Book o’ Verse

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. I’m a catapult. And I’ve got plots and plans aplenty.”

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 to miss a flash against the back of that prairie thunderstorm cow skull.

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 swarm of “I mean no harm” hand motions for him to sleep inside.

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 thick no matter how few drops fall. And then on a turn, the end of … Read more

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 eyes. And yet I find its tube feet with their remarkable vascular system dragging me … Read more

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 and now my sneakers have set into the muddy tire treads of this rained out … Read more

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 and all sorts of unknown sea creatures will flop about squinting in shallow pools!” “Colonel, … Read more

It’s the smiley that really breaks my heart the little happy face you tack on right after you break goodbye, say the news, share that thing. You’re happy. And I’m glad for it. But where is your nose? Now who will save your missing nose?