Collected Poems 3

7/29/2019 Collected Poems 3

1/50

Could be

friends squared, rooted, busted or

once and for all, lovers, ripped off and on and on.

How much difference would that make on this

uncompromising globe? Would it rewritehistory or make monkeys out of fish? Could it

pollinate flowers or blush you ruddy and ripe?

Can you rattle on about some hare-brained

scheme or other and still touch your toes,

still sense bliss blind with striving? Can you

lead the way filled with sorrow and accept

such uproarious bonds loosing perplexing

affections mysterious, influences elusive

clues abound, dos and donts hardly matter much

if, in the long run, were all made of food?

Isnt everyone a luminous pin-up

incandescent symbol of sex or some kind of longing,

the comrade of intent animal body eyes

the scoreboard, obvious enough for eyeing

the score; must we shake hands right now or

attend instead to actual events waiting for

a time all-to-easy to refuse, a time

that trips our imaginations up,

a time that tiptoes little by little,


2/50

delaying our beginning, a time that forestallsfutures and shreds fond reminiscence of

sweethearts and family pets, rope swings sunny

days and delicate wreckage never meant

for our understanding. Still we get it

now

this time nevertheless at once too tough

and too tiny for chit chat, too dangerous and

too sly for thursday nights at the bar, for

parties or coffee dates, movies or newspapers or

well-meaning acquaintances who matter as much asblind dates, as Orcas beached by the harsh sonar

of spies, as much as undiscovered invertebrates

sleeping forever, as much as fossils of long gone

proto-amphibians. How much

do you suppose

that is?

so then

Do I matter that much to you?

Could we after allbe friends? Would it make


3/50

a difference if we werelovers just like that?

What difference would it make?

Lips, fingers and skin?

Phone calls tension and

calculated avoidance?

If we let go of tenthousand years

just sink into

a simple warm embrace,

with all its here-you-are

this and all-good that,

would it burst the bubble at last?

Would it dam the Ganges?

Would the geese stop flying south,

the humpbacks suspend

their migrations?

Would you flip out and make

a feral noise, carry

wild oats westward?

Would you sweat with anticipation

as we announce the winner

would the inside of

your brain turn around and greet me?Would you spill your guts for the truth


4/50

and nothing but?

Would you dip me in mythical

rivers just to find

my feet?

dear Sarita dear Jana

dear Carolyn dear Geniedear Nil dear Wendy

dear Kiri dear Jen,

dear babys baby,

I am fine, how are you? Should I stay or should I go?

Is the intimate privacy of this body so vulnerable?

Yes, yes, but isnt infinite attention an ally of adventure?Doesnt birth itself expose us so to one another?

siempre

Life doesnt last long enough for secretsand veils its so-called meaning steadily.

Answer as we may the world wont stop

turning. Answer as we may, the moon wont

stop reflecting the light of the sun onto the earth

at night I feel warm enough to huddle and tie knots.

Jumble clump I feel


5/50

tender and ready.


6/50

Testament and Influence

If monk or trane ever came

around here and heard these

necessary phrases of

fury and nerve heard

the way such strings vibrateon this particular night

time spilling out from

this very porch into

wet streets secret open air

hed probably give me

a bit of advice. I hope he would in fact I believe he has.

Then again, I believe

my grandfather issues stern

warnings when Im half

asleep I believe mom

still passes through

to tell how handsome

Ive become. I believe

my music teacher laughs

gently when I make a mistake

I believe we are not dead

to the world just yet.

I believe my feet are giant

melons and I will eat them

if you dont love me


7/50

or at least my feet believe it.

Then again my feet really do

believe love is the most

powerful force in the

universe, now dont they?

Turns out they do. O.K.

Ill just come out and say it then:

I am visited by relatives,

ex-lovers and friends yes

but also unborn spirits of the

long-gone on the lookout, souls

of departed musicians for sure

all visit, stopover, call on me

and stay; just so long they linger

awhile leaving footprints

traces of advice in my fingers

heart brain and stomach

doing it right now as we sit

stand crouch slump lean and lye

saying this prayer well be

something like that ourselves

some day too. Wont we

be drawn to the living

after were gone somehowchoose to be best friends


8/50

with a girl or a boywe never met breathing

seeing jumping loving

seek out the warmth

of life somehow?

Wont we also

pay a visitnow and then?

Just so do I

imagine myself making

friends once again.


