Category: Poetry

Vowel Movement

Somewhere, something eldritch slouches this way.
You know its name; but are afraid to say.

Though, fear must be damned; for, you still must see.
What went round came round; it’s waiting for thee.

Held breath, for silence, breaks safe with a sigh.
The horror’s thrown off; but still lingers by.

You’re shallowly panting; waiting to go.
You shoot for safety; but already know.

The air itself holds a chemical clue.
You did your best; but about to be slew.

Remember your wings & take to the sky.
It’s such a relief we can sometimes fly.

‘Erring

What did I say to make them turn that way?
Did I mention too often I was gay?

What’d I say to make them hide away so?
Was I too honest, too fast or too slow?

What was the sign & did I just not see?
Was there a way that I could have studied?

Wait, why is me the offender just here?
Why do I have to carry SO much queer?

Did you ask yourself why you shut down me?
There’s protest all right; too much…& it’s thee.

Semivowel

Men are paltry things limited by a junior vowel.
Nurturing’s an act of change on par with disavowal.

Feed the thing inside of you that frightens those in power.
Answer all its questions; set it free from dungeon’s tower.

Being erudite does not require universities.
Nothing teaches us near as well as our adversities.

So, save me not from grist of days; or anything that shapes.
Give unto me the harder life; that carves & smooths & scrapes.

I won’t know what I will be when the final day slots in.
Yet, til then, I’ll’ve won it all…taking it on the chin.

Cyborg

Humans are no longer gaining ground.
The crash will hurt; whether rocks or down.

Tech will outpace us before you know.
Outstripped by data; our eyes screen snow.

Some species may outlive & learn us…
While tech throws humans in the furnace. 

Maybe they’ll do better when we’re gone.
Maybe, for A.I., they’ll not be pawns.

Then again we may have some sand left.
Time to stop biological theft.

Worm

Devouring tomes one pinch at a time.
Anything to shut out lights of lime.

By page, by chapter, by book, by author…
Vocabulary bursting its coffer.

Devices, tropes, cliffhangers & teases.
Heroes & villains; as writer pleases.

Some burn slow in our imaginations.
Minds blowing fuses at illustrations.

Climax leaving us just enough want.
Last, a smooth letdown in the denouement.

Middling

Do not say it thru a proxy.
Suck it up & use your moxie.

Do not teach any child to sneak.
Do not model a will that’s weak.

Do not neglect to tell them true.
Tell them adults have sad times too.

Don’t assume you own all our courts.
Do not compete in Love…that’s sports.

Forgive us all; rebuild our bridge?
Why not own your part…just a smidge?

Fire Crackers

“Celebratory gunfire”… something I keep hearing.
Firearms should not be combined with celebrating.

The image conjured is a slack-jawed holler dweller.
Gunshots ringing littered yards…the VP’s best seller.

Yet, this isn’t only a rural peccadillo.
Most of the world is armed…gun numbers only billow.

If you are a millionaire, strike that…only billions;
You can flee to gun control…be global civilians.

Still, this is not a cure all; for, most of man is poor.
Maybe just ignore the phrase; plug ears & hear no more?

Coyote Chorus

Oncoming traffic; headlights vivid.
Barely surviving; roadways livid.

Dead of night & camouflaged blacktop.
Fluorescent stripes; reflective red stop.

Dawn leaking color; new state, new day.
Ongoing rounds; it’s a long highway.

Northbound or southbound; onward trucking.
City centers; passengers ducking.

Papers kept handy; forges & bribes.
Crossing borders for life; current vibes.

Help Wanted

I am not the love of anyone’s life.
I have no husband & surely no wife.

I have loved with my whole heart one other.
If I was loved, it was undercover.

Sure, I have family…a special one.
They’ve folded me in to family fun.

Though, I am rarely held or seem enjoyed.
Am I just their obligations deployed?

Nothing I’ve writ, thus far, is truest fact.
Yet, it’s how it feels…effort’s free, so act.