Non-Binaries

never wrong nor right 

neither black nor white 

always poor framing 

truth escapes while waiting 

you I can’t deny

I can’t explain “I”

there’s another dimension 

we’re always missing 

easy solutions feel good 

crushing doubts with boots 

if nature only gave us straight lines 

if god was on our side 

it’s never green nor orange...

Read and leave comments (2)

Our history comes out 

and dances around 

teasing us with 

provocative gestures 

encouraged to join in 

not having taken lessons in

moving tentatively at first 

then swept by the current

spinning around 

knocking things down 

until too late 

in the evening 

people mill around 

trying to reconstruct 

broken things and 

half-remembered sequ...

Read and leave comments (0)

Oh lord please give me 
a little time on these legs 
I need to get to the store 
then climb those stairs 

If I could have just
a little while on this back 
I need to sit for a while 
to give the feet a rest 

I wouldn’t ask too much 
another day with these eyes 
to see her face once more 
before I lose my sight 

then maybe a moment 
with these hands 
I just wanted to touch 
the...

Read and leave comments (4)

I was terrible 

I’m not asking 

for forgiveness 

not looking for 

excuses 

every night 

I relive it 

and that’s my 

punishment 

however 

let’s remember 

you were worse

Read and leave comments (3)

my likeness sees the future 

and runs towards it 

children on a playground 

thinking nothing of spending 

the last penny on something 

bright sweet and shiny 

my likeness imagines itself 

happy at home 

with a future substance 

in a bath, for desert 

or sleeping soundly 

with its warmth 

at points darkness 

and anxiety penetrate 

an embarrassing ...

Read and leave comments (0)

It would be easier to be stupid 

none of this would bother us 

we’d just laugh instead of cry 

and get on with this slavery 

never needing to 

understand irony 

life would be completely religious 

things marvelous and terrible 

would keep happening 

without complicated explanations 

Read and leave comments (0)

I go from door to door 

forgetting what I 

came here for 

losing words they 

slip off the tongue 

I return to that solitude I know 

so I can twist things around 

making those memories play 

in a totally different way 

I then go out 

and beg some more 

before the old ones fade away

Read and leave comments (0)

auntie’s coming 
let’s go the store 
we’re gonna make 
that special roast 

I need your help 
put on your coat 
she’s making 
a visit just for us  

in for the weekend 
with strange presents 
chatting to mom about 
unheard adventures

bright lipstick 
tight sweaters 
leaving impressions 
on the subconscious 

decades later 
in another life 
tells me she can’t 
stay the night...

Read and leave comments (0)

In a world of surfaces 

cool prevails 

what’s never revealed 

must be estimated 

energy becomes 

situational 

JG Ballard’s now 

on the show  

Julie London on Emergency 

television shapes careers 

that voice haunts my machines  

mixing dreams and memories

at the hospital on cigarette break 

in my ears as an adult 

that cool sense of grace 

Read and leave comments (0)

For Patrick Bocarde 

Between the refrigerator 
and air purifier 
there’s a little hum 
pitched a little higher 

you’d be wrong 
to think “tinnitus”
it’s the siren call
the  “why” of existence 

we all march 
to a different drum 
but all hear the sound 
of the hum 

those industrial engines 
never go quiet 
sounds of space 
sound like traffic 

we could elevate 
silence to ...

Read and leave comments (2)

I break up with you every night 

cheat with every image in mind 

I see you again; nothing’s happened 

freedom of this prison inspires 

door of the jail is open 

I come back; lock myself in 

just in time for breakfast 

and news about your kids 

you go somewhere else in mind 

I’ve never been there 

from what you describe I wouldn’t survive 

Read and leave comments (0)

The Friends

The friends gather 
in your absence 
attempting to conjure 
your presence 

you remain slippery 
your nature evoked  
by its refusal 
for ever being captured

Read and leave comments (0)

there’s a thrill 

over the hill 

will you come with me 

to fetch that pail 

I couldn’t find my thrill

eating all the blueberries

I felt like a fool then 

in such a hurry 

instead of climbing 

measure by measure  

through this 

inclement weather 

somehow with you 

suffering feels better 

soon we’ll be 

over the hill tog...

