A Forest For The Trees

... Third stanza:

A forest for the trees
where only the blind can see
and everyone chops wood
for the preservation of the forest
A territory of the eye
where no one can flee.

© 2011

Lampblack & Whiteout

... First stanza:

Turn down the darkness
and turn up the silence---

Listen for a voice with a star
in her smile

© 2011

The Star Spangled Banana

... First and second stanza:

At the twilight's last gleaming
when shrill sirens start screaming
and the sound of blue thunder
shatters midnight asunder

Comes a flash in the distant
shoots white sparks to your brain
And the rush of the instant
like a bolt of ball-lightning
cracks a terrible frightening
of loud thunder and rain

© 2011

Man With A Bomb

... First stanza:

His head filled
with sensitive
powder packed
tighter than time

© 2011

Daisy

... First stanza:

I looked into the day's eye.
Yellow disk, its white rays
Emanating joyfully. One
Question burning two paths
Until only one answer remains.
A proclamation of three words
Taking turns with four.

© 2011

... First stanza:

Fly back to the sun, young man--

Suck blindly her double corona,

Wrap your waxen wings around

Her tiny islands, spotted heifers.

Singe your lips on her filament,

Plunge your tongue into hot pinkness.

© 2011

Ravens And Nightingales

... First 2 stanzas:

O Nightingale, sing me the song of Diana.
Nightwing of the autumn moonlight,
Loquacious thrush of the night
Such glad tidings do you bring!
Sweet melodies to midnight's ear,
Stir my soul to dreams of milk and honey.
I understand not what you say
But your song sounds so lovely.

Yo, Raven, once white as the snow
Your lustrous feathers turned to black,
You told Apollo of his foolish heart.
O Thought and Memory
Odin's trusted advisors,
Bring to me news of the world!
Perch upon my shoulder and counsel me,
How goes my fortune today?

© 2011

The Night Bird (for Allison Steele)

... First stanza:

The waxing moon changes signs
as the Night Bird climbs.
There's a shivering... a quivering
Stirring up the spirits this night.
A cold wind from the north
Sends a wave of fright
Through the trees near the court.
Multi-colored leaves, dry,
Shake themselves to the ground
Leaving barren branches exposed.
Bleak-- a roadmap against October sky.

© 2011

VIRTUAL DEATH

... First stanza:

Death, that unconquerable foe--
Corruptible worm, destructible woe
Who tempts reality easy escape,
I say ruse!
Biodegradable transformation is what you are.
Death is decay at work--
His discarded cardboard coat
Sight of which revolts the senses,
Shocks the mind, disturbs the heart.
Death does not allow the player kiss and tell--
Perhaps a taste of it would suffice,
Cure a mortal man of guilt or pain.
But I suspect Death is the final thrill,
Salesman of the ultimate kick.

© 2011

A Place In Your Heart

... First stanza:

Your kind and gentle way I miss most of all
I saw your face today here inside of me
It hurt to see you again and not touch you
These ghosts have caught me unaware
I'm not ready for them and their sad company.

© 2011