A Coagulation of Clouds

walking starting never stopping
a brief rest at the ridge's crest
look around and see
Earth spreads out eternally
to the limits of the sky
gravity, our minds and hands
to be a little puddle
to evaporate right up
to fly away new nubecita
cradled by mists and wind



We cry in fits and sob in hiding
(we wouldn't want to cause a fuss)
when a nice soaked pillow is full of weeping
soggy exhaustion embraces us
our sorrow evaporates all evening
while we sleep and dream of doves



two jackrabbits tango in the brush-spotted snow
the blizzard has paused for now
they dance through the desert graceful
in tiny applause from every shrub's shadow
through drifts like sand dunes low below
where looms the protector, Sanctuary's prow
the mountain everyone knows


G is for Grotesque
Ghislaine on tous détesté
Bury that filth
in a landfill
We suspect that would be best



whisker-thistle carpet sweepers
and frozen business mourning doves
the Wizard of Oz in Parliament
would suit that world a glove
in post-Rational America
a mad thing must make sense
a vote for any talking head
is a vote for missing rent



O ringtail cat sleek and lean
come dance with tiny reptile mean
to smash a bozo plip plop plap
you and we shall cheerily snap
their necks and fingers with delight
with bloody claws and eyes so bright,
comrade, ride with us to FIGHT!



a child embattled as if with no fear
keeping locked tight every cry and all tears
"It's not really courage if you haven't a choice"
words lost from their lips despair stealing their voice
a shadow obscured, a dust mote for years
til echoes of agony bring music to their ears



each cat-singularity has a yawning black hole
a portal to Elsewhere deep in their soul
on nights when their passions are aroused
millions of clowders all over Ur carouse
from beaches in tropical Zanzibar
to remote Tuktoyaktuk near the north star
a caterwaul can scare the ghosts
banishes memories of awful hosts
and dinner parties unpleasant most
but true strength swells in their wails
to soothe the dry and deadly gales
of Wendigo when he is raging and howling angrily
for cats a-caterwaulin', they howl in sympathy

A Mesmerizing Cat

change silver copper nail clippers
brushes ashtrays combs and pens
eroded memories of urges
fabulous fascinations forgotten
in pauses between the dirges
they wait to be discovered anew again


one hundred seventeen by thirteen is nine
reptiles are divine
a dubious prickle of porcupines
mill about knee deep in brine
discussing the state of their seaside find:
A remarkably delicious leaning pine


it happened in between blinks
feathers flipped the switch
a lesser man would drink
but she just lived with it
like needles pricking eardrum
stab jab of cold-burn flame
blood leaks among her tresses
no wince at agonizing pain
her spine was an iron railroad
a mule-breeder's most trusty knife
she was a married woman
but she was nobody's wife
her eyes were flint and fire
lit from the source of rage
five men took her power from her
but they're all in unmarked graves

A Simple Hoop of Grass

cold gusts and dry grit dust
a series of sounding clicks and klocks
great distance from the tarry docks
where pylons creaked and splintered
no matter how far we've been
we still lose our soul each winter
horizon low and infinite above
bones in the desert don't need no love


wind between a butterfly's flaps
hollow at the base of his throat
a drop of sweat glistens reflecting
rays from the lazy dusted window
rise slump her chest as she sleep and breathes
is peace absence or a hint of near
the cold alert breath of fear


thrusting tidal surge
like a lustful yawning urge
agape at the cape devours
spit a dungeness to sea remit
Ocean decides what to do with it


sanctuary sneaking never take the same path home
he waits for you when nobody's there, you know
go up to south park and stop by sprouse-reitz
buy a bag of marshmallows, can't afford no new kicks
eat em fast, maybe fit in this skin
50 cents a week ain't enough to fit in


she surrounds
  clasps us to her cold breast
hooks rend our flesh
  torn to quanta
passed through toroid gate
    absorbed
  controlled bleeding is how we emerge
rise above with the surf
           great black earth
  in miracle reflection of sun's cruel power
midnight is just an hour


darkness like a warmth
familiar as the impression of the womb
a crèche a sanctum full of myths
a dreaming place where vision flicks
an aquarium with a rock that clicks
night bring mystery and Moon

Canyons and other Cricks

start at the top
it's an easy, slow hike down
very picturesque, sublime
she fell in love as we declined
     a brief moment of rest
     the tears of minerals streaking
     how long does that take?
as long as it takes for us to break?
we won't wait
we've done this trail before
we'll switch back up the other side
sorry, we haven't got time

memory melodies
mumbled meaningless murmurings
frantically feeding five ferocious fiends
it seems
lies like lead lullabies love's luscious lapsang
crush crumble collude cling climb collapse
pain punctures pancreas primal pall
five frozen fawns' frosted fear



One crisis two crises three crises four
that was today preceded by seven more
we expect forty eight more in the next two days
each just one tree in a trackless forest anyways



rolling hills of dappled mesquite
where scrag and snow and winter you divine
cold light you cast is better for tracing sign
each shadow stark reliefed, stained by Night's wine
nothing is fresh by noon
best to follow under Moon



words and phrases flit and dart
to soothe the soul or rip out hearts
every word has a feel
each carnival of kaleidoscope eels
love a labor later lover
eat a deep fried stick of butter

Elliptical Arks

Change is certain wealth is not
remain forever just a dot
besmirching stinker or wretched blot
an infant or a tiny tot
escape humanity by diving in your skin
in forever competition it is certain no one wins


Green's not right her color is white
like bleached bones in the desert or a blizzard's bite
she doesn't care if it's day or if it's the darkest night
Death has each and every last one in her sights


in the frost of every winter morning
ice crystals form in our heart
slicing muscle fiber with every beat
bleeding inside and discreet
we smile with our steel teeth
make the motions, and the speech



whatever it is you wanted from us
it seemed to require our pain
so go away now and please take it with you
all we need is a liter of water
and we're nothing under a cloud full of rain



disco rice is euphemistic
flies kill birds and tortoises
nothing like being eaten alive from inside
stand witness to terror and anguish in eyes
we'd love to reject all the civilized lies
people don't care when a centipede dies
and progress isn't worth the price