I am so sorry for all that is wrong with the world.

This other Eden.
Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs;
Let's choose executors, and talk of wills:

For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground,
And tell sad stories of the death of kings.

For within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king,
Keeps Death his court .

BC

The spine before the flesh.
The hat before the breath.
The smoke before the tree.
The war before the fence.

A spark before the flame.
A bed before the blame.
A shark before the saw.
The teeth before the chain.

The laugh before the joke.
A cough before a smoke.
The flame before the fire.
A wire a wire a wire.

A Reckoning

in the red chair,
in the corner.
in the evening,
in the rain.
in the wakening,
in the theater.
in the dusk light,
in the same.

I am sleeping,
I am flying.
I am mustard,
I am tame.
I am lonely,
I am tired.
I am passed out,
I'm the same.

What Is Everything

In the bagel store on a Saturday morning, giant babies order very specific lattes (double chai, half caff, 2%), and sit outside with their dog on the portable dog bed; sit inside in their giant baby running gear; wonder where the line starts, wonder which baby should order next.

"What is that?" one says, pointing at the reflection in the silver steel counter top.
"What is that?" another says, staring at a cup of fruit.
"What is that?" a giant baby squeals, unable to contain her excitement.
"What is everything?" concludes another.

Realizing that this, this explains it all, the giant babies try to nod in agreement, but their neck muscles are not fully developed and their heads flail.

Several Dream

In dreams--You
give birth to squirrels and I
chase coconuts into deep blue,
crack them like geodes to
reveal the gold inside. Then the spring bridge

gives way, and we
fall through,
crack our heads on the rocks below
wake up as
rolled, wet toilet paper, Marty's dad
saying, "It'
s OK. We
can
save them!"  (The CPR only

squeezes the water out,
creating a puddle below the hospital bed.)

When I wake up from this I'll say, "I had a dream that I was a human, and I had a life and dreams."
Something will ask, "What do you remember?"
I will respond:
Nothing in particular. Two others. The squirrel. And every tiny second following.

One Syllable Short Of Haiku

I wouldn't want to
be a part of any love
that would have me.

Don't Walk away in Silence

I am sitting on the couch.
I am staring at the wall,
The wall with the darkened tv,
The wall with the darkened hearth.
I am sitting on the couch.
My back is to the window.
I am sitting on the couch.
I am staring at the wall.