Notes From the Observation Deck: September 2023

For folks curious about the haiku I’ve been composing these past couple of months, here’s what I have so far.

Mind you, this collection comes with trigger and content warnings, as many of the topics are difficult and deal with trauma in its various guises.

NOTE: I will be updating this content periodically. Make sure to check back for new haiku!

Through doors left open

cucarachas hitch a ride

in looted treasures

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is in the cards

and in many glass bottles

a taste of Tarot

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While storm is raging

neighbors sing Spanish love songs.

I head home to bed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A shattered lifeline

lies broken and forgotten

a lost connection

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Normal” redefined

I’m Conspiracy nuts abound

Chinga tu MAGA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got my prescription

Anxious to commence healing

Goddamn childproof cap

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Five hundred horses

Racing under a steel hood

Jaguar is purring

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aerated leggings

Questionably stained T-shirt

Bag lady couture

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don’t watch TV

History is being made

I don’t give a fuck

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At o’dark thirty

Trains lumber out of the yard

As lost souls await

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For twelve hot days straight

Unrelenting Texas heat

Dissolves tense muscles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Free meals in the trash

Independence has a price

As all homeless know

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Use the horn only

When there’s imminent danger

But not to annoy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drivers in Houston

Get their license from a box

Of stale Cracker Jacks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wave to my team

But I don’t wave to that bitch

Because she’s not nice

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In back of the train

Junkie’s huffing Fix-A-Flat

While barking loudly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Already at six

Skinny little chicken man

Is guarding the bank

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six-thirty AM

The train’s reeking of reefer

And cigarette smoke

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The doors were too slow

To keep escabioso

From boarding the train

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The start of the month

Is made worse by the full moon

When all hell breaks loose

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Skies breaking open

Urban campers seek shelter

On trains and platforms

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I see many men

In white t-shirts and black pants

Sweeping up tossed trash

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wheelchair lady parked

Outside of Whataburger

Sleeps until sunrise

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liminal spaces

That lie in between the worlds

That’s where you’ll find me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If I give names to

People it is because they

Have caught my notice

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scabies burrow deep

In el escabioso

Who’s always scratching

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When he cussed loudly

And threatened violent harm

Handcuffs grabbed his wrists

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sleeping near the track

His cardboard bed on the ground

Trains cannot proceed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Police board my train

To apprehend a robber

And to arrest him

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So many lawyers

Advertising on billboards

Promising big wins

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deranged night walker

In a strapless sequined dress

Shouts profanities

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Little Miss Big Mouth

Meows for attention as she

Winds around my legs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After my dad died

We met in the afterlife

How much he had changed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Never see him sleep

Scabies man is always up

Itching and scratching

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How much does it take

To sink deep into madness

From getting no sleep?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Urban campers and

Scavengers are often the

Same thing on the street

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For several weeks

We’ve been promised rain and yet

Not a single drop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we were young we

Made a pact to meet in the

Park after we died

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am a harsh judge

I decide who gets a smile

And who gets stink eye

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A skinny sliver

The Cheshire Cat moon smiles and

Brushes the treetops

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vagrant calls me “bitch”

Demands the respect that is

Not his to be had

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone knows

That the most trouble is caused

By those who don’t pay

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Flight has been delayed

Still stuck in Massachusetts

Sleeping on a couch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fermenting bubbles

Pressing against intestines

Seeking an escape

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sleeper on the train

Fusses and cusses when I

Try to wake him up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

G.I. Joe chanting

“Hate crime! Two to five! Hate crime!”

Silenced with a fist

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

G. I. Joe washes

His head with sanitizer

And also his shoes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s the same old shit

Overdosing on the train

And soiling the seats

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A denim blue sky

In the early morning just

Before the sunrise

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sprawled on the platform

He’s no longer watching porn

Because his phone died

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My compassion is

Tested ev’ry single day

By trifling humans

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Haze shrouds the city

Another scorcher today

With no hope of rain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The East End shaman

Gave me a stuffed red monkey

As another gift

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Driving a Beemer

He thinks he’s untouchable

And his shit don’t stink

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drooling on the seat

The sleeper wakes up confused

No clue where he is

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unconstrained chichis

Like synchronized pendulums

Swing inside her dress

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every Sunday

Wannabe evangelists

Keep pushing Jesus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think I’m judgmental?

Walk in these boots for a week

Then you’ll understand

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s not always black

And white although many try

To insist on it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No one understands

My path until they set foot

Upon it and walk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I face my demons

Ev’ry day when I confront

Human ugliness

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With weeks without rain

Blood gets baked into asphalt

By persistent heat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

People say I’m strong

Trauma brought resilience

And survival skills

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My strength was forged through

Intergenerational

Trauma and abuse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have abused and

We perpetrated abuse

Let’s break the cycle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ancient family

Programming dictates that we

Are meant to struggle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She asked if I saw

