Sunday, September 3, 2023

Cuckoo for Haiku — The First One Thousand


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!

1

Through doors left open

cucarachas hitch a ride

in looted treasures


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

2


It is in the cards

and in many glass bottles

a taste of Tarot


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

3


While storm is raging

neighbors sing Spanish love songs.

I head home to bed


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

4


A shattered lifeline 

lies broken and forgotten 

a lost connection


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

5


“Normal” redefined

I’m Conspiracy nuts abound

Chinga tu MAGA


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

6


Got my prescription 

Anxious to commence healing

Goddamn childproof cap


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

7


Five hundred horses

Racing under a steel hood

Jaguar is purring


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

8


Aerated leggings

Questionably stained T-shirt

Bag lady couture


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

9


I don’t watch TV

History is being made

I don’t give a fuck


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

10


At o’dark thirty

Trains lumber out of the yard 

As lost souls await


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

11


For twelve hot days straight

Unrelenting Texas heat

Dissolves tense muscles


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

12


Free meals in the trash

Independence has a price

As all homeless know


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

13


Use the horn only

When there’s imminent danger 

But not to annoy


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

14


Drivers in Houston

Get their license from a box

Of stale Cracker Jacks


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

15


I wave to my team

But I don’t wave to that bitch

Because she’s not nice


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

16


In back of the train

Junkie’s huffing Fix-A-Flat

While barking loudly


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

17


Already at six

Skinny little chicken man

Is guarding the bank


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

18


Six-thirty AM

The train’s reeking of reefer

And cigarette smoke 


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

19


The doors were too slow

To keep escabioso 

From boarding the train


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

20


The start of the month

Is made worse by the full moon

When all hell breaks loose


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

21


Skies breaking open

Urban campers seek shelter 

On trains and platforms


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

22


I see many men

In white t-shirts and black pants 

Sweeping up tossed trash


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

23


Wheelchair lady parked 

Outside of Whataburger

Sleeps until sunrise 


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

24


Liminal spaces

That lie in between the worlds

That’s where you’ll find me


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

25


If I give names to

People it is because they

Have caught my notice


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

26


Scabies burrow deep

In el escabioso 

Who’s always scratching


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

27


When he cussed loudly

And threatened violent harm

Handcuffs grabbed his wrists


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

28


Sleeping near the track

His cardboard bed on the ground

Trains cannot proceed


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

29


Police board my train

To apprehend a robber

And to arrest him


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

30


So many lawyers

Advertising on billboards

Promising big wins 


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

31


Deranged night walker

In a strapless sequined dress 

Shouts profanities


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

32


Little Miss Big Mouth 

Meows for attention as she

Winds around my legs


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

33


After my dad died

We met in the afterlife 

How much he had changed 


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

34


Never see him sleep

Scabies man is always up

Itching and scratching


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

35


How much does it take

To sink deep into madness

From getting no sleep?


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

36


Urban campers and

Scavengers are often the 

Same thing on the street


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

37


For several weeks

We’ve been promised rain and yet

Not a single drop


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

38


When we were young we

Made a pact to meet in the

Park after we died 


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

39


I am a harsh judge

I decide who gets a smile

And who gets stink eye


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

40


A skinny sliver

The Cheshire Cat moon smiles and

Brushes the treetops 


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

41


Vagrant calls me “bitch”

