Something lighter in the air,

Had me walking down the square,

With someone new, with someone old,

A change of pace, a piece of gold,

There was me,

And I thought,

for a moment,

I heard laughter in the air,

for a moment,

there was laughter in the air,

walking down the square,

lighter than,

for a moment,

for a moment,

you were there.

Could it be?

Could this moment,

Really see,

Something new, a way,

For somehow to possibly be,

Could it now,

Could somehow,

Have found a way, today

 Somehow, someway, I carry, today,

 A  new familiar, tune, When I feel, the way I do?

Could it be,

For a moment,

Could it be,

You.

There was laughter in the air,

Something new,

Laughter in the air,

For a moment,

Something new,

Something familiar,

Was laughing in my ear,

Someone familiar,

Was telling me,

You were near,

For a moment,

For a moment,

Someone familiar,

Was laughing in the air,

Laughing, and I swear,

For a moment,

It was. You. 

11-29 The Prodigal Son

Thank you.

You gave it back.

Kinds of hurts though,

to feel it beating again.

I can feel your handprints,

frozen, around the edges.

Out of love, of course,

always out of love.

Thank you, though,

I missed, this, I missed…

There’s more I want to say to you,

but I am shy,

but there’s this thing you do,

when you,

the way you turn around and look at me,

as if to say, I had it all along.

I was a fool, kind of,

to give it to you,

but, you held it anyway.

Time has tempered your patience too.

I grew a new one in your absence.

I know you heard it,

All the way up here.

I couldn't help it.

Don’t be mad,

but it was missing this song of yours.

It needs this.

I need this.

Do you think we’ll be friends again?

I can feel yours beating through your chest,

You who loved me first,

I can feel yours.

You who loved me,

and let me love you.

First.

It does feel good to be-

Home.

11-28 Hey Girl, Your A Firework.

It's better to be a turkey today,
than yesterday.

These are the thoughts,
running randomly through my head,
as I snap on the rubber gloves,
preparing to go deep,
got a sixty-nine pound-er this year at Costco,
perfect holy cavity cathedral of god,
it's too bad, we don't get to see the o-face,
this birds gonna love this Crisco slinging'
swashbucklin', leather strappin' bronco of  gay man.

This year, I had a different plan.
Out with the bread crumbs, the pastry flakes,
the carrots, the mushrooms, the olives,
the celery stalks, the I shouldn't have paired
the cranberries with pine nuts and squash surprise,
the,

Oh SNAP!
Dyno-mite, baby- is GLUTEN-FREE!

This will be the  practical, penultimate, poignant moment,
of instant perfection, the oh-my-god,
of turkey day pent-up temper-tantrics.

This is my ode,
to a bird that refuses to masticate and moisturize,
requiring a dearth of chemicals, fats,
cologne, and pretty dresses to at least
get it to prom night,
before basting the hell out of it,
promising, promising,
heaven is only a few hours away,
just save those drippings honey,
cause you're gonna need them,
when you get to those pearly porcelain white platter,
splattering on the smock gates,

you think Peter likes his Turkey dry?

he too serves his guests with a wham-bam-thank-you-mam,
brown, crispy, and rosemary babi-fied slam
while choking the beast,
in it's own butter,
keep it moist,
cackles the screaming,
pornographic crazy driven devil of a man,
that is NOT going to be me.

Not me this year, not me.
Not taking part in that fetish-filled festivity of flesh.
Nothings gonna be crazy about this idea.

Today, the bird of all birds, the divine mother of feathers,
finds glory, hallelujah,
in a resounding chorus of  YES!
this is the A-men, to end your Gloria's, your Excelsious Deo's,
your Hit-This-Baby-One-More-Time with your Jiggling-Cocoa-Puffs-Get-Me-To-The-Church-On-Time-Pop-Over's!

Today, I take back the table for my own!
Today, I cry,

This is the salt of my earth,
This is the rise of my bread,
This is the day I ripens my peach blossoming panty preserves,
This is the day.
I will not go quietly into this night,
I will not surrender these oven mitts without a fight,
I will not...

now it says here to tie the strings in a criss-cross pattern,
so the legs are perpendicular pointing to the ceiling, begin,
by rolling the turkey over, and placing him gently on his back...

who wrote this shit,
f- this, six hour love-fest,
I got a buck-o-five of freedom
that says, this one's gonna be a quickie,

now where did I put that gallon sized potato gun,
it's time to Katy Perry this bird into the sky.

11-27 Curl Into Me

curl into me sweetie,
the night is cold,
we tried,
but it's you and I,
it seems,
tonight,
best gift ever,
damn your frat,
cupcakin' sweet-ass soul,
does everything in my life have to
smell like,
sigh,
both of us are,
pillow lovers, cuddlers,
furry, long-time into the night,
candle readin', belly rubbers,
what a pair,
luv- ya,
curl into me.

11-26 Bird's Nest

Bird's nest,
sparrows fly,
sing.

feather, straw,
smoke, and hair,
bird's nest,
sparrows fly,
sing.

out of the chimney,
into the night,
away from the light,
hidden in sight,
feather, straw,
smoke, and hair,
bird's nest,
sparrow's fly,
sing.

take these wings,
fragile things,
out of the chimney,
into the night,
away from the light,
hidden in sight,
feather, straw,
smoke, and hair,
bird's nest,
sparrow's fly,
you and I.

Sing.

11-25 A Wenzlless Thanksgiving (a funeral dirge)

It was the night before midnight,
when from under my bed,
I heard a plunky rustling,
as if something had woken the dead.

I looked for my Tater,
who should be all snuggled and snore,
but all I could find,
was a slobbery receipt,
from the nearby hemp-it-up music store.

The plunky turned funky,
at first with a laugh,
then a whiffling waffle,
like old men passing stale gas.