A match burn twice…I said no

She then burned my hand

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The less dead who ride

Eventually become

The ghosts on the train

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gris the tire shop dog

Is a happy dog when he

Gets a carnita

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She lost another

Tooth today whilst a black rose

Bloomed around her eye

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stabbed in the back twelve

Times on the train because he

Stole someone’s sandwich

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The urban campsite

Was dismantled yesterday

While the police watched

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Financial troubles

Mounting he rushed in front of

The oncoming train

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Little gordo cried

My colostomy bag broke

Help me please help me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My haiku are like

cockroaches you see one but

there are many more

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A cheeseburger and

Coke from the dollar menu

Cost her a blow job

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When their money comes

from the dangerous safety

becomes lip service

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I once performed a

Train assisted suicide

It was not my choice

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

People who elect

And follow evil leaders

Are evil themselves

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Or they are blind

And disconnected from all

Of humanity

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The john would not take

No for an answer so he

Shot her on the train

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vomit at his feet

Scabies man is unperturbed

While scratching himself

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Passed out drunk lies on

The train platform while pigeons

Peck at his vomit

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He broke her nose and

Then made her clean up the blood

Splatters on the wall

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Listen to your gut

No matter how outrageous

It will never lie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A train whistle blows

in some way far off distance

piercing the dark night

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last call is over

Drunks hit the freeway as I

Make my way to work

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riding close to my

Bumper on the freeway I

Can’t see the headlights

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drunk drivers are not

Constrained by the broken white

Lines on the freeway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Regular folks sleep

While less dead zombies shamble

At o’dark thirty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Third wave feminists

Undid the progress of their

Second wave sisters

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blocking the trackway

Idiot Uber drivers

Are so annoying

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wearing only his

Chones and shoes scabies man

Rides the train standing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reading the billboards

While I am driving to work

My morning commute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While driving the train

