May 1 – May 8, 2020
Continuously crawling
In yon mud fields
Going on then (then)
Going on (then) there
Then stop then fall
Then crawl then sprawl
Then fly then called
Then oft then cuff
Or choked in fouled air
In sweetest fold
As thoughtless chatter
Gilds the mold
What yonder thunders
Weal or woe
Where wow thumps now
In frost or snow
Let us pray
(Or otherwise express
Regret, dismay)
Cruising to the moon
In a big fat pontoon
Warped speed
As in, get with it
By going without it
Put your dime
On a quarter
And your quarter
On a sputter
The world we knew is gone
(It always was and will be)
So make up new ones
With tape and stings
Fodder and shudder
Mixing hope with lies
Uncovering ganglia
In lair and slake
Bedazzled, tremble
Shake and fake
Until the tide’s toast
And mother of dreams
A threshing machine
For gasping at stalks
Like they were lollipops
And bodies made over
With bits of string
The Sphinx the tunnel
The ring around being
The river the mountain
The skinny the brink
The layer the brayer
A puddle of ink
In which to sink
Or spin
Like Desi & Lucy
Ditching a mink
“I come in peace”
(But not for me)
“I mean no harm”
(But not for me)
“I bear no malice”
(But not for me)
The shape of the color
(I’ve heard it said)
The ear of the eye
(But in other people’s heads)
In clamor in stupor
(Till leaves us cold)
In hammer or sty
(In calico lies)
Lock up the pistil
(Give me the tour)
Strike up the band
(I’m waiting for more)
Load the revolver
(I am ready to strike)
Sigh Say Sow
Seed Seem Suck
Suit Sweat Swear
Blink Blank Blare
Bitter Batter Bare
Unhook the monster
Is the mission
Bring up the rear
With infinite care
Tie your hair
Disappear
(Image: Gerhard Richter’s Seestück (Morgenstimmung) (Seascape (Morning Mood)), 1969)