Halloween

Dead man
propped up in
someone else's living room,
I don't recognize any of you
and have no words to say.

Mad man
walking in the darkness of
someone else's neighborhood,
the children's costumes
express my heart.

Sun Rise

In the presence
of gods and monsters
we are awed
humble
repentant
human
and if the sun
should rise after they've gone
and find us spared
we are grateful children
for a moment
and new.

Hurricane

I put them to bed
in another house tonight
already almost asleep
when I tell them I love them,
not bothered by a single thought
for that swirling, massive thing breaching the
coastline miles from here

Drive home in the dark
flags stirring, a few falling leaves twirl
and a light rain begins
the music on the car radio
is ominous and without
words

Hint

today had something like winter's bite to it
I tried not to telegraph what I was thinking,
never show your fear to winter...

it's like playing hide and seek,
if you want to stay hidden,
you never look directly
at the one looking for you.
 

Don McClean - Starry, Starry Night

Grails - Take Refuge

Thanks, Chris.

Losing The First Person

The fan, the clock, the blower -
office sounds in the pre-dawn stillness
outside it's dark, not far from frosting.

Here, they aren't really together
some sleeping under medication
some still awake and in need of it.

No one yet thinks to look out a window
for what the day promises or
to determine if it offers anything at all.

A man last night spoke confidently of a second man who lived
his life in a state of constant psychotic terror of the government,
the first man says the second man is better off now - dead.

It's nearly 5:30, the morning reveals nothing
no rebuttal seems forthcoming, only these moments
flowing one into another .

The Story Project - Lakota Teacher

Nature Takes It's Course

You, the Shit that shot that little girl in the head,
I would like to kill you tonight with my own hands
asking you through clenched teeth, spit and red rage
if your prophet really has no sense of humor or
if it's just your own unquenchable sense of inferiority
that makes you worship death and bully the small,
beating out of you the reason why your tyrant god
thirsts for the tears of innocents, the blood of children.

You holy  warring shithead...

You are less than human:
that thought blossoms in my reptile brain
the seed deftly planted with the perverse calculus
of your vile action.

This is how you win?
 

Alpha Shallows - Laura Marling

MALALA YOUSUFZAI

The entire world should know your name.

Fear

Hey, Charlie Brown

A co-worker told me she's always depressed
after talking to me.

Run while you can,
is all I'm trying to say.

Not like there's any hope of getting away,
I mean just run to experience the act of running.

Exertion will let you know you're alive,
slap you awake and out of your stupor.

We need that now and again, and also to remember
that the day is coming when you can't. Selah!

Seasonal Unrest

Seasonal unrest.

Watching a video clip of an accomplished writer
talking about writing and the life of a particular place
and it makes me yearn for the bubbling well-spring
of words and emotions and to be part of the life in that place.

At this time of year my choice is to
be a wind carried leaf,  blown vivid in a momentary blaze,
or to stay,  all gray and abandoned,
rushed over by clouds and such falling leaves.

Do what you do,
awake.

An American Prayer