Trauma is revisited

With every trip

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting at the light

Where I nearly got carjacked

I am on alert

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posting on Insta

Spammy comments come rushing

Hashtags are bot bait

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A shortage of clues

Not a national treasure

Stop sending dick pics

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No lollygagging

Have your damn shit together

Before you hop on

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

100

He can’t get it up

His erectile dysfunction

Is induced by porn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

101

Cheap drugs aren’t enough

Acid is hitting the streets

So many lost souls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

102

Too young to notice

Their actions did not line up

I believed their words

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

103

A lot of delays

Technical difficulties

Trains are running late

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

104

I don’t ask questions

‘Cause Google is my best friend

Who knows the answers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

105

Slumbering escape

Pizza box for a pillow

A train rumbles by

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

106

Feathers in his ‘fro

Pigeon Head shimmies and struts

Belting out his soul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

107

Feeling entitled

Abandoning shopping carts

Moral disconnect

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

108

The platform people

Spend the day riding the train

Platform to platform

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

109

Shopping cart piled high

Small fortune in scrap metal

Thwarted from boarding

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

110

Always new faces

Spinning in revolving doors

They come and they go

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

111

He is a mirror

In search of a reflection

To shatter and break

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

112

Lost souls to harvest

Underbelly convulsing

The Grim Reaper waits

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

113

Eik šikt, poniutė

Palik mane ramybe

Man galva skauda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

114

Take a shit, lady

Leave me alone and in peace

I have a headache

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

115

The cross and the flag

Both betraying the poor folk

Who cling to their lies

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

116

All predators know

Enticing lies become hope

To those who have none

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

117

The sun has risen

Freaks go back into their holes

It’s like night and day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

118

With my feet I walk

Through obstacles in my way

To claim what is mine

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

119

Well before sunrise

A far off train whistle blows

While a rooster crows

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

120

Months of silence pass

The ghosting zombie returns

No explanation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

121

Men don’t always like

The ones they stick their dicks in

It’s just a release

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

122

Call me selective

Call me fussy and stubborn

I’m not settling

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

123

Single is better

Than dealing with spoiled children

Disguised as grown men

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

124

Mano katytė

Kaip aš ją labai myliu

Man doda džiaugsmo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

125

My sweet kitty cat

How I love her very much

She brings me much joy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

126

The well has run dry

Inspiration has left me

Feeling emptiness

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

127

As the sun rises

Another broiling hot day

In the big city

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

128

The sound of impact

Emergency traffic called

The car left the scene

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

129

With each new trauma

All the previous traumas

All become replayed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

130

Feeling rather glum

I cannot shake the sadness

Keep on keeping on

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

131

Fuck you! She rages

I don’t like your attitude

Credit card declined

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

132

His lips are moving

You know that he is lying

The truth burns his tongue

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

133

This job has changed me

I do not like the person

That I have become

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

134

Folks see an angel

But miss the demon lurking

Behind bolted doors

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

135

Processing through pain

I write the poetic words

That my Muse dictates

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

136

Washcloth on his head

He thinks he is a hot catch

On the dating apps

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

137

I watched a bird die

Watched its body decompose

And then disappear

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

138

Animated words

Chattering Spanish ladies

Sound like jungle birds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

139

Noticing movement

As I approach the platform

He is jerking off

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

140

Chuckles and laughter

Police radio chatter

Someone stole a bus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

141

Police on horseback

Road apples in the trackway

Plop! Clippity-clop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

142

Why do you persist

Cannot argue with the dead

They all have moved on

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

143

Still waters run deep

No one knows what lurks beneath

I cast a ripple

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

144

She’s no longer there

The building razed to the ground

Emptiness remains

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

145

iPhone did not charge

Charger cord did not connect

Damn fury world problems

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

146

Pushing a wheelchair

That is not meant for sitting

But for hauling junk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

147

California dude

Sparking up a gnarly blunt

At the traffic light

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

148

Not riding cholo

Need to see what’s up ahead

Gotta be prepared

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

149

Both of them tricked her

Signed her daughter’s life away

Forty years of hell

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

150

Gentrification

Driving folks out of the ‘hood

With nowhere to go

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

151

Wind waltzing leaves whirl

Dust devils pirouetting

Air dances with fire

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

152

Not all mothers love

Many are broken creatures

Who break others’ souls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

153

When she was little

She tortured tiny kittens

Until they all died

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

154

Her young son awoke

To find her straddling him

Pumping up and down

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

155

Reading her Bible

The devil whispers to her

Tear those pages out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

156

Banana Atlas

It just popped into my head

What a silly phrase

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

157

Monkey mind chatters

Not allowing me to sleep

Makes me write haiku

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

158

Unrelenting heat

Bakes blood into the tarmac

When will there be rain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

