I awoke on an island
in the middle of the sea
bathed in airy moonlight
surrounded by waves of pleating emeralds
I heard them smash on the coast
gently strong like a heartbeat
yes! the island was alive!
life did flow from every single vestige!
I lost myself in the forest
lulled deep by melancholy
for a feeling I had lost
there I did find total sincerity
and peace welling from each leaf
softer than the morning dew
untouched by the hands of man
at the heart of the island was a pool
within it was a great gem
of absolute purity
as if left unturned by lies
and within it were countless reflections
down the bright path of the king
in the throes of nameless love
and even the warmth of youth’s smile
nothing could fill my void so perfectly
when I stole this splendid thing
the island became nothing
like a struck match without air
I could feel that old burning still within
and I then knew of myself
I did not seek something lost
like faerie-born dreams of Spring
but I sought to let go of what I held

memories bud from long ago
of that hill near the sea
under that willow tree
where she had plucked that koto
and sang a bittersweet song
full of both love and pain
like the first of spring rain
that cruel winter did prolong
and blood that fell from her hand
staining the grass below
for the sake of her show
like feathers plucked with each strand
now the willow is in bloom again
while she plays for the first time since then

you and me
together
thick as thieves
stay with me
through the con
and the gag
my cohort
my ally
my comrade
just until
the punchline
I’ll follow you
in your footsteps
I can’t do it
not without you
you are the light
I’ll devote to
your disciple
your partisan
your apostle
in your lessons
never ending
you’ll be there for me
always by my side
‘cause you stand for me
blood on your iron
my raison d’être
is to rout with you
my chevalier
my front lionheart
my courageous knight
your sword raised for me
matched by my own shield
the nature of our bond
there’s nothing I can say
that will carry meaning
enough to express it
transcendent of title
I proudly exclaim as
your very pride and joy
your one and only heir
your affectionate son
I appreciate you
and the wealth of your life

a dream
fleeting
illogical
cacophony of those things that dwell
in
between
the world of fact and fantasy
the monsters
it seems
prefer
to
hide there
in the dark of our minds
where the vanquishing sun
cannot reach
that edge of all sanity
that cannot be understood
or reasoned with
where it’s all dark
and I feel dark
and everyone else is dark
another door opens
to fields of
lavender
when we used to
pick wild
strawberries
and we would
make honeysuckle
crowns
til’ dusk
that
lovey-dovey summer
I had hoped would never
end
but then I woke up
to find it had never
even
began

Summertime blues
feeling
down n’ out
gut out
passed out
on the street corner
where I hear
a familiar song
Deadhead born a generation late
never suited me anyway
just trying to be cool
but it’s too hot
I’m melting
I’ll become something
completely new
original
leaving behind what I was
I’m changing
for better
or maybe for worse
I know I’m not perfect
growing up *****
when you first see the mold
and it starts to fit
stick to you
like sweat on a
hot summer day
when you just want to
liquify
seep through the cracks
and drain where they aren’t
watching
judging
expecting
you to sublime
into something
be someone
go somewhere
even if
you drain into the gutter
out to sea
or if you just take a bus
to California
where the beaches
are cool
where the people
are cool
where you can just feel
your problems melt away
your lover is there
waiting on the beach
waiting for you
lover boy
just go for it
what’s to lose?
just go for it
strike a match
let it burn
catch fire
and let your heart explode
lock lips
and set her heart ablaze
shoot off
like a rocket
take a look at yourself
where did you land?
or did you just burn up
on re-entry?
did you see it coming?
did you see her coming?
did you see you coming?
‘cause you were really
cool
when you were
burning bright
you did it
tiger
you shot for the red-hot stars
you wanted to shoot for
and you made it

some days, I wish I could peel off the plastic
the polymer god of our modern world
some days, I wish I could digest my food
or strip off polyester suit and tie
some days, I wish I could turn off the screen
constantly feeding me the thoughts I need
our consumer world moves like elastic
bouncing from product to product, and sold!
I don’t ever object; that would be rude!
rule number 1: producers never lie
I trust the market, none can be so keen
and I trust the contracts I’ve never read
the things that make the world fit comfortably
they shape the world without a knick or kink
“to ignore the trends, or buy the wrong thing
is heresy! capital terrorism!”
still all in all I can’t help but question
“progress: something one must never impede”
progress to what? life lived acceptably?
“spend! or else the economy will shrink!”
they’re egotists that forbid questioning
so they can feed off their corporatism
and valued above all is ambition
But it's always the others they make bleed

your body
talks about you
every secret told
in anatomy
that’s a language
I understand
it screams
touch
feel
explore
every curve
starts a verse
that my hand
completes
every single part
says its piece
except the lips
those are busy
latched on mine
the way you move
smooth like
summer
you’re in charge
angel
take me away
send me off
but hold on tight
we can play a little
rough
let’s get to it
have at it
take a piece
lose ourselves
get lost
get sweaty
get busy
get lucky
just take me
take over the night
just one
sleepless night
and just lose it all
and just one
airy morning
when you wake up
lying next to me
just stay there
for awhile
just prove to me
that you’re not
just a dream