9/50

Incantation

Land and sea and nightmares feel it.Daydreams vie for its blessinghefting its measure forever mid-summerafternoon exposes lucid blue

busy insects calculate messagesastronomical speed everywherenoticing lakes sculpted long agorivers feed on ice comes from the sky

is made of flesh water bone tissue

earth wind and fire displace unyieldingplaintiffs sense families ache daringfriends of wisdom rack their brains

reckoning instantsgauging eras

it long ago felt these everydaytremors alchemical transitionsdistilleries and dissolution smeltingmetals refining combinations

substances spinning gold from strawgreat explosive baths of aeriform


10/50

activity stunning stupid metallurgyin the heart affects its appearance

shows signs of favoringthe emergence of immanent lovevociferous devotion throughoutits limitless midst connotes

oblique purposemanifest gist.

Thus let us call it out:

Fire walk with usearth abide skyfly by windflesh moverevolutionand water in

our dry soulsstubborn perceptions.Skin be our friendeverlasting let usacknowledge evenunderstand yourresilient abundance.

We invoke you


11/50

and ask forthe magic of yourmud voicegaze immovablehear us when weholler seekingcompany help

courageous trickstergesture assistoutspoken refusalwith supreme assurance

it raises faces with inspiration it exhales generationsreceive our laughter the sorrow of a thousand

yearsdispatches envoys puzzled by the immovable starsso swaying ludicrous trawling for firmament

one nighteternal duration

we invoke it again:

petitioners all,we summon youappeal to yourmagnanimityinexhaustiblebenefit conveyed

bursting with boonsjustly dispersed


12/50

powers freeeasy to conceiveunguarded giftseverywhere fortunesurfaces smiling

we entreat you

betray decreediniquitydeceive absurdoverlordsloveless in theircitadels ofmalice unseen;

mislead bigwigsbosses unkindbigots bereft ofsignificant songor mindful poise.We relish

what you willnot withholdbounty beautifulrather bestowmomentous plentydiverse OKsvital provision

deliver promiseattain tremendous


13/50

consent astoundingmiraculous dancesurprising heart

over andover and overand over and over again.


14/50

The Saying Game

All Im saying is dont be so long winded, come tothe point, stop kidding yourself.

You always said it would come to this. You said it

wouldnt be easy. You said playthings come and gobut only if were in just the right place at just theright time will anything ever wander our way ornotice how incredibly gentle we can be. You said youwere right, and you were. And finally we gave up ontrying impress each other . . . . Man, was that arelief!!

They say that before you become a professionalbaseball player, you have to die or at least start aband called I almost died playing professionalbaseball. They say that depression just might bebetter than anti-depressants, and they say the blinddont really miss light as much as you might think.

They say if youre deaf you really feel the bass.

Willy says Please. He says, Thats the magic word. . . Actually, there are several magic words. Hesays he likes to say words like sword, groceriesand circumlocute. I love saying that word, hesays. He doesnt say if its magic or not.


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Lani says newspaper articles should not end with aquotation. She says she gave birth to a cat. She saysbbrrrrrr!!! Its fuckin cold. She saysYaaawwwwwwn. Lets take a nap.

Lizi says totally whatever. She says, Yeah, that isgood whisky, isnt it. She says I do and never

looks back. Forever is a long, long time, shesays . . . and she means it.

People Magazine says that either George Clooneyor Brad Pitt is the sexiest man alive . . . . I say Fuckthat. I say my friend Alejandro is the sexiest manalive. I say any of my friends are sexier than your

average movie star. I say The gayer the better,fool. Ive been saying that for a long time.

The weatherman says theres a twenty percentchance of rain. The weatherman sometimes saysWelllll . . . take a chance, who knows what mighthappen in a little while. If the weatherman were

honest completely honest with himself hed say,look at the sky.

My 3-year-old nephew says Corn Pooh!! He saysDonny Ebaugh-bowp!! Whosat? and I say Idunno, who isat? He says, Whadya doin unkooTaze? Sometimes he says SHIT! I say, Shit?

Wusat? and he says, What is at? And then,without even pausing, he says Corn Pooh! again.


16/50

So I say Dilly-Billy, whos the sexiest man alive?and he says TVDDD Less turn at off. He saysNo when I ask him what time it is. He says deadend when I ask him what comes after eleven, but ifyou ask him if he wants to take bath around sixthirty at night he usually says ya.

