The Void

The Void

“It’s an ache that is hard to not feel, and most don’t realize that they are feeling it until it has worn away at the defenses that need to be in place to do something when things crumble. When you let go of what you own and want, you aren’t given it all back eventually. You either take it back, or become okay with not having it anymore.” John sighed, took a sip of coffee, and continued. “The latter is preferable, but most people take the former path. I am one who has not become what he thought he would be, but knows that he is good and is who he is, and wants to become more acquainted with a 100% joy in what is, and let go what was, may be, should be, etc. The problem is the Void.”

Steve looked away from the spot of grime on the counter he was pondering, and turned to John. “The Void?”

“Yeah. The Void is where we let ourselves slip into when we forget to remember who we are.”

Steve leaned a little closer. “And who are we?”

John’s brow creased in confusion. “Well, we are all human. Almost and abundantly, I guess, would be the correct answer for that type of question.”

“What happens when we lose sight of that?”

John stood, went to the coffee pot, refilled his cup, and sat back down. “We don’t cease to be human, if that’s what you’re asking. We do have a harder time being human though.”

“In what way?” Steve leaned back, and lit a cigarette. He knew John hated it, but this was taking too long.

“Friendship is the first to suffer, of course. Not losing friends, but distance.”

“Really?”

“Here, I’ll show you.” John grabbed his 9 mm pistol off the table, and stuffed it into his inside jacket pocket.

“Okay fine.” Steve stood, and put his coat on. He followed John out of the house, and onto the street.

Cactus Juice Love

This bubble gum and cactus juice love
Is a love that spins
Sending sparks and bits away
And off into stratosphere
To lay waste to the surface
Of the moon
Craters that look like clouds that look like bunnies that look like clouds
That form from…vapor…?
Washing us like no shower can
No shower can

You’re something that I never expected
Sudden and insubstantial and more real
Than my own blood and skin and blemishes and stretch marks
A ghost wafting through my past
Seen only when I don’t look directly
A ghost that, when I sleep,
Enters my mind and plays there
Using needs as a swing set
Wants as tetherball
Fears as a slide
Hopes as monkey bars

You are
You are saffron and doughnuts and cat hair
Something that rages as rivers
Frothing, killing some, housing many
Canoes and bears and skinny dippers
You raise people up to new heights
Sometimes the victim/victor of pyrrhic victory
But constant, cool and preferable

I am sending you constant brain waves
Hoping that the theories on telepathy
Are false
And you can feel me wanting you
At all times
And you can feel me needing you
At all times
My eyes water and temples throb
From the strain
Of this broadcast, a channel tuned
To your unique frequency
To your beautiful frequency
To your unforgettable frequency

I will always have these broad arms and shoulders
To cover and create barriers far from the physical
Continuing on to, and coming from the physical
The phoenix rising
Shaking off ashes, deciding to only do it once
It may be a new beginning, but the pain
May not be worth it again
Braking the train that continues unending
Through barriers and people and hot dog stands
Killing and destroying and STOP

The point is that I love you
Words are fine, but stop short
Of how my breath catches when we kiss
How my heart beats when to touch me
How my eyes lose focus when you sigh
How I rise whenever you fix
Those deep and gorgeous cerulean eyes
On mine

The point is that I love you

I Linger

I linger


I linger

I linger far longer than is necessary

I linger perchance to catch sight

Of milky thigh and calf
Of sinuous and sensual hands
Of ice blue eyes, ladybug freckles, full lips
Of laughter at what I say

Of closeness when you can touch
Of deep words when you can speak
Of knowing looks when you see
Of shared scents when you can smell
And sweet textures when you can taste

I don’t know from one moment to the next
When your senses
Will decide to work for me
When they will open themselves up
And let me in
Or close shut like reinforced lead gates
Trapping me outside
Yes where there is sun, moon, stars
Wind, water, earth
Gaiety, mirth, love

It encompasses me and fills me up
I welcome it and am uplifted
Showered with all life offers

But I enjoy it alone

I revel in it, eyes sparkling
Reflecting the fireworks back at themselves
Turning over every experience
Like a new and exciting taste
Feeling the cracks in the world
Prying them apart, diving in
Cold rush of frigid water of release
Deep jungle unexplored, hacking through
Exotic and fresh and boisterous
I turn to include you in the wonder

