why other?

sure, wait 'til you can–
and you can every moment;
why other wise?

skip to the end.

wow, I'm quick to judge
but if I know it, is it bad?
and if it's self-aimed, is it sad?

and if it comes with knowing doubting,
knowing prejudice-refrain,
if it means that being open
is a choice and must remain
a thing of action, and well meant–

if I've been of good intent,
then self-aimed shots
are good well spent...no doubt?

can't say; judging's out.

hot head

get out of the pin that I slip from my hair
and the suds that make heavy the bath

the word 'you' is so loaded
it's a ring on my tongue

that makes 'last time' come out 'lasth–'

my toothpaste tastes like your smoke-breath
tried to smell.

those best songs are like taffy
that's old

I know parts of these rooms in
a too-real way

and my hot head stays warm in the cold

hey! there's only one reason I'd
remember the day
that I forewent a party for this

and just so you get it I'll make it
real plain:
your cool words are not something I'll miss.

memo

I'm thankful for my legs that run
and the finger that freezes faster than the rest
and the scar on my left knee.

I have a working spine
which Atlases a neck
that cranes
upward
and eyes that read between lines
and register twinkling city lights,
vermilion watercolor clouds
and
dancing deep-river boulders

my fingers respond
and my resolve snaps-to
and my self-sensor
keeps me in check

this is just a reminder,
for knowing's sake.

hop it

I'd've thought you'd run
yet unsure, you stay and tease
a crack underfoot

surrealizzy

don't make things bigger
than you want them to be, hear?
nothing but the real.

***

I find my sentence
after the third or fourth word–
stern as True as bow.

***

make many mistakes
or let them find diamond blooms
tough but beautiful

***

my grandma knows things
that come across as magic.
how does she do that?

something ripe

I hear something ripe
why not spill your whole story
and I'll yarn you mine.

***

that door is un-shut
while you skip rocks on far ponds
young boys steal your pie


***

I pick my battles
and I chose to fight with you
until we melted