The Bible says Blessed are the poor in spirit. Itsays Wise men never make a pet of a badger . . .Or does it? . . . I say it oughta.. It definitely saysthat Jesus went up into a little town and wasreceived by a virgin who was his wife. It says thejust will live forever. It says that all things that arealike love one another and would never sell each

other down the river. The Bible says Hear myprayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee. Italso says that Jonathon made a covenant with thehouse of David, saying let the Lord even require itand it shall be done.. And it goes on to say, Thoushalt not cut off the kindness from my house.[repeat] Man . . . I say thats pretty deep.

Whatdya say? Should we go outside or should westay here? [Anybody? . . . ] Should we sink or shouldwe swim? [Anyone? . . . } I say we swim awhile.Go outside. Right?

So . . .


17/50

Who ever said, Im a riddle in nine syllableswithout cracking up? Who ever said, the queer oldballoon man whistles far and wee without burstingat the seams? Who said, By swaggering I couldnever thrive and lived to see it come true? Whosaid The sun shall glory in the glitter of glass-chips,foreseeing the salvage of the prisoned sand and

never went to the beach? And who said Farewellye Greyhound where I suffered so much, hurt myknee and scraped my hand and built my pectoralmuscles big as vagina and never caught the bus?Who said Burglar! Banker! Father! I am poor oncemore without coming to some kind of realization? Ihate to say I told you so, but I did. And so did she.

Now . . . . . . .

Its said that you can lead a horse to water, you caneven milk a cow, a tigers just a great big cat, a ladypigs a sow Ooooohhhh animals animals animalsanimals animals everywhere and the animals say

things too. The cow says Mooo, the duck saysQuack, the pig says Oink! the dog says Woof!the sheep say Baahhh! the donkey says Hee-Haw! the cat says Meow the bird says ChirpYou cant say they dont, says the professor. Theprofessor has a way of saying things like that.

Hmmm . . . . . .


18/50

Well, it says here that the services provided aresubject to the rates, terms and conditions ofapplicable federal and state tariffs as revised fromtime to time. [Ohh, thatll surely bring me down.]And it says here that the net credit balance, if any,is payable on demand in the normal course ofbusiness operations, irrespective of the number of

accounts you have with us. [Ohh, this cant be goodnews.] Over here it says, All transactions aresubject to the laws and regulations of the countryand its political subdivisions wherein thetransactions are executed. I say thats all fuckinnuts man. For what its worth, I say poverty shouldnot be punished, and if proverbs, adages, readings,

magic words and spells really worked wed all havehell to pay.

Id say so, says Tina. We might as well try it andsee what happens.

If theres a chance in hell, says Susie, then, yeah,

lets.

Lauren says, Lets not and say we did! Shesalways saying things like that.

You say yes, I say no. You say goodbye, I say hello,Ahhho-O. The judge said, Youre free to go, but I

said it seemed totally unbelievable. I said, Thosewho search deserve sanctuary Sir. I said and I


19/50

still say it today -- I said I cannot understate thegravity of the situation . . . give me a minute . . .give me a year or two and Ill say you dont sayso. OK, I admit it I said. I rankle my ruin, irk mywreck, rile my gall and warp my woof.

To make everything crystal clear, let me just say

that Im very glad to be here. Let me say, forexample, The future is immanent in the present byreason of the fact that the present bears in its ownessence the relationships which it will have to thefuture. Let me say, on the other hand, oh, say,Perhaps nature ought not to be thought of as arealm of masses moving according to mathematical

laws. Let me say that we surely possess all thenecessary faculties to make us happy and lovingtowards one another. And let me definitely sayBliss delight harmony joy wonder. Let mesay let me say it curiosity good fortune warmth devotion kindness intelligence,understanding and acceptance. For Gods sake let

me at least say Hell No We Wont Go a few moretime before everythings shattered and smashed.

Say One-two-three-four. Say yeeaaahhh. SayHell yeah. Say [beat-box] Ah-oh . . .

O-o! say cant you see how not everything that

glitters is gold, how a bird in the hand in worth twoin the bush; if youre born with a silver spoon in your


20/50

mouth you might as well cry your eyes out. Everydog has his day, a paw in every pie, give the devilhis due, honesty is the best policy. Let everybodyturnover a new leaf; let every man mind his ownbusiness. Mums the word, the skys the limit, Ismell a rat, and he split his sides laughing. Strikewhile the iron is hot, love is never lost, dont judge a

book by its cover, you aint seen nothin yet, whenin Argentina do as the Argentineans do, with a grainof salt; a word to the wise is never enough, unlessyou count twice. [2 3 and . . .]

