I save up words like
bottlecaps and coins
I use up people like
applejuice and joints
I forget all of it like

I am not an English major
I major in “i love you”
I major in “what’s around that corner?”
I major in “why can’t i?”

My major is the inflection of the voice inside your head.

I don’t know whether you spoke in poetry
or spoke in cliches
because cliches are just poetry that has lost its life
or lived its life
or run out of life
And if thunder strikes or the moon shines or you are crying on the other end of a cellphone,
anything's poetry anyway.

Turtles in a river,
Mother and its kit.
Wood stove in a blizzard,
why don’t you google it?

Kayak tipping over,
Mittens newly knit.
Luckless little clovers,
why don’t you google it?

I’m staying inside today, if you please.
I’m staying inside today, leave me in peace.

Pebbles crunching softly,
Lantern left unlit.
Morning grass is frosty,
why don’t you google it?

Field’s cicada army,
Endless laughing fit.
Some song by McCartney,
why don’t you google it?

I’m staying inside today, if you please.
I’m staying inside today, leave me in peace.

Accidental ****-touch,
Waxy candle wick.
Silver greasy lug-nut
why don’t you google it?