hold the line
thread of life
everywhen
timeless encounters
visions and dreams
keep me moving
one more day

poems to fit on
postage stamps
letters in a bottle
small testings of
vibes to decide
whether to go or
put down roots

there is never
any helping
anybody, or
being helped
only fusion
collaboration

a silent scream in my bones
hollow harrowing thorns
acid rain cacophany
words whisp off hot sidewalks
vanishing into thin air
intentions crumbling
dried black roses

poison darts
my rice-paper heart
alert and acute
to the wrong signs
a child digging worms
for a sunny fishing day
freshly hatched baby vipers
deadly fangs felt like kisses
somehow betrayed
by youthful innocence

black widow
on my table
inside of an
old-fashioned
canning jar

what have I
really rescued?
the hand from
the bite, or the
spider from being
squished apart?