Youre always saying we flicker around aimlessly,and its true; we do, but who loves you? . . Who

loves you?

She says, My mom does. Kojak, Coltrane, Mosesand Monk do too.

Look, she says, all Im saying is dont be so long-winded, come to the point already fool, and stop

kidding yourself . . . . . . . . . . And she meansit . . . . . . mnhhh, she means it.


21/50

Conscience

I. (fireside chat)

Memory isnt jello not yet at least.

It comes in green, red, yellow andorange, it jiggles and winks I can

bounce it, and cut it up into squares but

I cant seem to eat it at all. Then again,

jello never makes me talk to myself.

Voices quiet real and lasting ask

after loved ones subtle motions leadshadow bodies astray warm wet

wind guides the mind to the heart

of the matter, lets the skin know

what time it is.

But the timing is always off. Just

as i might think to blink, wild animalsshow up scratching at the door,

demanding explanations. As soon

as i suppose the signals been sent,

skeletons come out of the closet

dancing ceremoniously right

in the midst of it all, while the

untamed messenger vanishes without

a dime to his name restless bones


22/50

wait forever and resist; away fromlopsided life.

Roll the bones and

let the chips fall as they may.

Have a heart or two.

People are built in. We come and go,yes, but were there from the start. Even

the dead, especially the dead let us know

right from wrong, slippery from stiff,

dicey from dried up, lifeless from living,

honest from not, funny from dumb

our asses from a hole in the wall, a bomb

from a plan.

Terrible demons, screaming trees,

animals cursed from birth and worse;

miscarried lives, abodes broken for good

essential circulation derelict, neighborhoods wrecked

passage reduced to ruin bargained for rubble;

rivers on fire, hearts purple and blue distressed

souls expressing real trouble sensed.

Shattered dawn raining down vanished

inhabitants speaking actual promises suffered

signed sealed delivered in detail

citizens with their tongues removed casting

outlines accusing habitual institutions criminal

government occluding good will prevail.


23/50

Amazing how much a little bit lasts.Words are tough to mess with.

All this is incorporated in the slightest intonation

in the least inflection vicinities vanquished survive.

II. (Smyrna)

Once upon a time two sought sanctuary,

and woke up in the evening of Brahma,

up stream of Heraclitus, ahead of liberation.

They lasted a while and came through hurt but happy.

Happiness can bend steel. Happiness can lift boulders over its

head. Happiness is better faster stronger. Happiness lasts and lasts.

It comes in blue and it comes in red. It goes and goes and goes. It

stands out and shines on. It revs up and gives a hundred and ten

percent

when it can happiness lets loose flips out takes a leave of absenceeven goes

out of its way to let them both know just how much it hurts, just

how far

behind them liberation still is, and just how much they still dream

of that river.

Ah that river!


24/50

III.

Once upon a time a little boy was banished from a village.

He sought sanctuary too. He looked and looked in vain

for gates and emeralds and signs he spit and frowned and burned.He struggled, sputtered and grimaced.

He came across an autumn moon

wise as could be and bust a gut laughing.

He could not believe such a plaintive sight

mourning noon and night he studied

its face wept and went.

Moon! You thought of nothing else as long as it lasted.

You got under my skin. You left nothing to chance,

almost squandered your spirit completely

you danced on her grave, forgave everybody

and forgot about it. Hell, you were it for a while,

for a magic minute that went on for miles, you were it.

When they woke up

they said,

Love isthat way too.


25/50


26/50

Jungle gym

All my pals are loons.

Goose on the loose is

best for the cursed prize of course

events feeling pretty turn

gritty rough grainy

incredible fool

mute antibody insane

fetish undeniable

slack moose abandon cargo today

unthinkable brother unite cool

scattered hijinx everywhere swift monsoon feet

leave gimpy doctor limping far away in

place shaken but not for me to say

whether together or up for gift

mixing quick thinking with vinegar and wine

and cry my dieing at every moment.