You’re not there
I know you’re not
Knew you wouldn’t be
Know you may never be

But the land rover
Space ship
Air plane
Speed boat
Canoe
Motorcycle
Hovercraft
Old sedan
New sedan
Bicycle
Hang glider
Bob sled
Is built for two

As much as I can drive alone
Find my way
Make it to the other side
I need someone to navigate this life with
To point out what I miss
To change with me
So I may do the same

The impression in the seat
Is yours
It will never flatten out
No matter how many miles
I put on it, on myself

It is absolutely, completely and ridiculously
Yours

Rhubarb and Honeysuckle

Rhubarb and Honeysuckle


Every word waterfalls and crashes
Sprinkling little letters littering shores
Wading out to grab them I begin
Begin to form new words
Different than the old ones I threw
So eloquently down and splash and cold
Words that explain it all
That verbosely interpret how I feel
What I’m thinking
How it really is
But should have been
And wasn’t

I bring the words to your house
The mailbox stands there, red and tilted
I walk up and notice the flag is up
I knew it would be
But I had to try

With shuddering fingers I open it
Inside is a folded scrap of paper
I pick it up, gnashing my tongue with yellow teeth
Trembling breath and knocking knees
Things a body does
It doesn’t want to do

Three words bellow up at me
Even though they are written
In small, untidy and unassuming scrawl

“It’s too late”

I sob and almost release my words
Back into obscurity and loss
But no
No I will not let go again
I fix my face and my flaw
I run up to the door
I know you are home
My legs quicksand because my brain
It says no
It says it won’t help
It won’t do anything
It says so many things full of no and not

My heart is a tiny prickling voice
That I have to strain everything to hear
It pipes up one single word

“Try”

So I do
I knock, and you check the peephole
But you open the door anyway
You peer out, not angry, just ready
Ready to answer everything
Like my brain is, with no
And you should
And it is and it isn’t otherwise
But my heart is now yelling as I bring my eyes to yours

Up to placid blue, light sky after lunch
Or before dusk
That curled strawberry mouth
Dripping with the best dreams I have ever had
Dark hair climbing down
Then up into my ears
To muffle all but these words
These words I am about to say
I take a short breath
My lungs have all but collapsed
I pull in as much as I can
And say

“I know you fear and so do I
I am afraid
I am here and nowhere
I am within me and it is good
It has been too long and not long enough
Peace comes by inches
Propelled by love and hope
For ourselves
For each other
It is silly
It is so very very silly

But it’s time to let go of fear sweetheart
It seems ridiculous
But most of the things worth doing are
Hey beautiful
Let’s get ridiculous
Just you and me”

And then you breathe in deeply

And then you………

Sameness

SAMENESS


Your eyes are cerulean cotton sheets
Swaying clothes-line slowly
On hot enough days
Their ripple cause by brushing hands
Of warm wind
Rattling slight opening and closing
Soft scent of soap and rain

Your fingers are piano keys
Ivory and smooth
When pressed and interlaced with mine
Music sometimes flat
Sometimes sharp
But always beautiful lilts and clamors

For hips are rolling hills
The kind that drop your stomach going down
Rise it going up
Leave you breathless on top
Satin grass to lie in
Close and complete
Undulating, beckoning, laughing

Your name is a killing word
Destroying the want to wake
Obliterating the need to get up
From next to you
Tearing down my defenses
Squeezing out salt tears
Tearing into my skin to let the sun in

The most amazing curves
That travel from back of neck and under arms
Far down to tips of toes
Roller-coastering fast and fire and free
Ripping out and in then out
Down to hungry and hot and wet
And moving past to taut
To white pearl
Watermelon and strawberries and whipped cream

Your song causes ruptures in everywhere
Makes places loosen and relax
Others tighten and rise
None stay the same
They all curl, shift, twist

The completeness of you
Is vast and incomprehensible sometimes
But real and same and enveloping
Inspirational
Beautiful
Awe-inspiring
Singular

Music

Notes!

The story is awesome. The poem was begun (barely) about 4 months ago, and life happened. Now I have dug it up, and added new things to it. Almost changed it completely as well. Enjoy!