Horrified but intrigued,
I hid in my sheets,
fetal-ed into a ball,
cursing my unwashed flip-flopped cold feet.

The wheezing and whining got louder and brass,
and as crass as this sounds,
it was either face that, or my garlic-pizza eating...

So I poked my head out, who's there?
whimpering a try of a shout,
but only the moon, bloated, and bleary,
cast me a wild eye of indignant, incredulous, doubt.

Tater, I clucked, quietly to myself,
Tater... listening for the clink,
of her collar and tags,
but only the wind,
scratched and schreeched, out-of-sync,

a croak, caught in my throat,
I fell silent, insert a joke here about wanting a goat,
cause I have and it rhymes, with throat and with float, but,

The silence was brief, about a waist thirty two,
seconds, then blaring, a fog-raging barge from out of the blue-

there rose a great beast,
one, or perhaps, two,
bulges were bouncing, blasting their booms,
but my eyes and my brain couldn't, didn't want to in general assume,


So I yawned, closed my eyes, and said screw-all, gave up,
when the beast snorted, a familiar sort of sea-lion,
plush, toasted, and fried, gentle up-chuck-
Get Up!

Tater! I cried flipping on the light,
immediately the words, oh-so-not-right,
fright, sight, oh-my-god, why, shite,
came to my fragile, muddled, midnight-mash
of a mind,

Tied to her back and floating in the air,
were bevy of  squeak-inducing balloons,
pinks, reds, yellows, and blues,
small dogs, large dogs, one zebra, and a prancing moose.


But that I could handle, sort of,
my dog is unique,
but it was the bagpipes she clutched,
that turned my knees weak.

Licking her chops, as if spying a bird,
she raised one of her eyebrows, and started playing a dirge.

I cringed, and clawed my way further under the sheets
watching the show, not knowing what to think.

She paraded around the room, with a definitive air,
Turkey in the Straw, some Bach, and I thought I heard,
some off-color Santa Claus tune,
that had her dancing and jiggling,
in a zoo-ish strip-tease parade of balloons.

I blushed, when she stopped,
and proceed to point,
to the ceiling,
wagging her tail,
glorious saliva, dripping, grinning,


looking up slowly,
unsure what I would see,
she had taken her dog food,
and written,

I love you, (sometimes)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

11-24 Pub Crawl

If I should rise, and you should fall...

I have to remind myself,
these are boys,
singing a men's hymn,
when I watch their shadows,
form shoulders and shapes familiar,
on the wall, practicing,
to be men singing-

was this tune meant for
such clean-shaven fools as us?

or have we become too serious,
in our attempts to stand in the pub?

when did the song wear a silver tie,
without a slur in the words,
to spill on the counter?

I am not ready to be old.
I am not ready.

11-23 Off The Printed Page

Snow.

When I asked for you to fall,
you brought me blue skies,
clear as day, filled with an over
abundance of,

Sunshine.

When I welcomed you in,
you brought me a storm,
a weather of hurricanes,
as rage and intensity,
scared I hid,
in a den with a

Behr.

when I woke up next to you,
and roared frightened,
you roared frightened too,
neither of us prepared,
neither of us knowing what to do,
and so I left,
when Autumn came,
whispering to me of Winter,
and

Song.

but  I stumbled in the sudden,
blinding sunshine bright, snowstorm,
that roared in my ears, outside in the woods,
so brambled, I

turned around to see who dared to follow,
but there were only my footprints,
in the Autumn leaves.
I was alone. Again.

but I haven't forgotten you.
I know you read these words,
I haven't forgotten you.
This is about you too.

Valentine.

when I asked you brought me dance and candlelight,
and you

Adorable.

before I could ask you brought me dance and candlelight,
and

You.

for a brief moment of yesterday, You shall remain unnamed,
but on the keys, so lightly playing, I thought I heard You,
lightly playing a song of dance and candlelight,
You.

but, as they say, ever popular, ever wise,
Winter is coming, and I am looking for Song,
off the printed page...

and I must go,
where the snow falls for me,
the sunshine warms me,
the behr's hold me,

but you, until that winter day comes,
keep lightly playing,
a song of dance and candlelight,

while I wait for the snow to fall,
somewhere, softly,
in my heart, a prayer for Song.

11-22 The Day I Tried To

wake up,
but instead watched the spiders crawl,
slowly across my ceiling,
spinning blue threads into gray,
into gold, into gray, into rose,
blooming all the while,
their nest, forming
and hatching,
tiny insecurities, thirsty
scratching, caught in their
mother's web, spinning into blue,
into gray, into gold, into rose,
sewing my eyes, thirsty,
spinning into blue,
into gray,
into gold,
into rose,
spinning.

11-21 In The Hall Of Dreams

you wrapped me in a white shroud,
carried me,
up the steps,
light as butterfly wings,
scabbard worn,
down a long, stretching, hallway,
where you tried to say goodbye,
so I could sleep,
deep within the hall of dreams,
starlight, dropping from my eyes,
I wasn't awake,
to see you hesitate,
before laying me down,
roses blooming on my forehead,
hot, you looked up,
and they, shook their heads,
gray robes, blue-black glass eyes,
fury gathering in their shadows,
you looked down, hand on my stomach,
petals, footsteps, petals,
then no more,
the stairs returning,
winding away into the dark,
and you, sighed, striking a lantern,
- home.

11-20 Now Hold Still

reality slips me a roofie,
takes a razor blade,
and starts, scraping,
with his razor blade, scraping
the skin falling from my face,
when he stops, and says,

son,
breathe,
it ain't that bad,
everybody cries when it rains,

grinning wide, with his parched lips,
bleeding,
crackling,
it ain't that bad.

now hold still.