Notice what then happens about six

forty acres across vast channels

last night miracle wrapped in


27/50

plastic eye glass, blue and green

fruit-wild plant between speech reaches bats

baskets and rougues at the station crash

justice rusted, bent anchor

joke looming large thrilling hot

ions stop to gripe

jackhammer jest twice

ancient yellow birds combine

elemental pyramid

gender and numbermoot dispute spin grin

then try to rebound slack dream.

Gloveshine tarp trapper dangle

your shingle, jingle

your fang slang mambo.


28/50

What There is of Ghosts

What there is of ghosts

is complex how we

perceive them is

part of what they are.

Like in dreams where

you say it looked like

so and so but it wasnt

so and so ghosts pop up

as bundles of insight

memory reluctant

family meals shared

in confidence congeal

music and tongues

past people still here

whenever inevitable.

So, is a ghost a rhythmic touch,

an unexpected temperature


29/50

with too many suggestions?Something we hear,

a taste we cant put a finger on

delight in the morning

friend or foe, heel or toe?

Why does this sound

happen only on these

stairs on this night?

Does it wish to harm you?

Does it wish anything at all?

Is it human? Was it?

Can inhuman animals be

ghosts too? Is a ghost

the same forever

or does it evolve

in conjunction with

our perceiving it?

Can it be Jewish

Moslem or Hindu


30/50

even if youre not?Why is it there?

Simply to haunt you?

Or to remind you of

something, burden you

with a mission

you never chose?

Or even to

cheer you up,

shock you out

of your doldrumsmake you more

pessimistic only

to enliven you

at some future

moment? Perhaps

a horse not yet born

must win the derby

and so visits you

to empower that

birth with mirth.

Whats goodfor the woods


31/50

good for theduds n suds lady.


32/50

The Rules Dont Apply

Above the law, altogether outside

the accepted standards make my eyes

burn worse than onions

the right way of doing things oftenbenefits no one in particular

to serve and protect

what exactly? A well-respected

pillar of sociopathic success?

preemptive force doesnt work

valued customer the public

good aint quite the same as

whats good for the people

of this neighborhood.

constituents of representatives

keep on minus all those lawmakers.

Even if we cant quite

overhaul that engine

maybe we can find

another way to get around,

make things move, stick together

stay calm and grieve if someone falls out


33/50

put them back in. Above the law?Hell yes. I have no desire

to break the law. Why do

people think laws prevent

people from doing things

the laws forbid?

If there were no law against murder,

would you go out and start killing?

If there were no law against rape

would you enforce a casual fuck

on the way to work? Yes?

Then you are a murderous,

rapacious man.

Me personally, I have

absolutely no desire

to murder and rape,

but apparently the people

who do so desire

are not deterred

by the law, because

they do it anyway.

If you get a ticket for aggravated

driving with less than one headlamp,you have to go to court or at least


34/50

get it fixed but still, the rules dont apply.

No one was harmed, no one was protected,

no ones rights were trampled, its just that

the state gets to fine you to pay for its terror.

Above the law? Why yes, why not?

Were all above the law, over the top.

We shine brighter than policies

regulations, edicts and decrees

pen-pushing fear cant hold this

complex multifarious intricate

difficult graffiti on the sidewalksays so. The twitch, yank, shudder

spasm trembling dialect of this

street corner says so hookers and

lawyers and musicians and students

say so and still, the rules dont apply.

Outrageous shocking contemptible

offensive despicable extreme

mean what you say

and say what you mean.

Anarchy is not mere chaos

disorder confusion bedlamcommotion pandemonium


35/50

turmoil disarray muddle mess

mayhem uproar upheaval

tumult hullabaloo racket

din clamor havoc or frenzy

yet it seems I was meant

to fall apart in just such a wayto go so quietly, absent rage.

Go ahead nyell then

buddy boy dance when

we shoot at your feet

(shots ring out; character dances).


36/50

ClamsYou can think forever.You can dig for clams onsalt saturated beaches feelthe moon tugging oceans

particles attractplanets imaginejust the rightlover can sleepall day and lieall night.

Now and then

you can beall buoyantwash windowsfor a livingall toughlike nothing mattersafter the rain.

After all your friendstell you you gotnothin to worry aboutyou can still riskyour life simplytrying to grow up.

The sweeping

responsibilityof individual


37/50

causesand effectsmay wobbleyour hammeroff the beam

nailthe far-fetched

throng of disparityonto the backsideof your overheatednoggin strainingto seem sharp.

Its very, very interesting, but somehowdulls my senses and even dawdles a bit . . .

all good and all, but still I am not satisfied,you might say.

