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May 2021 · 1.4k
Not the Place for Salsa
Abraham May 2021
I bang my elbow in the shower,
takes a second to realize why

not that I was careless
or enjoy pain, again

but the cascara
cowbell, saxophone,

hands around my shoulders
that are not my own

sunlight squeezing lemons,
flower dress upon the hill

potato enchilada
still
digesting
messing
with my footwork

    possibly

maybe

    I was careless.

Showers are not the place for salsa.
Jan 2021 · 1.3k
Ode to Mask
Abraham Jan 2021
I used to get very annoyed with my mask
each day I’d implore, “Is it too much to ask -
that my glasses don’t steam up when I walk in a shop
or to not have to swallow down buckets of snot?”
But lately my viewpoint has started to waiver
as I discover new uses for this multi-lifesaver
like wiping the grit from my spectacle lenses
or warming my beard when I’m out mending fences.

Then there are subtler means of employ
(I’m not talking about some ***** *** toy)
where this sliver of material,
though appearing unmanly,
has proven itself surprisingly handy.
Only last week, on a long evening walk
I crept into a church round the back of Earls Court
and sat down to the tones of an ***** concerto
that whirled within me like Dante’s Inferno.
Out of the blue I began to cry
emotions stuffed deep inside reached for the sky,
streams gushed forth from each quivering eye lid
I’d not wept so fiercely since being a kid
yet though it did not cover the whole of my face
with my mask pulled high I was
at least,
saved some disgrace.

When this is all over (I promise it will)
hold a thought for how
your mask did fulfill
so many functions,
besides helping you survive
and perhaps carry one in your pocket
to keep the memory alive.
Dec 2020 · 1.0k
You Shine
Abraham Dec 2020
You shine as far off mountain range
or breath of southern sea,
you shine like yellow meadow
basks with butterfly and bee

You shine as lonely patient gorge
crawls from heart of Earth,
and rivers ablaze with autumn fire
dream long forgotten birth

You shine as that kiss one
ripe
electric
afternoon
trickles down your spine,
you shine eternal morning
you shine
you shine
you shine.
Jul 2020 · 289
God Presses Into This Room
Abraham Jul 2020
My heart does not attach
(to what it cannot have)
my mind does not ask
(what it cannot know)
my body does not shake
(beneath your hips and thighs)
God presses into this room
God presses into this room
through the spaces in the blinds.
Jul 2020 · 206
You Don't Know
Abraham Jul 2020
When every day is like today
can't find the keys can't find the door
I wouldn't make it anyway.

Don't say you know
don't say you know
don't say you know
cos you don't know.

Can't seem to find the clothes to wear
there's not much left of '83
I can't believe that that was me.

Don't say you know
don't say you know
don't say you know
cos you don't know.
(Repeat last line)
This was a song I wrote back in art college performed with my band Chicken Chicken. Yeah, it was art college.
Jul 2020 · 312
Orange and Cacao
Abraham Jul 2020
You taste so fine
in the morning
you go down like
coffee and sunshine
or a bird on the fence.
Jul 2020 · 123
She Said Wild Pigs
Abraham Jul 2020
She said
wild pigs roamed the woods
so my heart bumped
and I tried not to show
how afraid the
darkening trees
or her footsteps
made me
as we descended
the hill.
Jun 2020 · 220
All My Joy
Abraham Jun 2020
This sweet milk tea
in Georgetown
contains all my joy.
Jun 2020 · 152
More Coffee
Abraham Jun 2020
Clouds blow the sun away.
More coffee.
Jun 2020 · 101
Here And There
Abraham Jun 2020
I try to be here
Mostly I'm there.
The wind.
Jun 2020 · 82
A Thousand Years
Abraham Jun 2020
The fallen tree trunk
meditates a thousand years.
Jun 2020 · 387
Green tea in a green forest
Abraham Jun 2020
Alan laughed through his cigar
released the bow string
the arrow shot into the clouds
and vanished.

Without surprise
he returned to the fire
letting the bow dangle
from his finger.

   The sound of water boiling reminded him
        of a morning in Berlin
the kitchen
      bread, cheese, jam
by the window
       Judith making coffee on the hob
patterns of blue wool
        about her waist.

Somehow coffee had always tasted like burnt almonds since
   though Miho sent him enough green tea from Japan
   to last several lifetimes.

Green tea in a green forest.
Alan shut his eyes, let the breeze touch his cheeks
and smiled.