11-19 Grobleymah

Pshaw, sweetie,
tomorrow's for amateurs,
anyone can dream,
anyone,

but it takes, grobleymah,
to get out of bed,
and shut the window,
when the bedroom is
FREEZING,
even though your toes,
are comfortable in the fuzzy,
just waking up sleep,
of warm,
even though your toes,
are comfortable,
even though...

IT IS STILL FREEZING!

Pshaw, anyone can dream,
but you, sir, you

get up, and shut the damn window,
I'm cold. 

(rolling over)

amateurs.

11-18 Last Night When The Turkey Exploded

last night, I heard a voice,

when the wind blew down the trees,

in tune with the rain,

maybe it was you?

who gathered around the table, chips,

salsa feathers flying, all my misters,

clucking, chortling, turkeys at the feast,

conversations on a viola playing,

ginger-bread men, giggling,

sunshine teasing in her ruby slippers, 

even the quiet, drama-turg, clicked her heels 

commenting on the gravy, 

while others passed the potatoes,

showing off their guns,

remarking on the winter weather,

listening to the clarkified jazz spinning,

on the turn table,

whiskey in the glass,

whiskey in the glass,

all the pretty lasses,

whiskey in the glass,

all the while, inside,

where the heart rested,

the snow fell, in sugary flakes,

glistening, where I gathered,

them all in red, preened my hatching feathers,

one for each, a song, a poem, a mister, 

and one for me,

one,

(flash, snap, pop)

fade,

last night I heard a voice,

when the credits rolled through the trees,

in tune with the rain, calling,

maybe it was you,

maybe it was you.

11-17 Blah, Blah, Blah

blah, blah, blah,
drama,
blah, blah, blah,
drama,
blah,
blah, blah, blah, blah,
drama, drama,
blah, blah, bla-

yeah, it irritates
the shit out of me too.

11-16 I Know Him So Well

I want to write this,
in a way that doesn't give him credit,
so you all know I didn't go crazy,
at the end of the fairy tale,
that I wasn't the villain,
but I don't know anymore,

villain, lover, fool,

is he even real?
who can tell?

All I know,
is I sat on a park bench,
waiting for him to sit down,
waiting for his hand,
but he didn't sit down,
he didn't offer his hand,

instead he watched me,
smoke curling between his fingers,
while he yelled, afraid of the monster
he created,
Frankenstein doesn't cry,
get up, 

but I didn't want to.

I wanted him to see and not see this,
this is me with you and not with you,
this is me.

Who knows anymore?
Who does he see?

villain, lover, fool,

Why doesn't he just sit down,
take me hand, and say okay,
nothing more, just one word,
it's all I ever wanted,

touch.

I'm afraid,
he doesn't know how.

either he is afraid like me,
or he doesn't know me,
as well as I know him,

perhaps,
there's his word again,
perhaps.

11-15 Andrew's Finishing School For Eligible Young Men

Bam. Bam. Snap.
Sizzle. Pop. Thrust.

I didn't do it.
Well...

not to go Chicago on all your asses,
but,

the wham bam, thank you,
hey girl,
doesn't work,
if you can't skillet-fry,
the omellete morning after
seduction, construction,
even if you can perform,
the over-the-bed-post,
formation, function,
you've gotta have
the hand held,
breaths between the counting,
cello conversation, with the hands,
holding, you've gotta have,
what HE offers,

at least that's what the brochure says,
read here:

simple gifts,
yellow mums in a vase,
texts that chase,
notes from a snowfall in June,
chain-link rainwater pulls, wanting,
to live forever, forever,
and the hands,
that give simple gifts
without asking,
with the cello, always humming,
always holding, always moving,
constant songs, into the hours,
counting the breaths,
as simple gifts, in his hands,

hmmmm.

so.
yep. Bam. Sigh. Snap.

I've put my viola in a case,
sewed buttons on my jeans,
found my o-voice, so I can sing,

they say, HE says,
you can be carefully taught,
but I don't know,
the hills are alive and all that jazz,
but HIS eye in on the sparrow,

Sizzle. Pop.
Bam. Bam. Sigh.

and lord knows,
this bird can sing.

11-14 Brother

Gift.
Coke bottle smile.
One hour.

they never grow up,
but they do,
pea coat, bangs,
coke bottle smile.
One hour.

hands folded,
in comfort food,
this is for you
as much as
they never grow up,
but they do,
pea coat, bangs,
coke bottle smile.
One hour.

Gift.

11-13 Mr. Shakespeare rewrites "Hey Girl."

Hey Girl!

Hey Girl!

Mr. Snow has lost his keys,

and doesn't know where to find them.

Hey Girl!

What's a girl to do?

Hey Girl!

Hey Girl!

Mr. Sunshine has stolen his keys,

and doesn't know where to find them.

Hey Girl!

What's a girl to do?

Hey Girl!

Hey Girl!

Mr. Autumn thought he had his keys,

and doesn't know where to find them.

Hey Girl!

What's a girl to do?

Hey Girl!

Hey Girl!

Mr. Shakespeare. 

Tell us please.

Where are his keys? Where are his keys?

Mr. Shakespeare.

Tell us please.

We don't know where to find them?

Hey Girl!

What's a girl to do?

Hey Girl!

Hey Girl!

What's a girl to do?

11-12 One Year In The City of Roses (or how I learned to flirt with boys)

So,

he leans over to me, pen tapping on his clipboard, tapping, tapping,
on his clipboard tapping, leaning over to me, in a devil of a whisper tapping,
on his clipboard, tapping, the devil in his whisper, leaning over me…  

why’d you leave?