Oh fuck it all anyway, you might say.I want to make love. Theres no reason it should bedifficult.Do I need the right person or will anyone do?

And if anyone will do thenwhy dont we just make love?And if I need just the right person,why cant I seem to notice her whenshes probably right under my nose?

You might say its really notyour problem. You might sayThis is not the kind of thingso-and- so would care about.This is not the end of the world,


38/50

you might say, Whatdoes it matter whatso-and-so thinks.

You may try to figure it all outthis way you may lose your mind.And still, perhaps all youwant is a warm embrace,

one that, whateveryou end up feeling is well warm.

How long, then, should we wait?How long do we weepand whine and get stuck

in someone elses shoes?

How long do we keep tabs?When does that funny presentcome around and remind us of its nature?

For better or worse,the founders of philosophy

are all perverts, you say,everything worksaccording to planand everything shows offits own essence anyway.Just look at underlyingaffinities released or keptat bay all the live-long day.

How long can thisright here keep going on?


39/50

How long can we pretendwhats happening isnot happening? How fardo we have to gountil we just give in and say,

My problem is,I want to do

everything all the time.Even if there aretwenty five hours in ita day is still justa day you cantdo more in a daythan you can doin a day.

I think Ill dig for clamswho think for themselves;its the easiest way.


40/50

Seattle

The streets are crooked

and the trees stay green

all year sunny and raining

in the great Northwest.Sharp islands by the

hundreds rise ancient

ideas rest in icy

horizons tides wash

away castles made

of sand whales and seals

moan and bark green andwhite boats signal their

departure. Home at last.


41/50

Crush

She seems bent to get her groove on,

but she knows her props wont last

that long when the shit hits the fan

and worst comes to worst.

Will it be that long?

She seems to squander her gumption, but really knows nothing of

fear or awkward advances that end up going nowhere. She cares a

lot but you cant tell. Thats my guess.

Who is she?

What does she really want? Is she looking at me?

Does she noticehow careless I can be when its raining

or how I cant stop tapping my foot

when shes around? Does she notice how my shoulders hunch up

even though all I want is to dance, breathe and kiss?

Who is she?

It looks like she just landed in a place where nobody knows her

name. It looks like she could use a bath. It looks like she might

blurt out profound mysteries forgetfully. It looks greener on the

other side of her eyes her face her skin her perspective her

quirky laugh her noble chin her prominent collar bone her pants


42/50

her undies her ankles her lips . . . her lips curve to the left and hercrooked smile reveals the scar of character.

Will she remember me at all? Will she say hi when she gets

back from the bathroom? Will she get coke or pepsi? Whats her

sign her symbol, her incantation, her warning, her mark, her

emblem, her signature, her chant, her charm, her mantra,her

catchword, her motto, her song, her fascination, her magic, herthumbs up, her ass on my hand . . . you never know.

Who ever said that slip slidin away wasnt O.K. now and

then? Who ever said fairies didnt wear boots

on occasion? Who ever washed their hands in tears

and didnt even notice? Who does she want to catch in a

lie or dip in a barrel of fresh butter?

Dont tell a chicken its a goose, just hang back and look

both ways. Flip and bounce sugar. Bump

and fly. Go ahead, steal my soul, fall down and die.

Trust me baby, no ones gonna think twice about it.

Dive in and float, just dont cry if the audience

doesnt clap or jump up and

down in ecstasy when Im finished

imagining who you are and

what you smell like.

Who is she?


43/50

Breaking up is fast and easy

I.

You should accuse me of having more thanone body? Tired sighs fly all the way honey and Ive got a ticket to the park.Wiped out birds and bees roast huge happy fun friend.Sifty fine green things bounce all aroundand you and me make bristles bunch.Bunny love sounds right if that damnedhush-puppy play turns out OK. So fine,we wont push it just so far, or give a puss-n-bootsto mix magic again beautiful or even carryour dumb-luck zithers anymore. It just turned outthat way wewept up and down, sticking our tongues out andflashinga patchof foolish grins.(Wordy stand-off rattles on and on however hard they try notto wonder if this could`a been a whole nother ball game.)

She says: So find riddle dribble, have to be saved.He says: Slip shine sunnyscience walk my way.

