square one

Square one
was exactly
where
I found myself.

just me on a square
like in a
giant
game
of chess.

around me
queens and kings
knights and bishop
all
go about doing
what ever it
is they do.

I waited until it was my turn to move.

That time to move on is now.

To move
and
live
or stay and be killed.

Sometimes
to live
requires
you must take what is on
another square.

So to the guy on
square two,
good luck.


08'

Betty

betty page died.

what i know,
is that
she went insane,
found jesus,
and
she married the same man twice.

everything else i have made up.

she exists
in my mind not as the woman who grew old,
but
who gave the boys and sometimes girls something
to hold on
to besides
their boring
lives where
no one wears cheetah prints except
on T.V

Who
gave perversion a face that sung choirs of halo's
and
took bread at the alter,-
that sat next to you
in the pews
but never
looked at you directly.

Who
was childhood heroine to the girls I
craved,
that sent me diving for pearls in deep empty waters.

Betty's picture was a gift
sent to them in plain envelopes,
never revealing the danger inside.
a subversive greeting
card
a secret language
a nod
and a wink


she gave fantasy
in an open hand,

which is better than losing the your love twice, going mad and looking for a god
that never returns your
phone calls

08'

Needles and Pins

 Needles and Pins

asked
my favorite
season.

Punctured

a voodoo doll.

all to become,
better.

I want
to get
better.

Imagining
what better means.

given horrible tasting tea,

I'd drink ______
if it meant
I
could get better.

such is
Acupuncture


08'

meany

I am a bit of a meany.
catching tigers
by the toe,
fearlessly.

I have made the
girls cry.

I have also
made some
beg.

I have been thrown out of
and
banned from.

Stood Up
Fired
and
Snubbed.

I did not watch my words
or my step.

but no-
this is not bragging.

the villian rarely
gets the girl
in the end.

why not change
why not be kinder

why not...
why not?


some people will let the tiger
go if he hollers,

The stupid ones,

Because
nothing is worse
than an angery
tiger-

Rest in Peace
eany
miny
moe




08'

The postman

I was sitting
in a waiting room,
the postman came in
and began a conversation
with the
receptionist-

he asked
if she got back with
her boyfriend,
and
asked about her
upcoming trip.

he asked her
to take lots pictures.

His delivery
was not special or
priority,
it fell flat rate.

it was awkward to
witness,
as he was
there for about
20 min.

Nor rain nor
sleet
nor snow-
can stop the
United States Mail,

[however]
[ your publisher clearinghouse-pennysaver-phonebill-christmas card from grand mama-
might not make it today because
no male
was ever any match
for the United States Female ]

08'

Nighthawks at the Diner

(For Tom Waits)

Whoa baby!
Tommy the Cat is on the loose

dishin it out
cold blooded,
with a side of greasy fries-

va va vavoooom-
Ladies sit back relax make yourselves at home-
count the silverware-

Gentlemen-
take a load off, sit a spell
call in sick tomorrow mornin-

good citizens
lock your doors

Tommy the Cat,
is on the loose,
the prowl
and nobodies safe
late at night-

as the Night Hawks Gather at the Diner

08'

shovel

sing or shout

surprise or sneak on by

shut down
shove off

spoiled and soiled

speed er' up
and
ship em out

the poems have lost
a bit of their edge
but
just show up
anyways:

your gonna need
a shovel.


08'