Dim lights, spotlight, viola, papercut snowflakes falling, across the stage,

falling as men as women as men as women sashaying in purple, sashaying in blue,
sashaying in purple, sashaying in blue, sashaying as men, sashaying as women as men
as women as men as snowflakes, 

papercut, snowflakes, falling, falling, snowflakes,

Stop. (I reply)

Slipping on a glass slipper.

I start,  

tapping, tapping, on the stage, tapping, tapping, on the stage, in a glass slipper,
sunshine, fading, my slipper, tapping, tapping, on the glass, tapping, tapping,
in the glass,on the glass, in the glass, on the glass, papercut snowflakes, falling,
on the glass, in the glass, falling, falling, sunshine,
fading,

You wouldn't, couldn't,  believe,

if, but, I,

am, and, I,

One year ago, and a year,

ago there was a ranger,

spinning, on a glass, spinning,

cracks forming, in the ice,

forming cracks, beneath his slippers,

glass spinning, cracks forming,

beneath his slippers, broke.

The heart awoke, broke,

the heart awake, broke,

the heart, the ranger, the hat,

the mountain, oh mountain,

oh stars, bears, and rainbows,

the heart, the ranger, the hat,

broke. 

Spinning on the glass, broke,

spinning between the cracks, spinning,

broke, he felt, the cracks,

spinning, slipping on the glass, broke,

the heart, awake, awoke.

in a city of thorns, roses

in a city of thorns, crowns,

princess, slippers, and kings,

thorns, crowns, swords,

princes, slippers, and queens,

a city of roses, roses for the

queen, roses for the bear,

roses for the sparrow, roses and he,

broke, the hat, the ranger, the heart,

the ranger, the bear, the hat,

the heart, the heart, the heart,

awake. 

Awoke, queens, couldn't speak,

tried to sing, couldn't sing,

tried to speak, couldn't speak,

couldn't sing, couldn't speak,

tried to sing, tried to speak,

found he could sing,

he could sing as the bear,

the heart, could sing,

as a bear, he could sing.

With the bear, as the bear,

with the queens, as a queen,

with the bear, he could sing, 

he could speak, he could walk, he could SING!

could he dance?

Could he dance, if the chance,

had blue eyes that could dance,

in the snow, falling, falling,

papercut snowflakes, falling, falling,

snowflakes, could he dance?

In the sunshine, starshine,

in the sunshine, starshine,

papercut snowflakes, falling, falling,

starshine, sunshine, starshine,

blue eyes, he had blue eyes, that

could dance.

Given the chance,

he had blue eyes, blue eyes,

viola blue eyes, smiling, papercut,

snowflakes, falling, falling,

in the sunshine, falling, falling

in the sunshine, growing,

drying, thirsty in the sunshine,

crying, salt, crying, thirsty, in the sunshine,

drying, crying, dying, in the sunshine,

papercut, snowflakes, falling, falling,

not his.

In the city of roses,

city of rainshine, sunshine,

city of rainshine, roses, not his,

papercuts, falling, falling, not his,

sunshine, snowflakes, thorns, crowns, 

princes, and kings, awake.

Awoke, awake the lords, the heart,

awake, awoke, in the woods,

in the roses, sparrows, flying, flown,

through, the heart, through the rain,

through the city, falling, falling,

through the sparrows,  flying, flown,

the heart, the valentine, the mister, the bear,

the sparrow can sing, the sparrow can sing,

the bear, the sparrow can sing,

 in the city of roses, city of rainshine,

sunshine, oh the stars, the sparrow can Sing!

As apple, stone, autumn, falling,

falling, papercut in the woods, falling, falling,

the bear, in the roses, falling, falling, 

wake the heart, the apple, the stone, the bear,

autumn, in the woods, in the roses,

awake, believe, awake, in the roses,

believe, 

you.

papercut snowflakes falling, falling,

you

and I,

lean back in my chair, with a smile on my face, smiling, leaning back in my chair, 

flirtatious smile on my face, three buttons down, leaning back in my chair,
with a smile on my face, three buttons down, smiling, sashaying in blue, smiling,
sashaying, smiling, sashaying, three buttons down,

smiling,
careful now,

devil’s in the whisper, smiling.

11-11 Mr. Sunshine Goes On Holiday

It might have been the scarf.

perhaps,
one will never know.

but I think.
and I,
have opinions,
on the subject,
of such-a-thing,

having partied with them all,
at the monday night sing-sung ball,
oh those sunshines and misters,
those effervescent sort,
of champagne kissers,

sigh.

something was different,
something had changed,
something about his heart,
had turned away from a-stranged,

perhaps it was love,
perhaps,
one could say,
perhaps that's what he felt,
in that crooked sort of way,

perhaps,
when he's ready to sing,
when he's parting his lips,
to say as if...

in the liquid drip,
of his golden after glow smiling.
perhaps.

but whatever it was,
and it definitely was,
something was different,
something was...

all the rage,
he was like a bird, out of a cage,
like a bird, who discovered his cage,
like a bird he was of new age,

perhaps,

perhaps,
that's what it was,
like a bird,
who found his feathers to be full,
who found his feathers to be FULL!

full of fluff,
full of gay,
full of!

what more can I possibly say,
except,

that something was different,
something was,
or someone was,
perhaps.

a holiday.

11-10 I Love You

three words,
and a ring.
this is how the poem goes.

the first time
I yelled,
three words,
over the phone,
it didn't ring,

again,
this is how the poem goes.

the second time,
I gossiped,
three words,
with a napkin,
then folded it, no ring,

again,
this is how the poem goes.

the third time,
I sang,
three words,
to a choir,
as a bell, ringing,

again,
this is how the poem goes.

three words,
and a ring.