159

The tears will not come

No matter how hard I try

I simply can’t cry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

160

Only eight years old

Mom gave him her vibrator

To put in his mouth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

161

The pickings are slim

Much better to be alone

Than stuck with old trash

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

162

I feel like Charon

Always ferrying lost souls

For eternity

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

163

With nowhere to go

All day long they ride the train

Platform to platform

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

164

Starved in a closet

Sold to the highest bidder

By her own mother

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

165

At the bottommost

Beneath all the pestilence

That is where hope dwells

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

166

Stay put in that chair

Do not leave ‘til we get back

She stayed there for hours

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

167

Alone in the crib

While her mother and sister

Went to see the queen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

168

Her father watched porn

While she worked on her homework

Sitting next to him

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

169

To make him stay put

Tied to the crib with restraints

Mom needed a break

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

170

She yelled at her child

I wish you were never born

The wound remains raw

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

171

So many people

In wheelchairs with missing limbs

Did the train take them

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

172

When I am at home

I swear nowhere half as much

As I do at work

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

173

Can’t handle the stress

He needs another cocktail

To dull frustration

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

174

Little kid riding

A bike way too big for him

Stolen bicycle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

175

Black tar heroin

He took a hit on the train

And then overdosed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

176

Stars over Houston

Are invisible at night

With light pollution

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

177

A wrong way driver

Traveling several blocks

Eludes the police

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

178

Dancing scooter dude

Gets off at diff’rent platforms

Delivering drugs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

179

He thinks he’s the shit

But he’s just a meth dealing

Human parasite

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

180

A black gaucho hat

And wearing colorful rags

She looks like my Muse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

181

Two nuns and their friend

Enjoy looking at selfies

On the lady’s phone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

182

A tight long pink sheath

Hugs a luscious derrière

Throwing off her gait

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

183

Chattering monkeys

Insomnia once again

Could not sleep a wink

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

184

Isn’t it funny

That my marriage paralleled

The job I have now

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

185

No coincidence

That a new job and romance

Are both elusive

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

186

Swiping left again

Only trash on dating apps

I will die alone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

187

Folks say I’m a Witch

So I may as well claim it

And be what I am

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

188

Today I fasted

And slept throughout the day

Called in sick to work

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

189

Another hot day

With no rain in the forecast

The lawn turns yellow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

190

Hypochondriac

Whiny boy worries over

A tiny sniffle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

191

Haiku only comes

When something else should get done

Message is received

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

192

Jacked up pickup trucks

Intimidating drivers

Fueling more road rage

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

193

Harvesting haiku

It should take a year to do

After that we’ll see

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

194

Too many dummies

Why natural selection

Move so goddamn slow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

195

Little Baby Cruz

Watched La Llorona beckon

Outside his window

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

196

Do not follow her

La Llorona’s resting place

A watery grave

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

197

The starlight I see

Took many millions of years

To reach my green eyes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

198

Intoxication

Eight-thirty in the morning

Already passed out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

199

My time to cocoon

Off days are very sacred

I need to reboot

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

200

Noses in their phones

No one bothers to look up

And see the danger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

201

Thin waning crescent

The new moon will soon be here

A new cycle starts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

202

Weekend is ending

Clinging solid heaviness

Depression returns

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

203

When their gazes met

Plumbing the depths of their souls

The stars exploded

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

204

The first train is out

On its way to the mainline

Scooping up riffraff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

205

They never get it

Trains do not wait for people

People wait for trains

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

206

Three shits already

And they were big ones at that

There’s still more to come

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

207

Feeling vomitous

The bowels are unsettled

Hope to find relief

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

208

It’s like night and day

The lightness I feel at home

Vanishes at work

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

209

Never feeling safe

Tears trapped behind barricades

Smothered in silence

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

210

The sun has come up

Ghosts shatter like cockroaches

Avoiding the light

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

211

Crumpled dead pigeon

Broken neck head tucked under

Trains rolling over

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

212

Young and entitled

Women not seen as human

Rapist in training

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

213

For no good reason

I get called a bitch again

So tired of this shit

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

214

A smothering weight

Arriving uninvited

Workweek companion

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

215

Trying not to be

Self-absorbed in my sadness

As I drive to work

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

216

Ugly lights come on

Last call borrachos scatter

In weaving patterns

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

217

They tell me to fight

But I do not like fighting

It makes me anxious

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

218

Wrapped up in the flag

Costume party patriots

Claim to follow Christ

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

219

No excuse needed

It’s OK to hate others

When Jesus says so

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

220

MAGA hats spewing

American fascists cry

Like melting snowflakes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

221

Others assert rights

Christian nationalists bleat

Like mad slaughtered sheep

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

222

So quick to lash out

When they are caught in the wrong

Yet slow to do right

