24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
No one can see
this world but me
where aging stops at 23.
And if my body does contest
I yell at it – Don’t be a pest!
For what is more of who you are
is if you can be more than sure
that boring lives and silly talk
belong in garbage heaps of thought.
And if you think this not as real
then walk the plank of life in jail.
Dead man delivered in the mail.
Racing forward – human snail.
The only thing we pass along
Our vibrancy – unique song.
i tell myself that you are blissfully happy
i breathe that mantra into my lungs
like air
to keep me away from the phone
away from the memories
i tell myself that you have everything you need
exactly where you are and that your space is full-
even crowded without me.
i inhale the moments when i thought you were
life itself-
and quickly remember the hours when you brought death to me.
i remember still that you couldn’t articulate it well
but in some small corner light bloomed and i’ll never forget
that day;
the moment i understood,
the moment i separated truth from illusion-
the moment i felt myself falling-
through time and space-
through earth’s door.
i remember how it felt-
bundled and full but
empty and unraveled all at the same time.
blissfully happy is the mantra i tell myself-
you have everything you need
exactly where you are-
and that your space is full-
even crowded without me.
I feel you in my mouth
Murky soft
Hint of vanilla
Slight froth
You have become my best friend
I live for our moments together
You pick me up
When I pick you up
You fill me with sweet love
Sip after sip after sip
I have become enslaved by you
You are my truest love
My deepest need
My obsession
You hold my future
In the center of my palm
Do not fail me now
When I need you most
I do so love you
My vanilla roast
Time
Always fleeing
Never
Keeping still
Lost
In translation
Catch
Hold on
And never let go
I don’t know much about the Bering Sea
Except that it’s cold
Deep
Dangerous
Everything I know is from television
Fishermen turned TV stars
Everyday men doing deadly work
Weather that drives it all
Everything I know is from television
Except that you’re there
At night I think of you and
I can feel the cold wind
See the white crests of waves
Washing over the deck
As young men struggle to hold on
And pull lines of fish aboard,
Their focus split between life and livelihood
I whisper you name
Say a prayer
Push away the fear
Send you my love
And wish I didn’t know anything about the Bering Sea
I was thinking if him today and it made me smile. That ear to ear kind that makes your eyes squint and your cheeks rise. I could hear his voice saying my name in a loving tone. His beautiful imperfections I had gotten used to now I have to get used to loving memories because loving him is not an option. My choice but seemed like my hand was forced rather remember the past fondly then to suffer in the present. The hurt will keep me away reminding me of why I can’t have him.
Ah, mister cat!
Your secret fondness for sweets and treats did you in!
Your 30 white horses fled the rough red hill.
Would, that you could
Grin without a grin?
We now have to consider
The gibbet
They prayed
He would not requite his death
With storms or other
adversaries
A bed full of fleas
Was more than merely witty
Then came the ballybog
Mud covered they rise
On their bulbous bodies
Arms and legs like sticks
Their neckless heads
Grunt and gibber
The boggies chased
The murderous crew
All covered in fleas
They griped and they whined
Covered in ballybog slime
With his arms stretched wide
And a mouth full
Of rotten teeth
The bog-a-boo was relentless
Each man who hung
Old Charlie up high
Grew stuck in the mud
Human sacrifices left to die
Captive in the moment
Of magic,
Drums beating
Flutes playing
And dancing
Angels in.
Floating
High above it all
She joins in
The dance
Of ecstasy.
1. My mother.
2. Dressed well in a dignified way.
3. Loved to sing.
4. Knew right from wrong.
5. Born under the sign of Cancer.
6. Died of Cancer.
7. Pretended to care about sports.
8. World class cook in tiny kitchen.
9. Pillar of the family – like her mother.
10. Dignified.