Ridiculous

I Want To Believe That The Truth Is Out There


Zornak turned a few dials, and his personal starship began to power up. “I swear, Klardun. The Great Crystal appeared to me in a dream. I need you to believe me.”
“Well, I don’t.” Klardun snorted. “The only reason I am coming on this ridiculous journey is to show you that you are very wrong.”
“You’ll see.” Zornak’s brow creased as he remotely removed the docking clamps from his ship, and begin to raise the craft into the air. “The crystal told me there was other life out there, and showed me how to get to it…I think.”
“Wait,” Klardun turned quickly. “You think!? So you’re even more lost than completely? That’s just great, Zornak!”
Zornak couldn’t help but frown at himself and Klardun. “I’m sure. I know it was a dream. Our logic sages would tell me that it means nothing, but the few mystics left would urge me to follow it.” He accelerated even more, hit the thrust button, and they shot out of the atmosphere, and into the dull, dotted black of space. “If I didn’t do this, I would spend the rest of my larval stage wondering if it was actually true or not.”
“So your logic processes are going well then. I thought you might have lost your minds, but you seem to be functioning well.” Klardun sat down next to Zornak and put two of his four long, green arms on his shoulder. “We have been friends since the birthing core when they accidentally sent both of us to the same brood drone. I will follow you anywhere, but I do not want you to be disappointed.”
“I know. Thank you, Klardun.” Zornak switched on the automatic pilot and trained an eye on his friend. “A part of me expects to be let down, and another part knows I am crazy and is trying desperately to notify the rest of me. Yet…yet the largest part of me, down to my hearts and stomach, knows that I am right. Knows that we will find dumb, but alive and flourishing someones out there.”
“The Great Crystal told you this, right?”
“Yes, you know that.”
“In a dream?”
“Yes. Why are you repeating your questions?”
“Just making sure I have it right.”
Zornak sighed and stood up. He placed all his hands on the back of a chair. “Look. Logic plus science plus common sense tells us that we cannot be the only beings in the universe.”
Sighing himself, Klardun leaned back in his own chair and put two hands behind his head. “That is correct, but it has been a millennium (give or take) since we took to space, and none have been found.”
“We have not searched everywhere.”
Klardun scratched his neck, and glanced out the window. “That is true, but we have searched many systems.”
“Once again, not all. I am going to look behind. Unthink, and go completely against how we have been taught to think. Unravel my own mind to make a straight line to the truth.”
Klardun sat up. “How will you do this?”
Zornak chuckled, “Search a place that our scientists have decided could not possibly support life.”
“And where would that be?”
“In a system with only one medium-sized star. Small, really.” Zornak crossed his arms and smirked at Klardun.
“Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Our physicists have proven that life can only exist in a binary system with large suns.”
Zornak threw up his hands. “Yes, and they got that information how? By finding a bunch of life in these binary systems? No one or thing has been found! They have only searched where they have decided life could exist, without trying the possibility of something ridiculous.”
Klardun stood and advanced on Zornak. “Ridiculous is not scientific.”
“Of course it isn’t if you think of it in those terms and always trust the textbooks.” Zornak stepped back. “Thousands of years ago when scientists found that everything comes from the very small, and that most of the universe is made up of nothing, it was ridiculous. Preposterous, inconceivable, and impossible to everyone, but it was proven right. Space travel was once thought of as impossible, and now we are bending space to our will to get somewhere millions of miles away very quickly. If you tweak your mindset, you will see that ridiculous things are proven more often than they are disproven.”
Klardun opened his mouth, then closed it, raised a hand, dropped it, and finally slumped back in his chair. “You are a logic student as well as I. How did you change your mind to think in such a way?”
Zornak came to Klardun and placed a hand on his shoulder. “My very best of friends. All I did was believe. I did nothing more or less than believe that all the ridiculous things could be real. That spark is what drives me, compels me, and it makes itself grow with passion and a fervor for the truth.”
Klardun looked up at Zornak, “You should have been a poet.”
“No thank you. It does not pay nearly as well.”
Klardun smiled, but it was soon gone. He looked long and hard at his friend. He licked his lips and took a deep breath. “Okay,” he said slowly. “Okay, Zornak. I am now with you in this all the way.” He raised a hand. Zornak took it, and pulled Klardun to his feet. “Show me these awkward pink primates you saw in a dream.”
Zornak smiled again. “I will do so much more than that, friend. Buckle up, Klardun, because we’re about to get ridiculous.”

