looking at the world from the bottom of a well

lighter than air, the clouds pass from white to amber to ghoulish gray. dank darkness follows, and it’s no longer a show.

if you listen closely, each drop of water whistles past the ears with a unique pitch, culminating in the inevitable splash below. at first the sound is practically silent. hours later it is louder than my futile screams.

just when I thought the shivering would never stop, I grow strangely still. the stars seem motionless as well, but when I focus on one in particular I can follow it out of view after only a few minutes.

you were there too, light years beyond the dimmest star. you didn’t say a word.

heightened security

heightened security —
fresh seagull droppings
on my windshield

gratitude walks

thank you for the gift
of yourself
unwrapped

bitter and opaque

bitter and opaque —
this cask-conditioned ale
and me

another hot one

another hot one —
a flattened racoon carcass
on a busy street

another hot one —
wilted wildflowers
in an empty playground

monday morning

monday morning —
storm clouds reflected
in the cop’s shades

full moon

full moon —
the dog pulls especially hard
on the leash

summer heat

summer heat —
the breath
of a bomb-sniffing dog

heat wave (continued)

heat wave —
pale green moss
on the courthouse wall

heat wave —
a strong smell of urine
under the bridge

heat wave —
wild mums
wilting in a vase

heat wave

heat wave —
a cat sleeps
under a parked car

heat wave —
every sound
the air conditioner makes

heat wave —
the breeze
from a passing freight train

heat wave —
the conductor
punches my ticket
twice

bury me with it

I could buy myself a reason, but I already have plenty. What seemed like a good idea at the time is now something the dog won’t bury in the backyard. It tugs at me with a doomed persistence—not strong enough to move me but plenty to disrupt my balance.

writer's block

writer’s block —
rearranging
the poetry magnets

advert

it’s all about striking a pose:
thirty frames per second to distill my life into an airbrushed fantasy.
a larger-than-life billboard smiling at me and no one else.
lie to me to lay your claim to my everlasting love.

angry candy

it’s hardly a secret that you’re no good for me, but I can’t bring myself to spit you out. I’m compelled to strike that balance between toxicity and intoxication, between the tantalizing sweetness that first drew me near, and the lingering bitterness that consumes me.

summer breeze

summer breeze —
the sway
of her hips

overheard in my imagination

A woman’s warm smile turns to embarassment and discomfort in the space of only a few seconds.

“I thought you were someone else,” she explained.

“I am someone else,” I replied.

summer showers

summer showers —
the early train
passes by

Lucky's Lounge

Lucky’s Lounge —
nobody here
responds to “Lucky”

Independence Day

Independence Day —
the dog trembles
in the rockets’ red glare

Independence Day —
a moth flies
into a spider web

Independence Day —
surrendering the lead
in the bottom of the ninth

Independence Day —
unhooking
her bra

Government Center

Government Center —
a child’s balloon
lost in the breeze