11-9 Idle Prattle

like butter,
idle prattle,
slipping in easily,
commenting as,
busy green buds,
bloom chattering,
from bubbles rising,
in effervescent slices
of apples, beef,
hot-medium,
sizzling really's,
pretend oh's,
but mostly,
the sound of one hen,
farting continuously,
while knitting with his words,
ruffling ink,
from his feathers,
admist, the symphonic din,
of his kernels popping,
on hot pavement,
f- is it the collapse already,
chortling,
to the wind in particular,
one pink eye,
raving mad,
the other,
like butter,
drowning,
from the sky upwards,
is it raining again?

11-8 But

but.
you laid your hand on my stomach,
so I could sleep,
for that I forgive you.
for that I forgive you.

but,
the other,
the demon,
who looked in me,
at told me I was pretty,
I was sexy,
I was-

he could want,
that man,
that not-man,
I don't want to forgive him,
I was naked in the candle-light,
and I don't want,
to forgive him,
for reminding me I was,
naked to him, lying in the candle-light,
lying to,
that not-man,

but,
he breathes within your hand lying
on my stomach,
as your hand,
and I can,
forgive him too,
I forgive him too,

but,
it's why,
I can't be,
with you.

11-7 Beautiful To Me (Reprise)

You are a beautiful,
but imperfect man.

Is that what makes you,
beautiful to me,
when your imperfections,
rise as your shoulders,
out of the steam,
carved from a wooden trough,
where you sit idly sculpting,
your words as they form,
rings into the dripping sky,
aware of the way,
your body rests,
in the cradle of your,
carefully placed,
ritual of rose and tear water,
incense, listening to the wind,
move restlessly outside,
always knocking,
on your door,
pushing you to stand in the corner,
cracks dripping down into your,
soft crevices,
flirting with your shadows,
like your smile,
beautiful to me.

But like your shadow,
that slips between,
the turns away and to,
melting as the candlelight,
forming, shadows...

who is this man,
you pretend to be?
How can you still be,
beautiful to me?

idle rain sighs rumors,
into my ears,
beautiful to me,
I whisper to no one in particular,
beautiful to me.

11-6 It's National Hug Your Elephant Day!

it bores me,

to write it down,

but I should,

and so,

to memorialize this,

average, ordinary, day-

a small haiku,

man singing softly,

two duets in five/ four time,

rain falling constant

hmm. right?

but if you were to count the olives on my fingers,

idly tapping my empty plate, at last, late night,

you too, would wonder, why the herd,

was quiet. Maybe this is how it is in the Oswego Savannah?

11-5 They Already Ate The Children

Have you ever met a hangover Raven?

gorged, bulging, bellies, constantly hungered?
Let me show you mine...

Oh look, they already ate the children,
you can see a few pieces, scraps, afterbirth,
slimed to their beaks, left, still dripping,

they already ate the children,

you whisper, horrified, yet fascinated,

stepping closer, to peer between the cages,

at these, mad-eyed, vein-popping- Croakers.

Crimeny, one is eyeing  you, black scales, shedding

falling to pieces, cracking, tickling the pavement, crackling,

talons dragging, ink trailing in drops,

they already ate the children,

you lean in, drawn to the  one hollowed out single eye,

woven grey sinew, and thread, 

black, and black, and black, and

You cover your mouth. The smell. Holding your breath.

black, and black, and black, and…

you forget,

they already ate the children.

11-04 The Bowl Of Whispers

you frighten me,
I see, darkness,
eternity, circled
in your hands,
cradling, darkness,
endlessly, circling,
in your hands,
I should be careful,
the words, I put in you,
where will you carry them ?
in your palms,
circling, endlessly,
in the creases of your hands,
circling endlessly,
carrying eternity.

11-03 Third Time Wasn't The Charm

three times,
you knocked,
at my door,
three times, I said,
rolling over,
hand held on my stomach,
squirming, down,
hush, you said,
three times,
I woke up,
wondering where your
hand had gone,
three times...

hush.

11-02 When Practical People Fall In Love

Mr. Behr, are you sure you want to do this?

I have one butterfly in my palm left,
wings, drying in the autumn wind,
falling slowly into my palm, one butterfly,
falling slowly,

Mr. Behr, are you sure?

I say over sunset on my shoulder,
melting into my wineglass,
black shadows wistfully,
tugging, at gold circles,
falling slowly, into my wine glass,
falling slowly,

Mr. Behr, are you sure?

I say swirling,
black shadows,

Mr. Behr,

one butterfly, falling slowly,
into gold circles, falling slowly,
one butterfly,


I say over my shoulder,
sunset, silhouette,

Mr. Behr,
are you coming?

11-01 He Came Back

He returns.

He returns to my room at night,
sitting in the corner,
watching me,
rocking back and forth,
musing of smoke and poetry,
constellations pouring,
from his hollow, swallowing, mouth,
watching me,
sitting in the corner,
rocking back and forth,
watching me.

10-31 Prayer

We place our Stone into the vessel.

And We, let it go.

We place our Stone into the vessel,

And We, Let it go.

We place our Stone in the vessel,

And with Stone, we let it go.

We breathe life into our Stone.

with our breath and feather,

We breathe life into our Stone.  

with our breath and feather,

We breathe life into our Stone,

and with Stone, we let it go.

We cast light into our Stone.

From our lantern and shadow,

We cast light into our Stone.

From our lantern and shadow,

We cast light into our Stone,

and with Stone, we let it go.

With Stone, we,
let it go.

10-30 Does Martha Get Hangovers?

Shit Yeah! She does.
Do you think,
all of those,
perky, perfect, pumpkin seeds,
didn't happen without a special,
spank-me, spice me,
slap-n-squeeze my lime tickle me,
puh-lease, this smile,
(adjusting the blonde wig)
is just as sweet as the day of,
cover of,
Living the morning after.
get this girl, a rice latte already!
Shite.

10-29 Odie's Bridge

the woods stirred,
behind your eyes,
the hunt had begun.