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

223

Deep cracks in the earth

Under the withering dome

Are thirsty for rain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

224

Even in this heat

The cicadas wail and call

To one another

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

225

With each heavy step

Despair pounds into the streets

Crushing broken souls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

226

I see homeless dogs

And lots of homeless people

Trying to survive

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

227

Light changes to green

And yet the car does not move

Nose in the cellphone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

228

Scowling young man

Carrying a trashed guitar

Walks in the trackway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

229

Why do they insist

To ram their Bible down throats

Of non believers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

230

When I was little

I was indoctrinated

Good Christian soldier

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

231

As I grew older

I have Sky Daddy the boot

And reclaimed my soul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

232

It’s always the same

PTSD ev’ry day

When I drive the train

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

233

I once killed a man

He stepped in front of my train

That’s what he wanted

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

234

Panhandler pimps

Giving the homeless a bed

For their hustled loot

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

235

After I have died

Let the dogs see my body

So they’ll know I’m gone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

236

A driving bass beat

Four on the floor techno groove

My kind of music

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

237

Justice in motion

The orange one indicted

Interesting times

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

238

Driving in the dark

On the way to the bark park

Dogs are excited

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

239

ISS passes

People are in that tin can

Orbiting the earth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

240

Scientists in space

Living the zero G life

Untethered from earth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

241

When I was a kid

I wanted to be in space

Exploring new worlds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

242

I would watch Star Trek

Dad would say it is not real

Someday it will be

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

243

I would often dream

That I’d be taken away

In a space vessel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

244

Folks in a tin can

Two hundred fifty miles high

Work in zero G

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

245

Unfamiliar foods

Asian market adventure

With a trusted guide

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

246

Vietnamese coffee

Got my phin and got my grounds

Cannot wait to try

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

247

Pouncing paws lungeing

It may be just a cricket

But it is still prey

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

248

One more figure eight

Around the bark park we walk

And then we go home

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

249

Going to Buc-ee’s

Gotta get gas for the car

Five percent discount

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

250

Flickering orange

Cloud undersides illumined

By flaming flare stacks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

251

Above the treeline

A McDonald’s sign shines bright

A guiding beacon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

252

En route to Austin

Zebras on a Texas ranch

Vast grazing acres

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

253

Bamboo walkway

Leading to tranquility

Being with loved ones

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

254

It’s vacation week

I have ten days of no trains

It’s so glorious

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

255

So grateful for health

Sixty-five and going strong

I don’t want to quit

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

256

Dogs are excited

We’re going to the bark park

Their favorite place

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

257

Cuckoo for haiku

Surprised it’s lasting this long

Still riding that wave

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

258

My time is my own

Such a natural feeling

Not to have to work

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

259

Blistering heat dome

Keeping the rain from coming

Ev’rything withers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

260

Another hot day

As much as I love the heat

I want some relief

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

261

Those summertime vibes

Time is preserved in amber

Eternal gold drops

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

262

Schedules are the same

But time moves a lot slower

When it is summer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

263

Trying to keep cool

In the sultry summer nights

The crickets still sing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

264

Our nighttime degrees

Are daytime highs somewhere else

A blast furnace drought

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

265

A baby raccoon

Tried to cross the road at night

But did not make it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

266

Headlights illumine

White dog on the railroad tracks

Searching for a meal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

267

A very strange noise

Water falling from the sky

But then it all stopped

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

268

‘Twas six years ago

When Hurricane Harvey hit

And submerged Houston

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

269

I’m walking alone

Footsteps crunching on gravel

Beneath the dark sky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

270

Vacay nearly done

Heaviness creeping in

Unsettling gloom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

271

Morning mist settles

An ethereal blanket

Deafening silence

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

272

Today’s the last day

A biting reality

Awaits tomorrow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

273

She denies she drinks

Empty nips litter her car

Tell a diff’rent tale

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

274

Folks destroyed by booze

I see it ev’ry day

It’s never pretty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

275

She always drives drunk

Insists she’ll never get stopped

Drunk logic says so

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

276

Tall tight goat paths carve

Through forty years of strata

She cannot toss out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

277

A poet and witch

I no longer deny it

I claim my true self

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

278

Vacation’s over

Five more months ‘til the next one

Such sinking feeling

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

279

The land is alive

Ev’ry place has a spirit

To watch over it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

280

Houston is hostile

The heat makes it even worse

Always be on guard

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

281

I try not to make

The fart bigger than the hole

Don’t always succeed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

282

Why do I prefer

Things that aren’t profitable

Bills need to get paid

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

283

Injured in a wreck

Millions recovered monthly

We’ll fight for your rights

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

284

Winding crochet thread

Into tight and compact balls

For future projects

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

285

Insects get entrapped

Encapsulating amber

Millions years later

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

286

Fawning pick me girls

Appeasing bottom feeders

Betray their sisters

