2 fist-sized potatoes or equivalent
1 1/2 tbsp. butter, softened
About 1 cup Flour
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. ground mustard
2 eggs
1/3 cup Gruyere cheese (sub Cheddar, Asiago, Jack cheeses)
1 1/2 tbsp. Dried chopped onion

1/4 cup canned black beans
1/4 cup chopped broccoli
4 asparagus stalks

1. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil

2. Peel and dice potatoes into about 1 in. cubes

3. Add potato cubes to boiling water. Boil for about ten minutes, or until soft

3. Chop broccoli and asparagus (you can also use peppers, or your choice of fried or sautéed veggies) into thumbnail-sized pieces. Add to a lightly greased pan with salt and pepper. I added Italian seasoning to my asparagus. Just make sure to use seasoning that goes well with potato.

If you are using fried onions instead of dried chopped onions, fry them up during this step!

Lightly fry the veggies on medium high for no more than five minutes.

4. Take out the softened potato and add to a bowl with the softened butter. Mash them potatoes up

5. Add in the ground mustard, garlic powder, and dried chopped onion, as well as salt and pepper to taste. Mix well

6. Cut up the cheese into half-inch cubes or bits

7. Add the fried veggies, drained black beans, and cheese cubes to the dough and mix them in well. Try not to add too much moisture to the mix!

8. Add flour little by little and mix thoroughly until the dough is relatively dry. Too little and the cakes won't stick together. Too much and they will be too dry.

9. Beat eggs in a small bowl

10. Make palm-sized patties from the dough. Coat each patty in a little flour, and lightly cover the surface in egg before frying.

11. Fry patties in a lightly greased pan on medium heat until golden brown, flipping halfway through.

On the eve of my commitment,
I stammered.
The sky caved in
But resolve stayed blue.

My shifting feet held perfect stance
With heaven howling at my dance
Until it took me in its maw,
My name was Matthew Michael Shaw.

I told you how I loved you dear,
My fractured darling, ear to ear
I swam into your broken heart
Was it I who broke you,
Tasting art?

Pretty girls,
Rent money,
Used cars and cash for gas,

Rainbows,
Beautiful sunsets,
All kinds of advice for hard times

Long walks on the Gulf coast,
Alcoholic drinks.

Medications,
Days slept in,
Job opportunities and free homecooked meals

Kind extensions from underappreciated friends,
Candy.

Car repairs and music equipment,
Swallowed grief and county jail visits

Everything

Seems to collapse

At the center

Of this boy's heart.

Red
You tear into me every day,
A blind maw tearing cartilage, muscle and bone

Red
Take your meal, you filthy ****
And leave me squirming in the dust

Red
My tendons snap
But you are deaf
And hungry

Red,
Like your gay champions
But you're a liar
How can they be better

Red
When you buried me
Still breathing
And spit in my eyes

Red

Red
I won't read books

Red
I hate your stupid song,
You passed right by my own

Red
You can go **** yourself
And leave me all alone.

You should have been
A champion
And folded finely all that flesh
But now your skin has come undone
All loose and splayed
A lazy mess

Your origin begs something more
And shame hangs on your pretty form
So much that now, you start to wilt
You make me sad,
You wasted time.

don't despair to lose me, child--
i will always be.

listen to the music of your youth
and know it's me.

i have died a thousand deaths,
i'll die a thousand more.

to reappear as something dear,
and better than before.

and if i come back evil
or in a lot of pain
i know i might forget
that we'll be lovers once again,

and if it doesn't matter
here's what matters now:
dancing on my fingertips
and furrowing my brow

cradling this moment
a heart full of intent

a cup that runneth over, yes!
and anywhere it went.