I could tell,
you wanted to bundle in,
scarf around your head,
ignore the call,
and look down,
at still water collecting evening,

but instead, you held on to the
wooden rails, train rushing by,
while I, casually, ripped out my eyes,
to show you the backside,
and said,
don't worry sweetie,
see I have scars too,

before jumping over the rail,
face planting, blindly groping,
crawling on the moving,
sinuous surface, till I could stand,
hands clutching my eye-balls,
middle-finger pointing lightening to the sky,

don't worry sweetie,
I yelled over the rush of the train,
see I have scars too,
and popped them back in,

while you faded away, ticket in hand,
fingers clutching your face, I heard a pop,
followed, by another, and then silence.

The hunt was on.

10-28 For Example: A Shoe

So...

Last I heard,
you were stuck,
on the steps of the palace,
mighty warm, on the steps of the palace,
where the king had born a tiny lord, mighty warm,
The tiny lord, on the steps of the palace,
oh! magnum, did you hear what I heard?

you stole the heart of the tiny lord, oh magnum,
on the steps of the palace,
you were screaming, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria,
we all heard, you screaming, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria,
on the steps of the palace, in excelsis, De-e- Oh!
Why so mysterious, excelsis, baby, joy to the world,
and all that,

I still can't believe you stole his heart? You did, right?

Was it? A star, that star, that prince of a star, shining in the east?
That made you do it? Or
Was it? That pesky little drummer boy,
pounding Bolero into the night?
Oh I know! A toast, a toast! It was him, HIM!
roasting his gingham chestnuts,
on the steps of the palace, roasting. That Tiny lord, mmmm.

No? Do tell, do tell. Boo. Why so mysterious, Magnum? Why?
What gave you courage to take his parting glass and fill it with, Oh!
Magnum, why?

Why ever did you run? Silly. He can't celebrate this night without you.
Without you, babe, without you, he can't celebrate, why ever, did you run?

Heigh ho, sweetie, Heigh Ho,
it's all so much folly,
Heigh ho, sweetie, Heigh Ho,

Do you think he has a clue?

10-27 In Which Much Goodbyes Are Said And Hellos Remembered

Winter, old friend,
don't be shy.
I'm here again.
You too it seems.

latte please, with almond milk, double shot...
separate. 
  
small world,
to meet such,
spare change,
at a coffee shop,
grinding, where I once
last saw you,
me, walking the wind to my door,

to go.
sweetie, you have all the time in the world,

walk with me, again,
like this,
yeah I'm cold, but this is nice,
don't be shy,
I'm right around the corner,
just a few minutes, old friend,
Why are you here? again,
whistling the wind to my door,
again, whistling,

maybe I shouldn't ask questions,

just come on in,
don't just stand there,
we are old friends you and I,
don't by shy,
old friend,
Winter, you must remember this,
when the wind comes whistling to my door,
I am a man too,
we are, old friends,
you and I,
what else are we to do?

10-26 So a chef, a dog-napper, and a hungry red she-wolf parade into a bar...

oh snap,

the devil,
went her heels,
spotty on the floor,
twirling in the smoke,
from her cruel jagged lips,
cackling,
twirling in the smoke,
from her cruel jagged lips,
fur, ceiling to the floor,
ceiling to the floor,
fur, ceiling to the floor,
arms, shoulders,
ceiling to the floor,
-it's laber-doodle,
do ya love it?
flash, thrust,
cackling, in the red,
cackling in the black,
pearly white cackling,
ceiling to the floor,
oh snap, my sister,
oh snap, my sister,
oh snap,

twirling wooden spoons,
clapping, slapping,
twirling wooden spoons,
clapping, slapping,
shaking shook salt,
on the floor,
on the floor,
shaking shook salt,
on a,
pepper perfect patron,
pepper perfect person,
pepper, perfect, pepper,
patron, perfect, pepper,
patron, person
please, sister,
hold the salt, hold the salt,
shaking, shook, slapping,
hold the salt, hold the salt,
shaking, shook, slapping,
hold the salt, hold the salt,
slapping, shaking,
slapping, shaking,
oh snap, my sister,
oh snap, my sister
oh snap,

in a red dress, undress,
in a red dress, undress,
caress, in a red dress,
howl like you want it,
howl like you want it,
howl like you need it,
howl like you undress,
in a red dress, caress,
in a red dress, caress,
in a red dress,
howl like you have it,
howl like you have it,
howl like you give it,
howl if you want it,
undressed, in a red dress,
caressed, in a red dress,
howl, cause you got it,
howl, cause you got it,
oh snap, my sister,
oh snap, my sister,

oh snap.

10-25 Love, For Love

As I lay dying,

Cinderella tucked her knees,
into the house of September,
wishing the cotton woven starlight,
into his ember-ed  arms,

love, for love, 

as he
gathering the shadows from her,
spun black threads into her thoughts,
wishing, between her knees,
she would fill his house of September,

love, for love,

as I lay dying,
watching the two,
in the midnight ashes of the hour,

love, for love,

end the day.

10-24 Children Will Listen

Apple and I,
are afraid of you,
what you are seeing, hearing,
Whispers of war, brewing,
witches in the branches,
wishing on the hour, emerging,
wizards in the leaves, falling,
revealing, Whispers of war,
are not, what others have seen,
accepted before, Apple and I,
are afraid you will, believe,
and listen, and then,
look,

Moon rises between the un-forming, branches of my sky,
as you,

curiously, peel away, picking,
remarking, casually, with glitter, tossing
the rotten ones on the floor,
rolling into the corner,
while the ripe ones, the ones that glow,
sunset red and sunset gold,
your eyes fill with pleasure, plan,
the smell of pie and glue guns,
tracing, the once-been cross-hatched markings of dough,
tightly woven into the bark blackened,
around my face,
with your glue guns, hot, and dripping,
how can you ask, me,
to bake a mask, for my child?
when,

Apple shivers under the yawning, yellowing, rising Moon-
I can't hold him, and hide my face too.