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

287

Dude in a wheelchair

Skateboard sitting on his lap

Try to explain that

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

288

Did your mama know

That you would become homeless

After you grew up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

289

Many decades past

I thought of killing myself

I’m glad I did not

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

290

Not giving a damn

He walked in front of the train

Without looking up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

291

Multiple triggers

Never know when they will hit

Always on the edge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

292

Reliving traumas

Ev’ry single day at work

It just will not stop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

293

On very hot days

Muslim ladies are wrapped up

Covered head to toe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

294

Some just want to die

And some are oblivious

I watch out for both

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

295

Neurotypicals

Although some can be pleasant

Most are still boring

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

296

Fussing and cussing

A loud tangle of voices

Drama on replay

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

297

Having to adjust

To a new schedule and route

I’m not feeling it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

298

The random things I see

Like copulating squirrels

And men needing bras

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

299

Toothless old geezer

Cigarette between his gums

Laughing with his eyes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

300

Fixing broken chains

Only to have them broken

Again and again

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

301

The first of the month

Mortgage payment gets withdrawn

Leaving a big hole

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

302

Grumpy geezer dude

Makes silly vroom-vroom noises

At giggling toddlers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

303

Dragonflies darting

Like determined bombardiers

In the summer haze

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

304

Bottle green Bronco

Barrels down the boulevard

Picking up fillies

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

305

Robbery gone bad

Body under a white sheet

In the parking lot

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

306

No one has the scoop

Of what really had happened

Or why it happened

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

307

How could no one see

The community sculpture

A three-head penis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

308

Ball clutching red man

Carries a long metal pipe

On the boulevard

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

309

It took fifty years

After an old friend had died

We reconnected

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

310

The earth is thirsty

It heaves and it convulses

Breaking water lines

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

311

We can always talk

He tells me everything

Slut boy adventures

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

312

We met the trainer

Domingo will be going

To doggie boot camp

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

313

The dry earth heaving

Seeking underground water

To relieve its thirst

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

314

When will the rain fall

Water dropping from the sky

To kiss the dry earth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

315

Across the night sky

Venus chasing Sirius

She does not catch him

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

316

Up above my head

The moon and Jupiter chill

Close but yet so far

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

317

Early one morning

We saw a meteor streak

And then fade away

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

318

This summertime drought

Turns tropics into deserts

When it denies water

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

319

The ghosts walk with me

They touch my hair and then

They skitter away

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

320

It is the birdsong

That summons the sun to rise

Don’t people know that

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

321

In the dark silence

Early morning roosters call

To wake up the sun

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

322

Far off barking dog

Sets off a chain reaction

Dogs join the chorus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

323

In the dark forest

The blood orgy has begun

As coyotes howl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

324

Off in the distance

Incessant barking prevails

Lonely dog wants friends

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

325

Indoctrination

Unquestioning acceptance

Grooming for abuse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

326

I sleep much better

But it’s a shift I dislike

The reverse is true

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

327

I can no longer

Swallow the religious lies

That I have been fed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

328

It took six decades

For me to find my calling

Writing dark haiku

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

329

When trav’ling the stars

How will Christianity

Mutate and adapt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

330

Jacked up pickup trucks

Left turns from four lanes over

Driving in Houston

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

331

Someone once told me

There are a lot of people

Like me in Austin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

332

She’s just like me

My Muse has ADHD

But she’s more fussy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

333

They do not feel pain

In ignorance there is bliss

Unaware dunces

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

334

Basic rule of thumb

Dudes who claim they are alpha

Most surely are not

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

335

Show it not say it

If you tell me you’re honest

I am not convinced

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

336

Shitfaced ev’ryday

Hookup scenes and STIs

Folks being trashy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

337

The first time I saw

A homeless person sleeping

I thought he was dead

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

338

Aftermarket trucks

Tell me you have a small dick

Without saying so

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

339

You may never know

The common worker you see

Could be a poet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

340

Eat the rich they say

And I find myself asking

Why? Are they tasty?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

341

You’ll see them walking

Among the dead and dying

The hidden poets

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

342

He does not deserve

Keys to a Lamborghini

While crashing Kias

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

343

The young dog lady

Discharged from the hospital

Now sleeps on sidewalks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

344

I gave him a choice

It’s me or pornography

He did not choose me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

345

He’s so filthy rich

Wipes his ass with Benjamins

And fucks the nanny

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

346

Wearing only jeans

Without any underwear

I close the doors fast

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

347

His bare butt showing

I don’t let him on the train

To shit in the seats

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

348

Blood of stolen lives

Spilled on stolen and raped soil

Built this “great” country

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

349

Thunder and lightning

A brief thunderstorm passed through

But did not linger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

350

What is that creaking

I hear when I move around?