Problems

Problems


Absolutely Not
Not a careen but a gradual gradient
Sloping, some y=mx+b
Finding "m"
Trying to make it zero
Attempting a confusing piece of math
That is out of reach
That I will never understand
Or conceptualize, puzzle out, simply know
The fact, core idea, absolute and honest
Failing at figuring a googolplex
How to construct a telescope
Or the behavior patterns of the Amazonian Capuchin

I am an Amazonian Capuchin
Family-oriented, quick, smart, adept at adapting
But still a monkey
Not an evolved form
(No offense meant to Capuchins and Capuchin enthusiasts)
A cute monster
In the way very unassuming,
Immature and childish things
Are cute

Forcing a balance between when to explode
And when to implode
If I can do both at once
Perhaps they will cancel out
And nothing will happen
I hope for nothing
I hope for no thing
I hope for no happening

I don't pray because
(Once again, no offense)
No one is listening

Besides a soon-to-be-swatted fly
My own mind
And the government

I try not to entreat, beg, grovel
To the invisible
To loose atoms
The universe is composed chiefly
Of nothing
Of no thing

I am far more dense
Than the little moving bits of fluff
Of no consequence
Of ignored and disregarded invisible
Not intangible, but invisible
Not insubstantial. Invisible.
Not shimmery, corner-of-eye maybe
Fucking invisible

Back to math please
Back to simple
Back to blue ribbon, honor roll, first chair
Easy and overachieving and weightless
Back to what I wanted it to be
Forever
But it is not, and won't be
And someday
I hope to be okay with that

I am An Amazonian Capuchin

The Cat (For Diamond. Inspired by Galway Kinnell)

The Cat
(Inspired by Galway Kinnell)

He isn’t alone
People simply assume he is
But something follows him
Some luck or protection
A thing like a misty spirit
Bringing him always home and mostly safe
Alive definitely, albeit battered
Yowling for food
If the neighborhood rabbits were too fast
If not, lounged on the couch
Washing and pondering victories and defeats
His gouged ear and broken teeth
Never seem to bother him
Crusted blood, many scars
He isn’t alone

He sleeps with a girl
Close and warm
Breath rattling a bit
Moving in-between fantasies
Of his former lives
Golden king of a pride
Amenhotep’s exalted cobra-killer
The shipping company’s rat-scourge
Joyfully and wildly running
Sprinting fierce after game
Savannah rolling grass and sweet rain
Bunched muscles powering on
Scent, taste and feel of meat and blood
Shared with those he protects and loves
In his way, the only way he knows how
With strength and growling and rough play
Keeping safe from hyenas and vultures
A guardian, sentinel, barrier, fire
He sleeps with a girl

He enters deeply, these hearts
He knows how they wait, worry
How they are so happy to see him
When he comes back proudly
Tail held high, a present (dead sparrow)
Clutched in mouth, displayed proudly
Or a friend following, a guest
Another cat who samples his food
Takes a nap with him, and moves along
We always believe they don’t care
Their snide and sarcastic demeanor
Is merely for some kind of show
That we aren’t meant to understand
But he loves and loves and loves
He did, does, can and will always
He is always
He enters deeply, these hearts

"Daughter" (Revised a bit. Let me know!)

Daughter


And as they stretch, these woods
Masking and turning dull the sunshine
Leaking through gaps, thin and terrified.
She runs loud, trilling after the rabbits
Never catching them. My daughter
Laughs to be here; young and living

She reminds me to breathe, live
To build with sand and water and wood
To appreciate Earth’s sons and daughters
Her moss and rain and rocks and sunshine
Her bumblebees, lizards and rabbits
To breathe, and be not terrified

Of this truth which is terrifying
What it truly means to live
How four year olds name rabbits
Moving in-between vast suns
In places damp, cool and wooded
This pretty one, she is our daughter

When he calls her, “Daughter.”
We know the lie, and are terrified
Looking forever away from the sun
Pretending to be again and alive
Ignoring the soft, welcoming woods
Where I take her to see the rabbits