Can't you see the salt dripping between my fingers,
silver needles, scissors, flashing, with my thumbs,
flashing, thin silver cords, when I look out,
cutting, the pastry, in my red apron, I can't hide him, from you,
silver needles flashing, gold thread forming,
from the Moon, spun, asked,
always a price,
always a price,
and yet, you, ask for more,
gold thread to be spun, to name,
the tree growing without my permission,

he is too beautiful, to want,
to prune, to capture, to release,
he is too beautiful, to hide,
glowering within the amber fire of his dark shadows,
when the Whispers held him,
fed him Whispers into the late of October,
because I could not, sing down the wind,
because he is too beautiful, to sing,
down the wind, and be born,

beneath the angry eye of the dragon moon, hungry,
careful

Apple and I know,
Apple and I know,
where the Whispers went,
where the Whispers went to follow, and curl,
into the hollow of his arms, cradling, him,
while his parents, cried over their stillborn,
child, face down, in the dirt, leaves crumbling,
into gathering Whispers, as they buried, him,
sending him to where the Whispers went,
to follow, and curl, into the hollow of their arms,
cradling him, welcoming him into their company,
in their,

graves holding the once-living,
who holds the never-alive?

Apple, The Moon and I whisper,
sing down the wind to me,
sing down the wind to me,
he is too beautiful,

trying to hold, me,
with their tiny lullaby hands,

but what do children know,
that a lover will listen too?

Oh Moon,

He sees you looking,
and tries,
to rip the hands from my face,
the scissors from my hands,
the needles from my thumbs,
strangling himself in silver and gold,
threads, so young, spun,  and hot,

he can not know,
who his parents are,
he can not know,
what prices were paid,
to the witches and wizards,
so he could,
sing down the wind, with me,
my child, sing down the wind,
with me, we are afraid,
Apple and I are afraid,

all he can feel, is

the tree of his heart,
growing too big,
to hide behind, another mask,
what will you find?
when his temper, unchecked,
sends the Whispers to love,
with the tree of his heart,

Apple, and I are afraid,
afraid for you.

10-23 Last Call

you said you wouldn't,
fall,
for a writer,
but how else, do I?

tell you, these woods,
feel empty, these leaves,
collect, crumble,
into my hands, these words,
collect, crumble,
into my hands,
these woods,

feel,
your shadow,
behind me, walking,
your shadow,
behind me, walking,

away,
as the last bells of evening,
call,

your shadow,
collecting, crumbling,
words into my hands,
into these woods,
collecting, crumbling,
words,

I am, again,
looking down,
an Autumn, unwinding leaves-

alone.

10-22 Mr. Behr, The Moon, and I Say Goodnight

good bye love,
when the night came,
to say good night, love,
the moon and I,
thought of you love,
the moon and I,
thought of you,
love.

I could come home to you,
when the sun goes down,
I could come home to you,
but I could not stay,
the new day awake,
I could not stay,
at home with you,
I don't know why,
but the moon and I,
thought only of you,
tonight love,
only of you tonight,
love.

good bye love,
I didn't want to say,
good bye love,
but you asked me to say,
good night love,
tonight, love,
the moon and I,
think only of you,
tonight love,
the moon and I,
think only of you-

alone.

10-21 Autumn Reveals His Eyes

but I said no,
no, no, no, no
but I said,

the crisp was warm,
like I knew it would be,
gluten-free, caring,
like I knew you would be,

sitting in the chair,
like a wolf dad,
caring, would be,
for it's pup,
who had grown up,
slick, muscled and furry,
golden-amber flashing,
undecided, in an apartment,
that wasn't, and won't be,
yours,

anymore, you need to leave, leave, leave,
as you should be,
because I can't not in this place,
there is not,
enough room,
for the storms brewing, in my palms,
in my lips, in my canines,
as it should be,
creature of the woods, you raised,
you are me,
too,

and you talked, you talked, you talked,
your black glasses into punctuation,
and boundaries, sentences, fluctuation of you voice,
and I came, come,
with the dust of the old lupine country,
in my words, in my movements,
as I should be, as you want me to be,
in my words, in my movements,
you want a man,
to prowl with,
I've become, one,
if you want this man, to hunt with,
you need to remind me that,
I can howl at the moon,
as much as you want me too,
I can howl at the October moon,
as much as you need me too,
and howl, howl, howl,
howl, howl, howl,
as it should be, two,
scratching the dirt from beneath my paws, two,
scrambling, twisting, clawing, to get at you,
just as much as you,
just as much as you need me too,
but,

I am,
only a pup of a man,
I whimper,
hot-headed, blood dripping from my mouth,
hungry,
whimpering, nuzzling, blood drying on the corners of my mouth,
while we talk politely, of corn fields, full moons,
picket fences, and other gods,
but he stirs, while I stir,
 unconsciously, wild,
in the fever-dream of your words,
as it should be,
becoming-

no.

10-21 Could you?

How would you hold me if I asked?

Promises. Promises.

I made promises,

and I can not break.

How would you hold me if I asked?

Sweetie. I know, 

I do.

but I made promises.

holding your face in my hands,

I made promises,

Promises, Promises,

and I can not break,

How would you hold me if I asked?

holding your face in my hands,

I still hesitate, I still do,

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it,

but,

I made promises,

Promises, Promises,

and I can not break,

How would you hold me, if I asked?

and I am,

but I can not break,

I can not break-

penny whistle plays the rain, whistling into the grass,

bending to the wind, whistling into the rain,

promises, promises,

and.