For fuck sake! Bra straps?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

351

It’s a miracle

Large orbs suspended in space

What keeps them all there

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

352

You can’t have secrets

With mail clerks and carriers

They know you’re a perv

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

353

Hate is a strong word

It should be used sparingly

Not for petty peeves

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

354

Going to work sick

Because I’ll get written up

If I call in sick

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

355

The haiku hustle

Some days I do not feel it

Like when I am sick

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

356

An Asian lady

Her hair bleached a chestnut red

Makes her look trendy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

357

Put the damn phone down

Be mindful of what’s around

Awareness saves lives

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

358

Strange to imagine

An old radio tower

Became an icon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

359

A fat lady wrapped

In a tight leopard casing

With expanding spots

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

360

Red bricks hold the screams

Of scared schoolboys being raped

By their parish priests

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

361

En route to the vet

The dog jumped out of the truck

And became roadkill

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

362

Haiku stamina

Is not there when I am sick

But it will return

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

363

The basketball coach

Wanted to show her his balls

After the team left

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

364

It would be quite nice

If drivers actually

Obeyed traffic laws

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

365

Laws are only there

Because people are shitty

At being human

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

366

Don’t expect riches

No money in poetry

Do it for the love

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

367

Neurospicy soul

Among neurotypicals

Deflector shields up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

368

Austin calls to me

My heart swelling with longing

Yearns to return home

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

369

Her dad jerks off

To AI generated

Porn photos of her

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

370

After her dad died

And she went to clean his house

Memories escaped

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

371

We can’t have nice things

When we’re convinced trash is gold

And poison is food

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

372

Creating haiku

Like playing Tetris with words

Finding the right fit

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

373

Control the masses

Make sure they’re dumb and gaslit

Starve them with sweet lies

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

374

Imposter syndrome

Afraid that they will find out

That I’m not all that

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

375

So many people

Are not paying attention

Sucked into their phones

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

376

Satan would not leave

So the loud preacher lady

Bullied him instead

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

377

The house is quiet

It’s just us two ladies now

While the lad’s away

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

378

I’m on the mend

And feeling a lot better

But I’m still tired

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

379

Alone in my house

Soothed by deafening silence

Cocoon and reboot

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

380

The future looks bleak

No change in trajectory

Gotta roll with it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

381

It’s the same ol’ grind

Unchanging unrelenting

Ev’ry single day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

382

Feeling rather glum

Sitting on my pity pot

Weeping in my beer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

383

My footsteps echo

The heaviness of my heart

And overcast soul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

384

Raucous blue jays call

Piercing the morning stillness

Pumpkin spice season

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

385

A tilting axis

Summer heaving her last gasp

While autumn stands by

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

386

Out of shape people

Obese protruding bellies

And sickly pale skin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

387

He lost his hustle

Now he sits all day humbly

On the train platform

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

388

He used to sell kush

Spent six months in county jail

Three hots and a cot

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

389

Crazy ghost face girl

Argues with unseen demons

Her titties exposed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

390

Grey putty slurry

Smothering her chestnut face

Nappy hair matted

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

391

Plastic tiara

Cigarette butt through her nose

Bathrobe and bundles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

392

While holding his hand

Ghost face girl had worked her John

She will eat tonight

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

393

He got off the train

Fired up his old school boombox

Rattling up windows

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

394

Off-campus housing

Amidst dilapidation

Gentrification

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

395

Out-of-tune crooner

Belting out Christian praise songs

Please shut the fuck up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

396

No shame in her game

Body positivity

Let it all hang out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

397

He said I was rude

‘Cuz I gave a smart answer

To his dumb question

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

398

It is hard to tell

If someone’s high or confused

They both look the same

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

399

The well had been dry

But my haiku groove came back

For which I’m grateful

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

400

White car abandoned

On top a parking garage

To be demolished

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

401

A barefoot hood rat

In a yellow bikini

Sifting through garbage

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

402

Plump paw print raindrops

Splattering on my windshield

While I drive to work

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

403

Exploit the workers

Labor lawyers cost too much

For them to afford

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

404

Little stalled robot

No more juice to deliver

Food rotting inside

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

405

Two dead cars out front

Were resurrected today

With new batteries

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

406

Autumn has arrived

Summer has not packed her bags

Both must share the house

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

406

Mother was inside

She did not see her daughter

Torturing kittens

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

407

The big boys grabbed her

And pulled down her torn knickers

In the back alley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

408

She kept blaming him

But the drama continued

Long after he died

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

409

Advertisers lie

They lie through their veneered teeth

Saying shit is gold

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

410

He lost his right eye

A machete sliced his face

Taught him a lesson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

411

Train blocking the road

Necessitates a detour

My morning commute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

412

Men not doing shit

Weaponized incompetence

Women are leaving

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

413

I should have retired

But I had to start over

After my divorce

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

414

A small bungalow

Bedecked in bright fairy lights

Would be my dream home

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

416

Refineries spew

Brown haze over the city

Stinkadena smog

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

417

Stopped looking for signs

No more magical thinking

Just deal with the shit

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

418

I learned it’s a crime

To make threats against someone

In the Lone Star State

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

419

They’re three Asian lads

Hitchhiking to somewhere east

Starting from the ‘hood

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

420

Five hours later

Insomnia strikes again

Monkey mind chatters

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

421

Well before sunrise

Insects sing to each other

While the birds still sleep

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

422

The climax has passed

Ride off into the sunset

The scene fades to black

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

423

Tiny infant squirms

In a shopping cart bottom

Ignored by her ma

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

424

Skanky hood rat ho

Peddles her nasty used hole

While her infant wails

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

425

The heat dome had popped

Inviting the rain to pour

Relieving Earth’s thirst

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

426

The forecast was wrong

It rained all freaking day long

We needed the rain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

427

People had warned us

Americans are rush rush rush

We saw for ourselves

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

428

Thumping on their chests

Myopic Americans

Think they are the best

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

429

Workday just started

Stupid fucking idiots

Already waiting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

430

A wrung out t-shirt

That was dropped in a puddle

He washes his face

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

431

Crazed look in his eyes

His broom attacks the puddles

That torment his mind

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

432

Is three days of rain

Enough to quench the earth

And relieve her thirst

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

433

Let me work from home

Where my soul is unfettered

And peace of mind reigns

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

434

When there’s no hope left

Lost souls do not look both ways

When crossing the street

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

435

Soup kitchen lineup

Can’t be homeless and fussy

Take what they give you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

436

A prankster vagrant

Scoops up some puddle water

To baptize a butt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

437

Daylight distractions

I write better in the dark

When the words run wild

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

438

A rushing torrent

An overflowing fountain

Words fill the vessels

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

439

Not a billionaire

Not even a millionaire

My tickets were duds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

440

The sun is shining

It’s a spectacular day

Got off that damn phone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

441

Ignorant neighbors

Not allowing me to sleep

Blasting loud music

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

442

The dead cannot sleep

But they also will not dance

To loud off-key beats

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

443

All these many years

I thought I thought I was seeking love

Now I’m not so sure

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

444

Short sleeves put away

Long sleeves and hoodies are out

Autumn has arrived

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

445

This is now the time

Veils between the worlds are thin

And ancestors speak

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

446

Watch the words you speak

While I play Tetris with words

Others play Jenga

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

447

A cyanide haze

Hovers over the city

Trailing yellow plumes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

448

He could be lots fun

But the dude in zebra sleeves

Will cost you your soul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

449

I do not argue

With patriarchal douchebags

Who act entitled

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

450

Misogynist men

Can stay far away from me

And go their own way

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

451

Parasite humans

Aren’t the homeless and lost souks

They’re the profiteers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

452

Through corporate greed

America kills its own

While turning its back

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

453

Get the words out now

The tweaking and refining

Can come later on

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

454

Excuses are lies

They know what they are doing

And hope that you don’t

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

455

Men fear ridicule

While women fear getting killed

That’s the difference

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

456

Foundation is set

It’s now up to me to build

Create a palace

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

457

Words are important

What’s even more important

Are words we don’t see

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

458

Fake yellow roses

Mylar balloons and candles

Where someone got killed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

459

Each day I witness

Lots of risky behavior

Fools evading death

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

460

I learned a new word

Jabroni — go look it up

Enrich your vocab

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

461

Jubilant youngsters

Creating loud silly songs

And belting them out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

462

Lost or abandoned

Lone dog rests on the wet grass

While trains roll by it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

463

Always a bright smile

Affable and friendly guy

With deep dark secrets

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

464

Clean new red t-shirts

“Stand Up for America”

