Radio Budapest(for Eva) Listen – an ancient tremoris shifting the landscape;teasing the waveswith her dark barcarolle.She’s gathering starsand sinking to baseline;the static of Radio Budapestcrackling inside her throat. In the voice of anothershe’s as still as a frog –wrinkled fingers entwinedover dark pleated skirt,head bowed & weightedaway from the light –her eyes cutting my wordsintoContinue reading “Radio Budapest”
Tag Archives: #death
The Dead Poet’s Case File
The Dead Poet’s Case File Ok, I admit it:I’m a sucker for anotherburned out poet’s epitaph,but I’m telling you – this isas close to confessionalas it gets around here. I’m warming to her –inclined to take her sidewhile she doublesas reality celeb by dayand muckraker by night –it’s a well devised ruseto throw us offContinue reading “The Dead Poet’s Case File”
Coming Home at Dusk
Coming Home at Dusk How faint the echoesof a loaded boomboxbelting out its metallic grind.Every deadbeat voice in townwould have been proud;delirious over the soundof a prodigal son – coming homein combat boots sinking under a naked sky.Making a scene with the tide – shaking your fist at the rainopen throated like your father;howling blueContinue reading “Coming Home at Dusk”
The Ventriloquist
The Ventriloquist It’s contagious –all this spirit writing.Voices from the other sidebreathing down my neckevery five minutes – buttoned upin starch & lace – lips pursed,sharing a private joke in silence. The familiar surgeof unexpurgated words,exploding like glassinside the cranial suite –overturning tableslike Jesus on a bender;hammering home the pointand he doesn’t care who knowsContinue reading “The Ventriloquist”
Cognizance
Cognizance It was never in my rider:these plumes of damp mistwith their bluish grey drift– poised like a spiteful tsunami.An encore of unknown dread,when as a child, my eyesburned beneath horned prongsof ancient trees – outstayingthe dead on a seared hilltop.These things I knew – long beforehuman nuance or pageantry,or of tiptoed paths cuttinga dashContinue reading “Cognizance”
Soloman Islands Song
Soloman Islands Song(four Chinese Quatrains) He sleeps in humid daylightover scorched Pacific sand;distant flags ripple slowlyin Vella Lavella breeze A sentinel moon whispersdream long my son of silence;offspring of a lost wind manscribbles tears in candlelight sotto voce words linger,taut hours unravel in sheetsof slant drizzle – heightens tangof shaving foam and sherry Croons withContinue reading “Soloman Islands Song”
Everything He Didn’t Say
Everything He Didn’t Say You never walked with Lorcaover dusty roads – amongstthe fresh morning twang of oranges bathed in rain,or stood your ground to returnfire with blue flames that burn the skin of beating palms.You never planted your feetin dirt beneath a choleric sun, or turned your face to the skyto listen with ringingContinue reading “Everything He Didn’t Say”
Memory Threshold
Memory Threshold(On my grandfather’s birthday) My father’s father-whom I never knew-saw first light in the yearthat Hardy publishedFar from the Madding Crowd. He surveyed the damagethrough Cabbage leaves,watched birds & beesilluminate their lives – like platesinside an antique pillow book. He and his sister – Mary,unwanted offspringof bug eyed immigrants,clinging to a board clad hovelinContinue reading “Memory Threshold”
Almost True
Almost True Your words throw gravitasacross silent winter skies;peeping through dusty shadesof lavender cloudsas if ripe for translation.We have all met beforebut we just don’t know it. These things will remain;compress & distortthrough a corrosive eyeuntil understood by all. And isn’t it also true,that the tracks I leaveare processed by memory;that I am hereyet seemContinue reading “Almost True”
Unsent
Unsent At the grimace of dawn,you watch the dayrecede from the minds eye;keep watch for first signsof spring – made good on its word. Each small living thingis seen through infant eyes,and a blue interim has liftedthe frost – shaken black seedsfrom their frigid cradles. At days end you dinewithout hunger – without the weightofContinue reading “Unsent”
Visions of Orion Poetry 