Pond and Ocean

Now we dream back no longer what’s up
next. Still each new day we step on
a path, beyond an entrance, greeted in friendship.
An open gate, each person swinging;
saying, “howdy.”

Red Dress, Gray Suit, Brown Squirrel. No
complaints, disguise, or violence.
Marsh-hawk, conjure these trees global
umbrella and make its measure infinite.
Rose blossoms become duvet.

Although so many historians say no future now;
although one and a half million walkers killed by firearms;
instead, early in mornings heritage roses release a kiss.
Now believe apocalypse an ancient mistake.
Tie shoes left over right, etc., and proceed.

Here’s a carousel, a see-saw and
one remarkable razzle that has lines
waiting patient and kind and each
greets the other one-hundred languages;
none, misunderstood.

So, we’ll take this, export it, require
that spore-like effort spreads to
relinquish “I” and gather together as
“we” here, now in the park.
Hello, friends.

Multiple birds, one stone.

Work

A brush, a clumsy grizzly
wall of mirrors, a euphemism.
A baking sheet repeated with pride.
A pickaxe lifted, a shovel whose
luxury left town.
A chisel, a bulldozer and now
a page – tall grass,
modern conveniences and
a world shed.

Double or Nothing

Comfort car watched a limp
one of the game all-day rock
and a little bit yes, yes

Stepped closer to remove lucky
man lay back in those maybe
you get then removed it

His head slowly muffin skip
forget go back echoes you think
hung up and placed like that?

Red face didn’t he tell you
yes and no a glass to beat it
he seems sounds right arm

Neighborhood kids up first smiling
apologizing when in response
about tonight the cold black curve

Dressed three times the second that story
then topped-off again thinking
in the midst of the music

Hello, out to listen and have
supper oh have supper why
don’t you high whine some guilt

Lamplight floating into air
the morning left with the milkman
it means don’t go downtown

You mean even the game the room
a beast of burden you got little
clubs best of all a piece

Picture the luncheonette its replica
and faking the fools, thousands
a pain to the bus stop

Relax words and knowing
the matter placed in arms
now filled up with eyes open

Sometimes most of the time
to take it the smell the voice
pleasant and beside their play

Paced and watched it
the mirror into our house
cash from the luncheonette

Across the street at the hotel
shook concern saucers plates
could not stop shaking it

Nothing nice and cool a new
mix a calm return a nod
and would see them be better

Then moved like a key in the
living room trying to forget
run smooth into the medicine

Troubadour in a tower kept after
one thing to suggest the house
more than the rest of them

What’s so sad dusty streets
real and unreal from remembered
days and sunk into a hole

Flush the money opposed
foldaway desires the bank
the muscles the sneakers

Glass doors on the sharp
with anger not here and now
folded luck they had buying

A shave ordered scrambled
eggs until calm and kissed
by a chair like swollen this

One matter for the machine
the sales the next day the
only one but don’t worry

This house icy feelings and
let the worry mark my words
against the wall brown earth

Air-conditioned time coming
and days like vacations
but they reached all that

House back with property those
keys clean shirts like a person
along the highway to a settled

Place the front row the pillow
the stuff of life things freaky
crazy cash for the night