Truth skitters and hides. It rabbits.
All our focus on her, my daughter.
I want to weep truth at the woods
Crouch and tell her. To terrify
Hurt her in her new, fragile life
When all she knows is sunshine

I will not eclipse her glorious sun
She may chase every rabbit
And never catch them, all her life
I won’t stop my beautiful daughter
I will stay quiet and terrified
Hiding, unlike her, deep in my woods

These woods have always terrified me, Daughter
Along with the sun, these rabbits mean my life

That Blue

That Blue


It’s a thick, soupy fog
Extremely low flying clouds
Visibility zero
And other things pilots might say
When it’s hard to see
I don’t
I don’t have the energy to be cleverer

I have sapped the strength
From myself
Jammed the hose in
Deep, deeper, deepest
With my own hands
Turned the pump on
Willingly

Cured the strands of rope
Braided them
Tied, lashed, tightened, overlapped
Imprisoned
Welding a cage from the inside

There isn’t a thing I could say
Okay
I could say a lot
But I shouldn’t
Or should I?
I should but I should but I should but…
I do
It doesn’t mean anything

It’s pointless

No it’s not

Not if I make it
A road that doesn’t (have to) end

I am the architect
Of my own path
Erector Set’s bottomless bucket
I am the marble that rolls
And the hand that pushes it
The hinges that snap
Springs jump
Sending spinning
Loop-the-loop
Wild careen

I am so sorry I am saying it
This way
Instead of the way
I ought to

Maybe

I am not even sure what I am
Sorry for anymore

Yes I am

Just as with the road
I dug the pit as well
Lined it with sharp rocks and fire
Such a cliché

No it’s not

I hate this
I don’t hate you

Given

No one laughs
At the retarded nothings
Like you do
In fact they don’t laugh at all
Not even a courtesy chuckle

I speak my mind
Try to delve deep into the issue
And they stare at me
With blank
Dumb
Mindless
White
Agreeable
Arguable
Black
Red
Eyes

The blue has been robbed from everything
I want the blue back
Blue meaning skies dotted lady bug-like
Clouds

Blue meaning cool meaning pure
Shivering pain and pleasure water

Blue meaning a Jay’s song
Or the thick juice of berries

Blue meaning more than I do
Not muted denim
Watercolor
Rainbow
Sneaker
Spearmint
Back-up lighter blue

Nature’s inexplicable blue
That splashes from certain frogs
Or birds
Sort of

That blue

That blue that eyes should be
Placid lake warm soft
Ripples small and over quickly
Lived-in
Life-giving
Body-cooling
Heart-holding
Tear-mingling
Hair-waving
No breath blue

That blue

That you

Thoughts on "Daughter"

God who knows...

Daughter

Daughter


And as they stretch, these woods
Dull sunshine
Leaking through gaps, thin and terrified
She runs after the rabbits
My daughter
Laughs to be here; young and living

She reminds me to live
To build with sand and water and wood
To appreciate Earth’s sons and daughters
Her moss and rain and rocks and sunshine
Her bumblebees, lizards and rabbits
To breathe, be not terrified

Of this truth which IS terrifying
What it truly means to live
Like the 4 year old naming the rabbits
Moving in-between suns
In places damp, cool and wooded
She is our daughter

When he calls her “Daughter”
We 3 know the lie, and are terrified
Looking forever away from the sun
Pretending to be alive
Ignoring the soft, welcoming woods
Where I take her to see the rabbits

The truth likes to skitter and hide. It rabbits
All focus on her, my daughter
Wanting to scream with truth at these woods
Crouch and tell her, terrify
Hurt her fragile life
When all she knows is sunshine

I will not eclipse her sun
She may chase rabbits
All her life
I won’t stop my daughter
I will stay terrified
Hiding, unlike her, deep in my woods

These woods have always terrified me, Daughter
Along with the sun, these rabbits mean my life

Thoughts on "From Their Eyes"

If a car full of drunk people was going much too fast down a dirt road and crashed into the forest bordering that road...what would a tree feel, think, and do?

