Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Poem #5-2012 Immortality


Immortality*


I want to care - I want people to think
I do - I really give a shit
or maybe I think I’m  supposed to care - It’s only a phantom
all that guilt-driven shame - the constant harping
heaped on me - dosed in good measure
by a well-meaning but fascist parent - applied with “love”
comes to fruition - leaving welts
late in life - on tender skin
Too late? - “Not enough,” I scream
The “what is” and the “what should be” - unnecessarily
wage war in my crimson thoughts - But they do make it seem like
I really really don’t give a good goddamn - at times
about much of anything others think of me - yes, not even you
yet I still act like I do - understand completely
Am I in control? -  A lack of empathy
Or is it she—still? - Shrew-bitch!
And the gray elephantine weight of it all - Bearing down unmercifully
colors and smothers my every labor - crushing any effort
to write, speak, move, feel - to love!
If I could drive a stake - with abandon
through the heart of darkness - to the hilt
I would—ending it - forever
But there is immortality - with her blessings
and her name is “mother”Amen


*This is a “cleave poem.” It can be read three different ways: left-to-right in its entirety, just the left side (in bold), or just the right side (in italics).



This poem contributed to dVersePoets Open Link Night.
Follow them on Twitter @dVersePoets.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Poem #4-2012 Dragon's Breath

She said, awkwardly,
"Thanks for the compliment"
Her tone almost a question
I said something even more ridiculous
She walked away
I sat in silent disgrace

That is how it's always been:
I am no good on my feet

And although I have charmed the monster
a time or two
Exactly "how" escapes me
No learning takes place

Now I'm in a place
where I don't want to,
don't need to,
and wouldn't act on it anyway

But it's fun to see if tempting
the dragon's fire (without getting burned) is still . . .
possible



This poem contributed to dVersePoets Open Link Night.
Follow them on Twitter @dVersePoets.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Poem #3-2012 One of the Secrets

I will tell you
one
of the secrets.

It is to stand
silently and gaze
at a full moon
on a clear night
until the word
"AWESOME"
arises spontaneously
in your soul
and then - suddenly -
the world will make sense.

But only for a moment.

And that is just one
of the secrets -
finding one will reveal
the others.



This poem contributed to dVersePoets Open Link Night.
Follow them on Twitter @dVersePoets.