Worn by the homeless

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

465

The vagrant village

Had moved to across the street

Who knows for how long

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

466

Scowling angry face

Curses flowing from its lips

Ignored by demons

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

467

Laughing demons taunt

The lost arguing insane

Who see only them

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

468

It occurred to me

Haiku and meditation

Can be the same thing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

469

Craving chicken wings

While on a vegan diet

Also craving cheese

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

470

Wanting to look rich

Affluenza affliction

Bankruptcy declared

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

471

Please don’t expect me

To be someone that I’m not

That’s not how I roll

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

472

If I can’t be real

You do not deserve my grace

Go find someone less

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

473

Women in high heels

Step over the railroad tracks

With an awkward gait

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

474

Don’t tell me to smile

You won’t say that to The Rock

Don’t say it to me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

475

I will wear a mask

Because I don’t want strange men

Telling me to smile

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

476

No job and no home

He weasels into your bed

Hobosexual

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

477

Barking gravy seals

Costume party patriots

Ammosexuals

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

478

During construction

He fell into the concrete

His bones built the bridge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

479

He waited too long

Procrastination killed him

There is no second chance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

480

Four sick calls a year

Is considered excessive

By my toxic job

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

481

What is the purpose

Of a daily grind that sucks

Life out of your soul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

482

U.S. investors

Benefit more from fascism

Than democracy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

483

When I write haiku

My words may not contain facts

But they do hold truth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

484

His wife and son gone

He works the hours counts the days

Until reunion

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

485

Spaces between words

Those unspoken omissions

Where the story lies

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

486

So you missed the train

There will be another one

Don’t act so butt hurt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

487

Must be quite the life

Riding the train all day long

With nowhere to go

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

488

We all have drama

But unlike many people

Mine stays to myself

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

489

One hand on the wheel

The other clutching a phone

No eyes on the road

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

490

Maiden mother crone

Each has value and meaning

Each has a lesson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

491

Never looking up

Faces glued to their cellphones

They shut out the world

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

492

He jumps in the track

Playing chicken with the train

Today he’s lucky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

493

He had had enough

Another ghost rides the train

While his maker screams

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

494

I’m an open book

But I also have secrets

That no one else knows

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

495

Two hoodie morning

There’s definitely a chill

While walking the dogs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

496

The way people drive

Like raging crazed lunatics

They’re filled with anger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

497

Each one for themselves

Compassion’s out the window

Greed fuels the nation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

498

Upon her deathbed

She had her diaries burned

Secrets died with her

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

499

No one was looking

They exchanged hungry kisses

Their shadows melding

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

500

Classic bait and switch

She was sold a bill of goods

Stuck for thirty years

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

501

Always on one track

There’s an unexpected change

Diverging moment

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

502

The end of the line

His stop was three platforms back

Engrossed in his phone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

503

All hell broken loose

A comedy of errors

Clusterfuck shit show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

504

Multiple warrants

Trying to evade the law

Train got in the way

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

505

More mariachis

Mexicans matching en masse

Making much music

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

506

No ticket in hand

They’re running to catch the train

I leave them behind

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

507

Train severed his arm

He bled out under the train

Got what he wanted

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

508

Taking a detour

Over the Fred Hartman Bridge

A more scenic view

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

509

Shared bloodlines be damned

Estranged from my family

Loyalty is earned

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

510

Got a friend request

Obvious it’s a scammer

Do I want to play

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

511

Shoes crunching gravel

Pre dawn early morning fog

Softens the edges

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

512

Trying to discern

If my Muse abandoned me

On days words don’t flow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

513

On the train platform

She wore a sheer coverup

And not a thing more

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

514

He swiped the train keys

Locked himself inside the cab

A four-hour standoff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

515

He jammed the door closed

Then ate lunch and took selfies

The SWAT team was called

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

516

Cops caught him at last

Despite the trouble he caused

He was soon released

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

517

Discipline the mind

To be clear and receptive

Otherworld awaits

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

518

Most don’t understand

The Devil is not Satan

He’s much more ancient

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

519

Divine partnership

Co-creation with Nature

I worship no one

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

520

Who is this Satan

He was an adversary

That Christians made god

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

521

Do not blame the dead

For your own messy mistakes

Be accountable

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

522

When things go awry

It’s easy to blame the dead

They do not talk back

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

523

Sprawled on the platform

Fat man in his underwear

Cops are on the way

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

524

Squirming in my seat

Pressure against my sphincter

Needs to be relieved

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

525

Flat out on his back

Just another overdose

Part of the landscape

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

526

Needing new supply

A narcissist on the hunt

Hoovering mission

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

527

One true Holy Church

A cult divorced from Nature

Burned ancient wisdom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

528

Hallowed ancient gods

Reviled negged and demonized

Yet still prevailing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

529

They burned the Witches

Feared their wild untamed spirits

While they lived in chains

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

530

Christian enslavers

Faith based on exploitation

God-ordained abuse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

531

Pristine safety vest

Desk jockey tryna look real

His hands are too clean

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

532

The thin veils parting

Otherworld glimpses revealed

Real magick lives there

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

533

Crook-arm Anthony

His shorts three sizes too large

He flashes the girls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

534

Not right in the head

He walks barefoot in winter

Throws away his clothes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

535

I follow no path

Forging my own way instead

A Witch on my terms

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

536

Daily tragedy

Need no TV for trauma

When it’s in my face

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

537

Found some prescriptions

Abandoned medication

Crazies stay crazy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

538

School bus armada

School kids at the symphony

Getting some culture

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

539

Tall long-legged girl

In high water bell bottoms

Skips over puddles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

540

No home of his own

Shares his lunch with the pigeons

At least they don’t judge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

541

It’s been four hours straight

Shoes off beer cans by his feet

Passed out once again

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

542

Their foul delusions

Fueled by their festering hate

Destroy the nation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

543

The God they follow

Is not one of compassion

But of fear and hate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

544

They cannot discern

The devil in God’s clothing

They follow blindly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

545

‘Nother mass shooting

Notes From the Observation Deck

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Cuckoo for Haiku — The First One Thousand

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