"Brujo"
 
For the Bujo happy were nights when trees shadowed by moonlight
gave no residence to ghostly visitors.
 
Joyous moments when passing from waking into
Orpheus’s gentle embrace.
 
Those moments were longed for…yearned for.
Not unlike an addict searching for their daily fix.
 
Terrible were nights when dead perched in skeletal trees
shrieking their derision, scorn, like harpies.
 
Poets long moldering in graves forgotten had not powers,
Strong enough to keep his shades at bay.
 

 
I’ve had one or two
religious experiences at dinner tables,
ephemeral, brewing up inside me
like effervescent tea.
I was with Dan Smith at Aoeshi in North Olmsted
eating clear soup and flying fish roe,
what happened to that place?
It’s rare when food is good enough
to induce near catatonia in me……
 
…..mmmmmm…..sleep like this
don’t adulterate the body anymore,
this will be the last meal I eat
 
f
o
r
e
v
e
r
 
I don’t want it to end

Periodontal visits can’t be avoided and I’m running
late, on my way. Call and ask to speak with the receptionist. Confusion
ensues, my mouth’s wide open for the first time today,
and it won’t be the last. Clamped wide, "need to take the edge off?"
sir, sir, yes please. "What do you have available?"
endless gas, son.
 
because I haven’t done my homework I’m
reprimaned by an effeminate Spaniard.
uncle! I cry.
supply me more nitrous!
he releases more gas into the hose.
 
a picture on the ceiling entertains me,

Can this blazing furnace
Within ever chill out?
As more often than not
A fusillade of iron stones
Finds their way right through!
 
 
I can no longer take to the sky,
I have been stripped of my wings.
Sure! I can’t fly without wings.
Utterly disappointed I became,
For they can’t see the golden necklace in my hand!
 
 
What intrigues me the most, is
How under false pretence they stare,
Like a doctor to his patient they appear,
From all angles they seem to care,

all the words
i never said
all the words i wished to say
all the words
i kept bottled up inside
all the words that were left unspoken
 
all the words i couldnt hide
all the words
i felt inside
all the words
i had the power to say
all the words that were left too late…
 

(Part VI.)
This is morning
 
The sun rises again
this is morning
and there’s an alien sound
in the Hopkins corridor,
all too familiar
it is intrusive and huge
as I shower
pre dawn Wednesday
like I can wash it all away.
On the bus ride, the first of two to work,
there is vague, grumbled conversations
about killing Pakistanis, and Afghanis.
There is vague conversation about war.
Something catches my eye while I’m waiting
for the #6 Euclid on Public Square,

Bent out of shape
her limbs  move
Fluctuate into this new organic
Silhouette
Form
Conform
Create
Not create
Re-create this new image
Mold her imperfections
Into the chest
That her breast don’t belong to. Her body continues to change
Sprouting new
Contour lines
that
Instantly rip her flesh causing
Tiny trickles
Seething through the
Slits that have been cut
Out of her
I manifest into confetti
Attaching bits to
Each negative thought that has entered
This child’s head

Sent me one rose,
pink with red outlines, a white center.
 
Sent me one letter,
little blue envelope, flowered stationary.
 
Sent me two roses,
yellow with white outlines, light purple centers.
 
Sent me two letters,
little red envelopes, hearted stationary.
 
Sent me a smile,
bright, loving.
 
Sent me a love,
mighty, caring.
 
Sent me a soul,
guiding, sharing.

Sent me life,
when I needed it most.

The wind rustles the leaves
that overlook my place
 
A beautiful sky peers
in the distance
 
Lost but not looking
for the right way
 
The wind rustles the leaves
that look upon me
 
A beautiful sky
that lingers in place
 
Lost, but still looking
for my right way

You took my hand into your stronghold
as I lay sleeping on the couch late at night
You kissed my cheeks with your loving lips
as my body moved up and down from my short deep breaths
You covered me up with a warm blanket
as you wathched me shiver in the draft of an open window
You laid next to me that late night
like you sensed I needed you close to me