For the sake of my Father, certain things must be done in a certain way. Certainly not carefully. He was never as careful as he could be. I make it a point these days to be so. But I can only be careful for so long. In intermittent droves, my canceled plans go drifting, and … Continue reading First Lines
Oh, with fantastic shivers, run Beside a candle dripping upon The table 'neath the shelf above A chair you sit, too dear It's backward, yet sincere And for the forgotten, it's been said There's nothing more to distinguish in it A portion of reconciled air Of putrid soil and debonair Stares You whittle off a … Continue reading To Havens Racked
Tripped up, forgotten, begotten all plumes for a way into a sinister land of lagoons, to be placed in preparedness, caustic and choosing no hope for a handgun--peace is our rule. And laughter is switched by a birth of insanity playing about a version of Sean Hannity. Plucked and bruised is my thoughtfulness, plain. You … Continue reading A Trick of the Mind
Waltz with high periphery beside no faded fantasy, as rain befalls no pretence on your lawn. And as you pass a blind man on the road speaking in tongues to no one, just don't look and he won't bother you. He is simply well involved in something else. And what? is not your problem. So, … Continue reading Doctor of Deliverance
Distracting no difference to mean in the shade or deliver cold shadows through heavens abiding no distance from Babylon, tried and be true, like the canvas I notice is yellow and blue, and the worm in the soil can't think thoughts I am sure, but you are no different and I'd tell you if you … Continue reading North Facing
I am an old piano Born in Manhattan. And with barely 70 keys, I still sit grand But not a Grand Piano. I'm ornate, it's true, And one-of-a-kind. A gift for a wealthy child at first But he never played me. I just sat in the corner of his room and looked pretty. Over the … Continue reading 1858 Steinway Square Piano
And I'm still half asleep as the morning bell sounds. I shower, shave, and make coffee. Forty-five minutes on the train to Union Square, where there are too many people sleeping on the ground. I take myself inside and the store's still in shadows-- And I'm going down stairs masked from the bit of daylight … Continue reading The Strand Shelving Shift
Three pairs of shoes, and a rotating fan Six dusty photographs, two broken lamps A leash for a dog A string for a cat Three overdue library books And three more In three days Due back There's a comb he's forgotten 'bout-- He's balding, it's true And he wants some more records Though there's stacked, … Continue reading His Bedroom and Its Closet
Our life is not a movie or maybe. Beyond what contrives to be able to be a cold wreck of dawn when the cities were towns. Just forget what's begotten aloft and brought down.Unless it's kicks you gave me. Unless it's tricks you played me. Unless it's patter with the crowds. Unless it's mixed to shame … Continue reading The Greatest Album of All Time: The Stage Names by Okkervil River
Work might get in the way of resting on your laurels. Work might take your hangover sideways toward illness. Work might play with its guns as you've cleaned out the sheets. Work might pace around screaming "more socialist seats!" Work might leave you in stitches, and cry out, "you fool!" As you waltz passed the … Continue reading What Work Might To Do You
It's March and you can't find your sunglasses, but it doesn't matter because the sun isn't shining. It's midnight and you're awake and you don't know why, but the moon is out and smiling and the street lights are on and it all makes you wish you had your sunglasses. Frozen in time, the world … Continue reading Midnight Without Sunglasses (after Frank O’Hara)
This door keeps out the sounds of the hallway. This door can hear every word uttered here. This door demands our attention when slammed. This door swings on its hinges, rusted. This door's in tune with the walls at its sides This door speaks not, but listens carefully. This door relies on its framing, unsplintered. … Continue reading This Door
high noon, moon shines. low eyes swoon swine. oh my sides shift up and moon drifts call out shout miff cloud six signs fix bold minds drift and though i don't shower, i drip. so, does the child whimper? does the mother kit swiftly? do the hobbies meander into bimonthly streaks? where do dig shepherds … Continue reading battle tested
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It's been a long time since I felt completely whole, ya know. Like, I wake up in the morning and I make coffee and I smoke cigarettes, and the rest of the day I yearn for that ritual - that simple doing of something that makes complete sense to me. I dunno. It's bland to … Continue reading The Devil Inside Me (a short story)