From Their Eyes

From Their Eyes


I have been here for hundreds of years
My arms reaching to the sky
Swaying lightly or fast
As the wind sees fit
Soaking in light and water and waste
Allowing you to breathe
To exist, write, eat, feel, think
I have a limited vision, for my eyes don’t turn

But the things I feel

What vibrations come up my roots!
While the tires bang carelessly upon the road
Their beat and rubber and metal and plastic
Spinning off careening into me and my sisters
My whole family
The wreckage seeps toxic smoke
The vehicles blood saturates the soil
Which we then absorb
We can’t stop
Can’t help bringing in the bad AND good

While it slowly becomes one with my landscape
Its body
Its passengers
Its soul and gears and heart
I hurt
I burn and twist
I grumble
I vomit and sag and begin to die

When they flew through my house
Much too fast
Did they know me?
Did they feel or see me?
Did they care?

When they crashed
Did they know they were going
To kill me as well?

When they died
Did they apologize?
Did they, in their last moments
Look at me
Cry
And beg for forgiveness from both God AND me?

I don’t think they did
They saw their noses
And now they see no more

I stoop
My sister attempts to catch me
But it is too late
I fall
We all fall
Eventually

And at the very end
I forgive them
I forgive God
I forget and gaze upon my wife
Still tall and beautiful and alive
I tell her I love her
Say thank you
Then good bye
And I die

Thoughts on "Time After Time"

It's anyone's guess what's going on here. This is from a couple years ago. I just found it, edited it a bunch, then posted it. I seem to be struggling in this poem.

Time After Time

Time After Time


Madam, where you stand
Is shaky ground
I will not be rushed
For I do not yet
Truly know my own heart
It will take
As many suns and moons
As it has to
Until I am ready

30,000 may pass
Maybe more
But I cannot say “yes”
If it is not the only word
In my heart and mind

Slow, be patient and do not
But love me
For I love you
But am beginning to know myself
And am not sure
If who I will be
Is going to love you as well

Trust that you are fine to me
Your words sweet and wonderful

But you want time

I, however

Need it

Thoughts on "...Flames"

We were told to pick to words and make a poem out of them. This is it! I like how it turned out. Whenever I want to be funny in a poem, I have the tendency to be silly before being clever. I actually worry about it a lot, but I think I did well in this poem. What do you think?
-kev

How to make a bridge out of flames

How To Make A Bridge Out Of Flames

First head down to Castro
In “The City”
Find some!
Ask if they would like to be
A bridge
It is that easy
Sure, some may resist
Others will agree
Probably most
So you get them all slathered in
Masonry
Tied together with steel cables
And by gum
You will have yourself a bridge
That is FUH-LAMING!

Or maybe a bit more literal
Build a bridge
Light it on fire
Then lay it over a creek or something

No?

Okay

A steady burn can be fought
But a blaze usually never stops
Until it has burned
Itself
Out
When you turn back in life,
Did you leave your bridges
Unscathed?
A bit on fire?
A lot on fire?
You should check that
You may have to go
Back over that bridge some day

Thoughts on 5 AM

For this prompt we were told to combine 2 memories. I didn't do that. I wrote about a lake instead. So there!

5 AM (Also from poetry class)

5 AM


The water and sky meet
Not like the ocean
Horizon touching sun
No
At this lake
5 AM
There are 2 worlds
One we see
Shining and doing
What it always does
The other
Seems to be a mirror reflected
On calm green placid
Before boats
Children
Fisherman
Stake their claim
It’s almost the world
But not quite

It is, both at once
A pale imitation
And supreme improvement
In a way more dull
Brighter
Confusing and awe-inspiring
Stimulating and a little scary

Like remembering a fantasy
Maybe a moment rising
Falling
Exhilarating
The soaring
Loop-the-loop ecstasy
That churns organs
Dropping and skipping
Swimming blurred vision
Over over again

I could gaze at this lake
For hours
And it would let me
Saying nothing but how
All is right
In both worlds

Thoughts on Poems from Poetry class

These are from class. Enjoy!
-kkev

Poems from my Poetry class

HAIKU WA II DESU NE


A shivering cool
Window open, frost and snow
Under four blankets


Chirp and squeak, bubble
Cold run off swims and bright baths
The sun comes again


Trudge blazing sweating
Frisbee played amidst the best
My freckles explode


The silence before
Sleep takes over, dull, but sweet
Moving from into



How to Speak To Your Garden Variety Visiting (Not Invading) Extra Terrestrial Being Capable of Understanding English or Other Forms of Earthen Language