Read and leave comments (2)

I go to midtown and stare

at the professionals

they’re confident 
like they’re on television 

the more I walk 
the less I wanna spend 

until that two dollar pizza 
is looking like a bargain 

there’s been some error 
on my paycheck 

and now my department 
has been eliminated 

but there’s this wonderful 
feeling of freedom

that lasts a moment then 
something falls into...

Read and leave comments (0)

Past Lives

I recognize the guy in the photo-
I can’t quite place his face 
I can see a certain resemblance 
but it’s nothing if not vague 

they seem to be having quite a time everything shines at that age 
then you get fat bald and wise 
what you wouldn’t trade for another chance 

these past lives a fiction 
who’s writing them anyways 
I was once filled with anticipation 
now eye ...

Read and leave comments (0)

Between me and the world 
it’s personal- I’ve tried to make peace 
too many times 

I’m open to discussion 
but I’ve been lied to
and I’m ready to fight

always invading my space 
with a story that doesn’t track 
got a lot of explaining to do 
I’ve moved on from there 

you’re welcome to visit my bubble 
barely room for two 
it’s really crowded 
with chocolate, records, and books 

Read and leave comments (0)

take everything 

it’s not mine 

never liked half of it 

chains around my neck 

I’ll spend the rest 

how I see fit 

sometimes it’s just 

staring at the sky  

enjoying this 

gift of time 

why are you in such a hurry 

the horrors will continue 

after a brief message 

from our sponsors 

come here and let’s 

light up this moment 

here ...

Read and leave comments (2)

my many enemies 
all hide inside of me 
the externals got nothing 
on my doubts and self-loathing 

I could be a cliff diver 
under my low self-esteem 
battling windmills 
like pigeons in gale force winds 

I fight I exercise and I read 
sometimes all for nothing 
just when things look 
the most bleak 

you give me a call 
and suddenly 
I’m standing 
seven feet tall in heels

Read and leave comments (2)

Richer

It’s a beautiful thing 

you do 

in these ugly times 

looking to the light 

just 

to remind us 

of the 

power 

in all of us 

it’s enough to just 

laugh in the face 

of these horrors

dancing 

between 

shots 

let’s not sell 

ourselves 

short or out

Read and leave comments (0)

In a moment 

In the space of a song 
in the time of a moment 
we can be somewhere 
we can feel transported 

short of a meteor 
or violent revolution 
we take our minds 
to another dimension 

with something 
delicate as a melody 
harmony 
and a rhythm 

a lyric scratched out
as inspiration dictates
in the space of
an instant 

while the faucet links 
and poverty grinds 
a...

Read and leave comments (2)

Prison Workout

The slit opens 
I remember I’m here 
pain dares me 
just to feel 

I greet the body 
with a sort of prayer  
then think of anything other than this 

I go down to the floor  hope I return 
every breath 
a calculated concern 

calendar on the wall  needles on the clock 
up against nerve 
muscles and blood 

halfway done  
something takes over 
the self-talk prom...

Read and leave comments (3)

Actor

all my life 
I’ve made these 
guesses about 
what’s expected 

to a point where
I got too accurate 
I trip myself up now
just out of boredom 

I take my time 
with performance 
I don’t read lines 
without a check

that’s just professionalism 
don’t be disappointed 
I’m all about the 
pain of endurance

Read and leave comments (0)

if stars align 

you’re here on time 

money arrives  

no hint of a crime 

fates cooperate 

dates don’t change 

your sister leaves 

the lightest traces 

back don’t act up 

cat don’t wake up 

don’t rain next hour 

hitting traffic by four 

then sure 

we might 

have something 

there

Read and leave comments (0)

The nothing 

there’s a parasite 
that slips inside the mind 
found on every corner 
even in the water 

it attacks at night 
leaves you non-responsive inside 
if it reaches the heart 
you’re gonna be a goner 

it’s the nothing 
it doesn’t have a “y” 
it’s something 
that eats up our lives 

the nothing 
taking up our time 
shitting out money 
leaving you dead inside 

the ch...

Read and leave comments (2)

 That crooked line

I hold grief in one hand

hope in the other 

I can’t tell you 

which is stronger 

washing sins in 

that dirty river 

sticky and dry 

I remain  

walking that 

crooked line 

into a future 

not feeling any wiser 

moving towards 

something softer 

that whisper 

calling my name 

Read and leave comments (0)