Book o’ Verse

Do you believe you have bone inside you?
Have you bought stock
in the scam that
you’re made of stone?
Why not skin? Solid through?
Why not dense-coiled hair
to prop your fading hips?
As if we have a pelvis … Read on Macduff...

in his red and black
“Incredibles” pajamas
with his arms propped
behind his head like
a catapult on safety.
His face is a bass note,
calm and confident
as if to say:
“I’m a super hero. And a bass note. … Read on Macduff...

You’re not the only one made uncomfortable
by these lens flares
twin pipes
that threaten, curl,
and shine.
They can wrench the wind out of a room.
Catch 5 quarters in mid-air. Each.
And when they sneeze
you turn away … Read on Macduff...

At the coffee shop
a man long past down on his luck
head resting on a piece of paper
pen in one hand
but no words on the sheet.
Just 60 or 70 short lines
twitched in all directions.
A … Read on Macduff...

After a while
they wanted to get so used to it
they’d have
a different word for each kind of rain
say, one for fine-pointed rain
that comes down
light and silky
one for thick drops where the rain is … Read on Macduff...

I am inclined seaward.
Tilted at my desk
with my hair
saltwater soaked.
Seaweed, of course.
There’s a mussel in each ear.
and a starfish sucking on my nose.
Five equal segments hath the starfish.
No heart, nor brain, nor … Read on Macduff...

Bladed stars
shuriken with bright black tips
spread out wide against soft cassis cardboard like bats
behind a glass case.
I’m shopping from a safe distance.
Five feet back, where the merchant
can’t catch my breath.
Ten minutes or so … Read on Macduff...

He said “ta da”
because he wanted them to spot
the magic. The unicorn and its twisting horn.
The wand and its wand rainbows
all spark to celebrate
that spreadsheet.

I used to be an otter.
Now I’m mostly.
Mostly just.
Odder.

Today was another important
lost opportunity
Another day when I didn’t seek an audience
with the skeptical colonel —
confront him with my passion.
“Colonel, soon these oceans will run dry!”
“Soon the humps of humpback whales will be revealed… Read on Macduff...