Great gasping falcons flip through my skin dear


44/50

dream life rusty, been long enough. Once a helpinghobodares god to cry, thats it, I guess were done fornowlist the places we can hip kitty swish a bit. Say welisp and leer.Does that make lip less sweet?

Fine, then try tricky shaking tackedon a door love and let me know how it goes.

(Live mini-monkies walk on the walls and wheneverdead lilacs dont come around tonight sounds final. . . lights off . . . cue music)

We were saying how we wished little legends

might miss fancy phonies or piss on passingnaysayers.We were saying how unlike you it was to skipblue and green when this time you know well get itright.We said you left and took life with you. As if dusthad debts to settle; as if wayward glitches matter

once the storm hits.

Headline:flying fish quarrelswith crisp nipple after all is said and done well.

Okay?

II.


45/50

She says: This voice is a body too you know.Treat it that wayfool.He says: Tried licorice license. Didnt get me in.

Ice blossom breaks fun whine way and thatbliss barn far enough big goofy child if you

do child if you dont humble bubbles sashaylikewise mushy babe.

Next time around lock the doorbehind you extra-special something

else lips avoid cool lining lush lounging

outside riff spoonin that way

and this bird whispering lax lullaby,freakish object resting on oddball mess

of unconventional notes drifting downriverlifts burly girls skyward

shouting out loud their lust and all

the rest.

(Both hurry airborne now fighting fits and rusty bucketsgod Im hungry enough for the moment jiffy split backslide a while and theyre off . . . )

Gospel mutation loves fatty acids, says thescientist smiling.


46/50

Change sings its own tunes, frowns theclown, chance has it after all.

More and more they come to find littered lotsemptied of flittering spooks diving to and fro. Sinceinsides only tag along, taking a break and guessing

are

not good enough for knowing the beginning of onetwo threefor joshing about piddly sticks and pick up lovers

neither thusnor then sweetie finally function follows form

and sleepygiving is likely. Is it fine to say We tried so hard

withoutwailing out loud over time ? Is it all good?

-- end


47/50

Just Because

I.

Just because its on my mind doesnt mean

I have to unearth giants blind trying

to present myself for the time being

true and real eloquent green feels

inventions waking up passing out

windows and eyes looking through has-been

postures holding back huge massive visions

yearning to let go of oversized stuffed

animals jotting down epigrams speechless

something for nothing composing quips

ditties and odes like sweet nourishing hush

make improbable vows easy to hear.

II.

Just because it occurs to me doesnt mean

I have to say it out loud washing away

other stories murmuring alternative

explanations reeking of genuine

enigmas barely bound in obstinate

hieroglyphics leave puddles of telling

quiet enables omens foreseeing


48/50

sweeping cycles soothing those who take noteof obscure outpost gathering fugitive

silence wise to hilltop historians

speaking thoughtlessly of lost worlds encased

in dead books bartered for piercing insight.

III.

Just because I think doesnt mean I have

what I want to get across is one

iota of spot on wisdom amassing

evidence of stillness nurturing

energy undetected precisenotion summed up for the ages

to consider starting over this

enterprising waste turning out to be

misery incomprehensible

hungry humans to wipe the slate clean

mop up corrupt arrangement

self-destruction last on the list.

IV.

Just because its funny doesnt mean

I have to laugh out loud careening

across details unseen by run of the mill


49/50

scenarios setting up humdrumexchanges weird character for spent

routine swapping mere treasure

for flickering comedy only just

detected catastrophe on the

horizon lifts me out of the course

of events mirroring ordinary

universes turn raw experience

into rare collective momentum.

V.

Just because I ride a bike doesnt meanI am balanced on the edge of a cliff

waiting for girlfriends to complete me is a

nice unnecessary convenience wishing

for excess of gratuitous lust is my

charm doomed for contentment lured

out of hiding comes tongue-tied shy boy

displaying his scratches wearing faces

unrecognized but easily accepted as

polite demons smiling the day away

outfitted in the paradox of breakfast

eaten and utterly honest always.

VI.


50/50

Just because we get dressed doesnt mean

morning is broken bread in the making

rising earlier and earlier

to taste distant intelligence given

complete license to drive rhyme home at last

intervals off the hook resonate

and the slightest profession of lame

deceit fools no one daring juicy

elation quenching unprecedented

craving dynamic multitude

restoring reasons unimpaired and stillfiguring out a way just to be myself.

Teighe Janic

[email protected]

Collected Poems 3

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Transcript of Collected Poems 3