Here I sit upon this train
As if again inside a dream.
Same people, same smell, same unknown stain.
Everything as it was or so it would seem.

Outside a shattered cityscape flickers by,
A million metal mountains that hold us all.
They reach, as we reach, toward the sky;
And we, not them are more apt to fall.

Something cold takes hold of my brow,
Returning me tersely to the present.
I fell asleep against the window somehow.
A pillow or porcupine might’ve been more pleasant.

I guess I dozed off when I got on.
And now my wallet and phone are gone.

Gathering and rising as a wild cyclone
You swept me the furthest away.
Lifting me to an unending unknown,
I forget who I am each day.

Because of you this tempest awoke
Viciously spinning from the very beginning.
A sprinkle of words when we first spoke
Swiftly ascended into sinning.

And as a storm must weaken and break
So, too, this torrid seduction.
For if this spiral I continue to take
Will force me to my destruction.

But **** the sun and the sky of blue.
**** this calm. I want only you.

big painter’s van
               painted blue
barreling through
every minute or two
have they nothing better to do
than bother me or you

searching for something
hungry, hunting
prowling about this avenue

me thinks their purpose rotten
                ill gotten
their nature untrue

this is all a matter of opinion
perspective
               point of view

but
from where I sit and stare
way up here
               out of sight
I have seen quite a few

In the faded light
I hear the wands light wrap:
Tap Tap Tap
to the far left,
and to the right,
the orchestra to surround.
Strings tight, tuned just right
poised to recite
with all their might
some mad composer's plight.
But, frozen in this moment of incite,
three clowns among the crowd
colorfully crowd my sight.
One looks on, one looks down,
one seems enticed by the sound.
Why? Whether a part of the night
or just happened to be around.
Then, as the music takes flight,
there is a fierce feeling I cannot fight
that, despite
my buffoonish frown,
these fools, these clowns,
and I
are most alike.

aviary for a front yard
countless cardinals sparrows jays
            throughout the entire day
back and forth to and from
they dart
to see it is a work of art
this tree and then the next
has me in awe
            from the start
the fierce faint and flick
no tale, no trick
just look up
            real quick
or you'll miss it all
this mad melodic pinball
this verdant ariose device
            there is also a hawk
his game is more precise
punctual predatory
            steadily soaring
keeping his eyes peeled
for his next gory meal
any stray 'munk, mouse, or rat
that does not smell a trap
grabbed
with evil ease
then its off
            into the trees
i might need to respect
my front yard aviary

a test:
a squinting smiling blue tie devil
or
a talking head in a red dress

telling us
to be impressed
we’re not broke, we’re blessed
fortunate, not fortuneless
anywhere we are
we are a welcome guest
we arent repressed
we arent oppressed
we arent depressed
we sure as **** arent stressed
the ****** machine is at rest
when its really working at its best
how dare we stand and protest
though there be a target on our chest
liberty and justice for all
save those we detest

you may think this a jest
but do second guess

the amiable, the iritable,
the inflexible, the concedable,
we the people in recess

we made this mess

so i’ve one simple request:
progress
or be a whole lot less

broke
as a joke
no laughing matter
all the fool for wanting
to grow richer, fatter
dreams
of strolling up to the king
with his realm, robes and chatter
when his back is turned
turn his staff to an adder
regicide
the realm replied
no sooner no sadder
swiftly sentenced to swing
the second day after
so it seems wrongs
replaced rungs on this ladder
**** being made
its all mad
for this hatter