cdq - Hello Poetry

In your bleeding cross-section I count three centuries of wooden wisdom since that mother cone dropped on soil no one owned. Black bears scratched backs against your young bark. Ohlone passed peacefully on their path to the waters of La Honda Creek. In my lifetime you groaned. Your bark filled with beetles. Woodpeckers drilled, feasted. Needles, whole limbs, you shed your clothes, stood naked. I cut your flesh. You walloped the earth, creating a trench two hundred feet long where you lie. As you fell in your fury you destroyed my tomatoes, smashed the daffodils, snapped a dogwood. Better you crush my garden than my house which did not exist nor any of this town when you first advanced one tender green. I want to believe the sawtooth less cruel than another winter of storms. All good fathers must fall. Your children surround you, waving, blocking the light. My children count rings, hands sticky with sap.

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cdq

Jan 22, 2017

Jan 22, 2017 at 6:39 PM UTC

joe-cottonwood

Autopsy of a Douglas Fir

In your bleeding cross-section I count three centuries of wooden wisdom since that mother cone dropped on soil no one owned. Black bears scratched backs against your young bark. Ohlone passed peacefully on their path to the waters of La Honda Creek. In my lifetime you groaned. Your bark filled with beetles. Woodpeckers drilled, feasted. Needles, whole limbs, you shed your clothes, stood naked. I cut your flesh. You walloped the earth, creating a trench two hundred feet long where you lie. As you fell in your fury you destroyed my tomatoes, smashed the daffodils, snapped a dogwood. Better you crush my garden than my house which did not exist nor any of this town when you first advanced one tender green. I want to believe the sawtooth less cruel than another winter of storms. All good fathers must fall. Your children surround you, waving, blocking the light. My children count rings, hands sticky with sap.

30

Standing in front of one Trying to knock it down You can touch it You can see them Walls All around my town I didn't build them Many were already there I just climbed over one Then another, and another Long before you came It's harder to get in between now

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Jan 22, 2017

Jan 22, 2017 at 6:28 PM UTC

cdq

My Walls

Standing in front of one Trying to knock it down You can touch it You can see them Walls All around my town I didn't build them Many were already there I just climbed over one Then another, and another Long before you came It's harder to get in between now

12

Goodbye enemies talking and stalking I never knew you while you spoke rearranging truth snide comments rude ideas toxic seeds in infertile soil planted deep without water dried without roots Goodbye enemies branches without leaves leaves without life rotting designs molding fruits twisting reality wildest roots lifting up houses poisoning mine Goodbye enemies smirk and stare I don't care I never knew you and you never knew me trauma bonding at my expense a primitive mindset but no drums or pretty colors or life-fortifying culture dried and dead Goodbye enemies

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Sep 29, 2014

Sep 29, 2014 at 5:02 PM UTC

cdq

Goodbye Enemies

Goodbye enemies talking and stalking I never knew you while you spoke rearranging truth snide comments rude ideas toxic seeds in infertile soil planted deep without water dried without roots Goodbye enemies branches without leaves leaves without life rotting designs molding fruits twisting reality wildest roots lifting up houses poisoning mine Goodbye enemies smirk and stare I don't care I never knew you and you never knew me trauma bonding at my expense a primitive mindset but no drums or pretty colors or life-fortifying culture dried and dead Goodbye enemies

36

Four Men Gather to Sing Among them my Father Father sings First Then the Rest Sing Father Sing Sing for Me Sung than Silent Sings no more for Me Sing Nature Boy Sing Camp Songs Ring Sing with Me by the Fire It's Burning Me Too Ouch Sing Artist I Sing back Praise Sing some More No more Sound Sing Knight Sound of Light Sing Again Silent

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Sep 27, 2014

Sep 27, 2014 at 2:29 AM UTC

cdq

Shunner's Quartet

Four Men Gather to Sing Among them my Father Father sings First Then the Rest Sing Father Sing Sing for Me Sung than Silent Sings no more for Me Sing Nature Boy Sing Camp Songs Ring Sing with Me by the Fire It's Burning Me Too Ouch Sing Artist I Sing back Praise Sing some More No more Sound Sing Knight Sound of Light Sing Again Silent

20

empty black purse old love notes all wrinkled now molding damp and limp boat trips and fancy dinners airplanes and hangers ocean views and hotels princess treatment promises made one plastic ring fit if taped texted pictures a portrait a yacht videos shared two months later invisible me and my quite room and an empty refrigerator let go empty black purse wild goose chase just a distraction a fantasy let go

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Sep 27, 2014

Sep 27, 2014 at 1:57 AM UTC

cdq

empty black purse

empty black purse old love notes all wrinkled now molding damp and limp boat trips and fancy dinners airplanes and hangers ocean views and hotels princess treatment promises made one plastic ring fit if taped texted pictures a portrait a yacht videos shared two months later invisible me and my quite room and an empty refrigerator let go empty black purse wild goose chase just a distraction a fantasy let go

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