B

As vulnerable
As fierce
Lion named mouse

He slips.

Jitters

I promised myself
That I was no longer
The boy that feared

Being betrayed.

I still do.

Barbershop

A not altogether ugly lady with parkinsons cuts my hair.

The conversation flows between Russian and English. Andrey, another client(Bill Rutledge), Svetlana (parkinsons lady), and Yuriy converse. ("--" is russian I do not understand)

Andrey: -----clam cowder, da, clam chowder----

Svetlana: dan clam chowder,da -------

Yuriy: Clam chowder? Clam chowder?

Andrey: Claaaam Chowwwwder, da.

Bill: So I've been reading about bear sterns and how the derivative market was completely misunderstood.

Andrey to Bill: The houses, they borrow, yes they sign loan but no money. No boat. They sign but no money. They loan.

Bill: yes the mortgage backed securities...

Andrey: The hotels, $1,000 per night in India, in Moscow, they loan and many of the owner they own building...

Bill: Yes as I was saying I've...

Svetlana: Clam Chowder, Claaam (hand movement) Chowwwwderr

Yuriy: da, clam chowder -------

Bill: been reading this book about bear sterns its ridiculous how they managed these mortgages

Andrey: building yes buildings they have to pay loan so increase rent and russians make loan like this too hotels $1,000 per night and pay off mortgage.

Yuriy: Clam Chowder???

Svetlana: Claaaam Chowder---------

Barbershop

A not altogether ugly lady with parkinsons cuts my hair.

The conversation flows between Russian and English. Andrey, another client(Bill Rutledge), Svetlana (parkinsons lady), and Yuriy converse. ("--" is russian I do not understand)

Andrey: -----clam cowder, da, clam chowder----

Svetlana: dan clam chowder,da -------

Yuriy: Clam chowder? Clam chowder?

Andrey: Claaaam Chowwwwder, da.

Bill: So I've been reading about bear sterns and how the derivative market was completely misunderstood.

Andrey to Bill: The houses, they borrow, yes they sign loan but no money. No boat. They sign but no money. They loan.

Bill: yes the mortgage backed securities...

Andrey: The hotels, $1,000 per night in India, in Moscow, they loan and many of the owner they own building...

Bill: Yes as I was saying I've...

Svetlana: Clam Chowder, Claaam (hand movement) Chowwwwderr

Yuriy: da, clam chowder -------

Bill: been reading this book about bear sterns its ridiculous how they managed these mortgages

Andrey: building yes buildings they have to pay loan so increase rent and russians make loan like this too hotels $1,000 per night and pay off mortgage.

Yuriy: Clam Chowder???

Svetlana: Claaaam Chowder---------

Liquid Jive

He sprays
He sprays

Papa bear
Has a Windex tip

He sprays
He sprays

at best

26,260

Tasting

It would have been kind
Of Him to discuss with us
His choices.

Perhaps He could offer
Options for those who prefer
Life as a tasting menu.

Some of us would like
Road signs in each nation
In a language we all understand

Some would prefer
Arrangements different from
The day that we get this life.

I'm just saying, maybe,
He could have avoided the
Whole Jobe thing.

Helped those black kids
Out in Katrina if not
Their parents.

They say God works in
Mysterious ways. Perhaps,
It would be better if he didn't.

Perhaps he needs a life coach
Or a management consultant.
Or just a quick chat with Mother Teresa.

I have a bone to pick with
Her as well. She's joined him now
In Heaven.

Do me a favor dear Mother.
Let him know that we'd like
Things to be a bit different.

The Large

One sees some
And wonders
How is coitus possible?

Betray Me

Betray me mind
With snippets
From old
Papers

With visions
Of appendages
Dangling - veins
And parchment
Skin.

Call to me
At night in
Pictures
I refuse to
Purge.

Cancer me
With scents
With the feel
Of the edges
Of body;
Mine once,

That cries
On the other
End.

I failed you,
Not a man,
To hold you.

End Games

Pliable
My mind
Festers
As souls
Enraged.

She calls
In questions
What are
You here for?

Moments are
For youth
Futures for age
And remembrance
For the
Advanced.

I shudder
To keep from
Shivering.

Mother,
What of
My demise?
All for naught?

N

New word

Piebald - me

The Dig

He dug holes in the backyard. Leaving old friends and memories in them.

A dog he had for a year that died being over fed.

And a brick from the home he lived in with her.

He dropped a couple suits from another life and his grandfather's watch in another.

2

We stumbled in

With smiles,

Uncertain.

And now.

And now.

at best

26,269

B

To smile for me,
Flattery.

A fools grin in
Return.

Thank you.

Arms

Perhaps her
Five faced
Fifty armed
God is better

Because even she
Deep down
Finds him
Awkward,
Mythical.

And never
Steps out of rationale
To embrace
Him.

at best

26,271

Sample

Sample the world
Nibble don't chew
A thousand tongues
A flavor for all
We have but a
Few thousand nights
To rejoice.

Lady

Lady in train wearing leather coat over leather jacket.

Cow inside cow inside cow.

N

What

What war?
When we
Have minds to fight.

What weapon?
In the face of
Fear.

What army?
To expend
Our energies
Against.

Small bud
Of thought,
Kills
Each day.

Revives
Again
Life relived
Between blinks.

Again

Step to step
Repeat Repeat
Flutters
Smiles
Kisses
Again

Planning
Circumventing
Coalescing
Fear

Step to step
Repeat Repeat
Flutters
Smiles
Kisses

Small grins
Long arms
Flights, trains,
And Cars

The lockstep
The beliefs
Of perfection

"This feels right,"
They say.

Step to step
Repeat Repeat
Flutters, Smiles, and Kisses.

at best

26,274

At best

26,278

Short

From death,
Life.
With arms,
With eyes.