The first thing to do, as with any guest, is offer them something to eat
Unless you’re worried YOU may be a potential choice
Then simply offer them water, or maybe a diet coke
You know, something safe and slightly non-committal

Do ask them where they are from
What the weather is like
The composition of their atmosphere
What the opposite sex or sexes from their planet are like
As pertains to their preference

You might ask what they want to know about Earth
Unless they have studied us for some time
Then you can leave that question out
If they tell you something you don’t like, keep it to yourself
Nod and agree with everything they say
You can complain to your friends later

Do tell them that the feature that stands out the most looks simply elegant
Ask who does their tentacles, and compliment their shape
And how long they are
Let them know that you think four arms is the only way to go
And of course you’d be happier with a dorsal horn

Do NOT tell them you come in peace
Tell them you come in cars or bicycles
You know, the classic ice-breaker joke
If they are as smart as they should be
They’ll appreciate it

Accept a tour of their ship
But not a ride
Unless it’s a joy ride

Make sure to inquire as to the Ph balance
Of any drink they might offer
But make it sound like a question of interest
You don’t want to offend

If they compliment any Earth technology
Walk softly
It’s hard to tell if an alien is being sarcastic
But if it seems like they’re not
Wave a hand, and tell them it’s not that great
Say it must be much less advanced than what they have

Finally, say farewell in the manner they do
No matter how uncomfortable
It may make certain sensitive areas of your body
Wave, smile and wish them a safe trip
Come back soon!
Don’t forget to write!
And you’ll finally be off the hook



My Green Hoodie:

My green Malibu hoodie
Is gone
Forever somewhere else
Lost in time
Perhaps sucked into a portal
Now worn
Enjoyed and loved
By some alternate-Earth Kevin
With perfect eyesight
A bit shorter
Without a sister
Actually done with college

My hoodie
Was a blanket of sorts
Toasty and protective
Shimmering armor
Great for battling Tucson winters
Never even close
To acceptable
For a Wyoming Spring

This hoodie
Stolen from Wal-Mart
In youthful destruction
Never regretted
A perfect pilfered prize

Saturated
At times
With cigarette and pot smoke
The scent of a woman
Man, both
Or sweat and beer

My hoodie was debated upon
Hated occasionally
“Take it off!”
“Throw it away!”
Ripped and faded
Multiple thumb holes
Destroyed and re-made

My hoodie meant
Worlds
And now not much at all
I have a new one
Have had others
Will have more
But that fucking hoodie
Was one in a million

Thoughts on "POWER".

I had just read about 4 articles in a row that threw the true state of our nation into sharp relief. That's where this poem came from. Hope you like it! Let me know!

POWER

POWER


A grinding
Surly muttering and grumble
A slow mechanical breaking
Gears, pistons
Misfire
Allowing oil
Precious precious oil
To seep and stew and simmer
Evaporating
Falling where it cannot be
Reduced
Reused
Or recycled

A stark and emaciated end
Rotting abandoned fetus
That was once something
That was once tangible
That was once human
That laughed and sang
And clichéd its ass off

No more
An absolute and depressing ideal
Never again hope or hope or hope
But despair
One of the seven children weeping
Almost bitterly, but freely

New found in this old place
Open to the blunt, sharp, and even soft
Yes
A megaton of prospects
A gigabyte of information
15,000 km/second
Careening through this contemporary world

This fashionable babe needs no bottle
Binky, diaper, or otherwise
A self-sustaining new born
So much more advanced
Than the society that claims to protect it
A college-educated adult
Fully formed and bursting
Promise
Fatigue
Drive

Yet it smells of death
Of side-of-the-road detritus
A blistering stench
So debilitating
A hallucination-causing odor waft
You can see inside
See inside and glimpse its potential

You see nothing
NOTHING
A watery vapor thuds
With what could almost be called
A heart beat

It isn’t.
IT IS NOT
Incapable of existing
It flits, never seen, but leaving behind
Traces of its putridity
Eyes and moths water
At the nauseating
And the power

What it wants and what it gives
Always at a price is power
Power
Power
POWER

Always at a price