“I’ve a question.”
“Yes?”
“Will you marry me?
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You’re too young. And I’m God.”
Jun 2020 · 113
Traveling
Abraham Jun 2020
Alone
in the joy of struggle
a backpack
memories
home.
Jun 2020 · 239
Exchange for Bonsai
Abraham Jun 2020
In exchange for scrambled eggs
I gave you
my bonsai.
Jun 2020 · 56
Sky becomes home
Abraham Jun 2020
From this shore
here’s what’s mine -
a cloud
pulled across the sun
whisper in my ear
clean
emerging
wave
sleep pushed away
silence
the universe
pressed
hot, cold
mine to turn
examine
laugh
stay in
this moment
sky becomes
home.
Mar 2020 · 169
This is how I love you
Abraham Mar 2020
I see you sleep
want to lift you up, say
I will love forever
every detail of your construction
cheek that stretches as it rests against your arm
beard painted with such devotion
shoes that peek from beneath a cracked robe
those shoes are attached to feet
feet attached to a heart
and a brain
all of them asleep
nothing in you thinks or feels or cries
or sees me
despite all the nights I’ve stood here
on the other side of this window.
Mar 2020 · 140
We see plants
Abraham Mar 2020
When it's dark we go to see the plants
no one else knows they're there
in the window of the entrance way
bright Mexican display of
flowering hearts
that laugh and love
love and laugh
I've dreamed of showing you
since the night we danced.
Mar 2020 · 253
Be here
Abraham Mar 2020
Could you be here?
the street sign, trees, puddles of wet snow
murmur Yesssssssss
father and daughter playing a card game
with the woman behind the counter
whisper You could, if you tried
the drawing and origami birds
folded up inside an exhibition booklet from Krakow
urge you
to be here.
Mar 2020 · 72
First awake
Abraham Mar 2020
Arrive early
release the thrill
let go the honor
     see that spot? Or shadow, there, in the courtyard
       beneath the tree?
lets imagine
draw the scene
     make marks, straight lines
       (at least try)
remind ourselves of how it thrills
to be the first
awake.
Mar 2020 · 197
Fiesta
Abraham Mar 2020
Throw down
Cruise deep
interesting views
through your sleeping curls
and thighs.

Remember the party!
Laze under blue pearls
drums like lemon shots
and cocoa shells.

Cruise into your sleeping curls
and thighs.
Oct 2018 · 363
The Sun to a Child
Abraham Oct 2018
This town scares me
the Power, the Glory
at seven-fourteen AM
behind the door.

This town shows me
irresistible pity, love
ragged and conspicuous
cockerels fight.

Last night
You confessed your plans
I thought
"this might be fun to watch"
but I sat and shook like crockery in a hot yard.

Lets stay here
let the blind teach us
as the sun does to a child.
Oct 2017 · 493
Another Town
Abraham Oct 2017
My baby left on a train
to another town
with her finger she wrote
"Maybe" on the glass
then pulled the shutter down.

How long is a "Maybe"?
when will my baby
be coming home?

My baby wrote only once
in fifteen years
it was the cruelest thing
you ever did see
'cos at the bottom of the page
she signed it with a -
"Maybe"...

My baby left on a train
to another town

My baby left on a train
to another town.

(Fade out)
Oct 2017 · 403
Blue Green and Red
Abraham Oct 2017
On drifted summer
of blue green and red
the wind lapped my face
with the things that you said
I'll never be near you
or tell you how pretty
the color of summer
blue green and red.
Oct 2017 · 356
Japanese Jewel
Abraham Oct 2017
Summary is made
variation of conviction
HUHTAMAKI!
HUHTAMAKI!
show your emerald phoenix
naked
free
content.
Oct 2017 · 381
Block Song
Abraham Oct 2017
I walked with her
from The Blocks
to the book shop
later we drank
homemade wine
in her crumbling house
I smelled sweet cakes
and Japanese love poems
    Have you met Edith?
    she asked
   (as have many others)
but I only had eyes
for her.
Oct 2017 · 365
Things I Remember About You
Abraham Oct 2017
Lions run beside us
through the cave
down the temple staircase
    will I remember you?
or this day or night
    will you remember me?
feeding turtles by the orange shore
lions sleep beside us
and we dream
Oct 2017 · 867
Untitled
Abraham Oct 2017
Bing bing **** annouce
train to Chiang Mai departs soon!
the king sleeps dog barks
Oct 2017 · 834
The Greatest Poem Ever
Abraham Oct 2017
I compose
right cheek on pillow
cool eye towards the morning
the greatest poem
ever
but
the words vanish
and I cannot not bring them back

so

I pick up my phone
TAP TAP the vilest thing I can imagine
send it out to the world
where
O
so many
throw their
***
against it.
Oct 2017 · 559
Orange Bowl
Abraham Oct 2017
Like your orange bowl
of sweets and sweet love
    It’s part of me now

              No way Jose, No way.

Like the place we first met
that begins with B
    Let’s go back tonight

              No way Jose, No way.

Because all the dogs down in here
smell your disdain
    And say

              No way Jose, No way.

This boat’s going to sink
so let’s get drunk
    and love

              On this day Jose, On this day.
Or Drunk Love.
Abraham Oct 2017
Sleep is overrated
    I think
        As a BRILLIANT BURNING FIREBALL LIGHTS UP THIS HOLY GROUND.

5
4
3
2
1

Small fish risk work.
Repeat five times a day for maximum benefit
Oct 2017 · 344
Kitaj Eyes
Abraham Oct 2017
white
round and clean
it sees me sit in the gallery
looking at the painting.

cold
smooth and generously
it pats my back when I get too tired to
look anymore.

if I said I could paint YOU
here in this room that YOU gave me
if I could touch the feet of
       the ones who cared.

please feed
please feed
please feed
me

white
round and clean
it sees me stand before the painting
laughing with Kitaj eyes.

cold
smooth and sincerely

it looks at its watch.
Oct 2017 · 431
Complet
Abraham Oct 2017
Running through the tall grass


she

 

IS SO BEAUTIFUL

 

sun   g l i m m e r s

laughs, she laughs


PLUCKS


an egg-shell flower from its stem...

 

 

...and eats it.

— The End —