The cloud swallows the steel spires
jagged teeth into nowhere
structure and form digested
my morning takes hold
as I drive
these concrete byways
steady in lane
my imagination is bound
to follow the patterns set in
rock yet
I feel like mist.

I thought she was in the room with me
it is now clear she is somewhere
across a stretch of rushing thought
like a river that pulls those who dare to float
down onto breaking rocks.

My meaning seems to drown
swept away
and I make hasty calculations
on ****** expressions
trying to determine the safe passage
for my words.

What I would give
to be able to unshackle me from my body
climb into her head
and be done with guessing.

I sit
with discomfort and rue
old friends
met in a bar serving
fried intentions
and partially baked
thoughts.

I question
how our relationship
has morphed
or perhaps I no longer
have the receptors
no taste
for their brand
of humor.

Laugh now
too big
for the small joke
a reflex learned
to keep the eyes away
from the tunnel
that leads to my true heart.

I continue
to subject
myself to ethical
jump-rope.

For the sake of shared history
I stumble past
moments of awkward being.

with
days now past
for the doses, I would not sleep
incantations keeping dark horses
at bay, crowding
the edge of sensation
with a tension
that kept me buoyant
yet moored.

draw
all fast fumbling thoughts
heartaches flooding into veins
discord between passion
and intellect
as my head drowns
needing now
too much sleep
as if to
find the rest
of my dreams.

The oil evaporates
sludge taste
inhabits my inner-world,

The scene assumes
a character of brilliance
as my eyes are weighted
with blood and wonder.

I, myself, crumpled on my desk
amongst strokes ambiguously
strewn across the inky darkness
(finding parchment)

thoughts never
make it to impulse
I seek to write
yet I find
I am a character being read
by the faceless observer.