I can not break,

I can not break-

How could you hold me, then,

love.

How could you?

Promises, Promises

I can not break.

10-19 Three Minutes

Some people,
use three words,
to say-

I was lucky,

and had,
three minutes,
to say-

these three words.

10-18 The Onesie Shows My Package

around me,
men are stripping into
their panties,

high heels, bird-seed bouncing,
hummingbirds,
tittering, titillating, tweetering,

huddling into a tiny corner,
I quickly, drop trou-

feeling naked- exposed
I am not seen,
until.

fumbling with the buttons,
sugar-water drips nervous,
down my chest,
- a buzz-by startles me,

another
another.
another.

the buttons undone,
attracted to the color-

red.

10-17 Shame

brother-in-my-arms,
is this not wrong?

hand held,
pushing me away on the dance floor,
pulling me back,
reluctantly,
spinning slow,
pulling me back,
fast-reluctant,
in your,
hand-held,

brother-in-my-arms,
is this not wrong?

step left, step right,
step left, step right,
look at me,
step left, step right,
step left, step right,
look at me,
look at me-
turn away,

brother-in-my-arms,
is this not wrong?

stop.
breath comes fast on the spin of the moment,
spinning into the moment on the breath,
coming fast, you are the moment,
of my breath spinning, coming fast,
you are, spinning, coming fast,
spinning, you are breath-
stop.

brother-in-my-arms,
is this not wrong?

is this not wrong?
is this not wrong?

hand-held, pushing me away,
into the moment of my breath,
spinning, look at me, spinning,
brother, look.

10-16 The Curse of The Petunia Bakery Shoppe

careful,
Mr. Behr,
careful,

Leaves crumble in the hearts of my Autumn.
what do you say, Mr. Behr?
shaking leaves from the skeleton fingers of my Autumn
what can you say, Mr. Behr?
is it time to sleep?

gold smolders, crumbles, storms, in his eyes,

Winter looks out,
innocence in his fore-arms, careful,

Mr. Behr,
careful- these are the days of my Autumn.

10-15 The Morning After

Come,
follow all,
follow all,
in the hallow,
in the hallow.

Come,
follow all,
in the hallow.

Litter on the ground,
in the hollow,
in the hollow.
litter on the ground,
found,
in the hollow,
in the hollow,

Come,
follow all,
follow all,
in the hallow,
in the hallow.

Come,
follow all,
in the hallow.

foot steps on the walk,
in the hollow,
in the hollow,
follow, come follow,
foot falls on the walk,
talk,
in the hollow,
in the hollow,

Come,
follow all,
follow all,
in the hallow,
in the hallow.

Come,
follow all,
in the hallow.

gather trash from the mud,
in the hollow,
in the hollow,
gather ash from the mud,
red,
in the hollow,
in the hollow,

in the hollow,
red,
in the hollow,
in the hollow,
come follow,
gather ash,
red,
in the hallow,
in the hallow,
come follow,
gather ash,
in the hollow,
in the hollow,

foot steps walk,
quiet the follow,

foot steps walk,
quiet the follow,

foots falls talk,
quiet the follow,

in the hallow,
in the hallow,
quiet the follow,
in the hallow,
in the hallow-

hush.

10-14 Apple and The Balloon Breathe

Breathe.

Apple could not,

Breathe.

Apple would not,

Breathe.

Apple could not, would not,
and So.

There were,
balloons in the corner,
balloons tied-to-the-chair,
balloons in the corner,
there were,
balloons.

But Apple,
could not,
would not,
and So.

It was NOT Apple's birth day.
But.

There were,
balloons, bright, bright, yellow,
balloons, red, green, white-striped
blue,  balloons tied-to-the-chair,
there were,
balloons.

But Apple,
could not,
would not,
but,

his mom.
Did.

Apple could not,
Apple would not,
and So.

There was a
Balloon, Purple-white-striped.
Balloon, Purple-white-striped.
Baloon, tied-to-his-hand,
there was a,
Balloon.

But Apple,
could not,
would not,
and So.

Apple let go.

and breathed.
Blue-sky-swallow. Fly.
Fly-blue-sky. Swallow.

Fly.
Apple-breathed.

10-13 The Door Opens

petals fresh from bouquets,
on my hands, I opened

the door to the house of September

shadows in corners whispered my name,
a hushed fellowship, gathered, to look
upstairs.

candle light flickering, the house had caught,
something new, something different, and he

nested, fumbled, into the eyes of the house of September,
amber smoke smoldering, unfurling,

into

shadows in corners, whispering his name,
I, with petals stained on my hands,
hesitated, at the door,

whispering his name, shadows gathering-
changed.

10-12 Snow Buys A Shirt

You were as surprised as I,
when on a lark-of-a-road trip,
painters brush dangling,
casual bristles swaying,
from your hip,  you bought,
an out-of-style-retro-trip-hip
t-shirt,
only been, worn, torn, caught-a-smile, few times,
in the candy aisle,
of a country five-and-dime,
painter's brush dangling,
bristles, casual,
from his hip,
on a pink plastic hanger,
in a candy aisle kind of road-trip...

and it fit.

Now you're wriggling,
because you can't,
for the life of you,
understand why.

10-11 Did

Timothy David
couldn't, didn't,
though he tried,
Timothy David,
watched his empire,
crumble, mumble, and die,
cursing screws, kings,
princes, washers, and
cheshire,

smiling lost things,
Timothy David built

wooden-metal cross-beams,
crucifying his princess,

and her steadfast pea,
laughing at clocks, ticking-tocking, rocking
maddening, maniacal, midnights ,
Timothy David,
stroking his ego,
hammered his lady, crazy,
stoking his pyre, higher,
taller, higher, brighter, till
Timothy David,
did.