Demands the respect that is

Not his to be had


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

42


Everyone knows

That the most trouble is caused

By those who don’t pay


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

43


Flight has been delayed

Still stuck in Massachusetts 

Sleeping on a couch


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

44


Fermenting bubbles

Pressing against intestines

Seeking an escape


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

45


Sleeper on the train

Fusses and cusses when I

Try to wake him up


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

46


G.I. Joe chanting

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

Silenced with a fist 


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

47


G. I. Joe washes

His head with sanitizer 

And also his shoes


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

48


It’s the same old shit

Overdosing on the train

And soiling the seats


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

49


A denim blue sky

In the early morning just

Before the sunrise


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

50


Sprawled on the platform

He’s no longer watching porn

Because his phone died


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

51


My compassion is

Tested ev’ry single day

By trifling humans 


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

52


Haze shrouds the city

Another scorcher today

With no hope of rain


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

53


The East End shaman

Gave me a stuffed red monkey

As another gift


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

54


Driving a Beemer

He thinks he’s untouchable 

And his shit don’t stink


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

55


Drooling on the seat

The sleeper wakes up confused

No clue where he is 


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

56


Unconstrained chichis

Like synchronized pendulums

Swing inside her dress


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

57


Every Sunday

Wannabe evangelists

Keep pushing Jesus 


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

58


Think I’m judgmental?

Walk in these boots for a week

Then you’ll understand


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

59


It’s not always black

And white although many try

To insist on it


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

60


No one understands

My path until they set foot 

Upon it and walk


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

61


I face my demons 

Ev’ry day when I confront

Human ugliness 


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

62


With weeks without rain

Blood gets baked into asphalt 

By persistent heat


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

63


People say I’m strong

Trauma brought resilience 

And survival skills 


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

64


My strength was forged through

Intergenerational 

Trauma and abuse


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

65


We have abused and

We perpetrated abuse

Let’s break the cycle 


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

66


Ancient family 

Programming dictates that we

Are meant to struggle


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

67


She asked if I saw

A match burn twice…I said no

She then burned my hand


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

68


The less dead who ride

Eventually become

The ghosts on the train 


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

69


Gris the tire shop dog

Is a happy dog when he

Gets a carnita


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

70


She lost another

Tooth today whilst a black rose

Bloomed around her eye


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

71


Stabbed in the back twelve

Times on the train because he

Stole someone’s sandwich


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

72


The urban campsite 

Was dismantled yesterday

While the police watched


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

73


Financial troubles

Mounting he rushed in front of

The oncoming train 


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

74


Little gordo cried

My colostomy bag broke

Help me please help me


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

75


My haiku are like 

cockroaches you see one but

there are many more 


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

76


A cheeseburger and

Coke from the dollar menu

Cost her a blow job


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

77


When their money comes

from the dangerous safety

becomes lip service


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

78


I once performed a

Train assisted suicide 

It was not my choice 


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

79


People who elect

And follow evil leaders

Are evil themselves 


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

80


Or they are blind

And disconnected from all

Of humanity


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

81


The john would not take

No for an answer so he

Shot her on the train 


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

82


Vomit at his feet

Scabies man is unperturbed 

While scratching himself


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

83


Passed out drunk lies on

The train platform while pigeons

Peck at his vomit


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

84


He broke her nose and 

Then made her clean up the blood

Splatters on the wall


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

85


Listen to your gut

No matter how outrageous 

It will never lie 


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

86


A train whistle blows 

in some way far off distance 

piercing the dark night


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

87


Last call is over

Drunks hit the freeway as I

Make my way to work 


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

88


Riding close to my 

Bumper on the freeway I

Can’t see the headlights


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

89


Drunk drivers are not

Constrained by the broken white

Lines on the freeway


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

90


Regular folks sleep

While less dead zombies shamble

At o’dark thirty


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

91


Third wave feminists

Undid the progress of their

Second wave sisters


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

92


Blocking the trackway

Idiot Uber drivers

Are so annoying 


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

93


Wearing only his

Chones and shoes scabies man

Rides the train standing


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

94


Reading the billboards

While I am driving to work

My morning commute


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

95


While driving the train 

Trauma is revisited 

With every trip


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

96


Sitting at the light

Where I nearly got carjacked

I am on alert


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

97


Posting on Insta 

Spammy comments come rushing

Hashtags are bot bait


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

98


A shortage of clues

Not a national treasure 

Stop sending dick pics


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

99


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

More guns is not the answer

Fuck thoughts and prayers 


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

546


GOP death cult

The NRA holds the chains

Greed drives their actions


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

547


There is no safe place

Shooters can be anywhere

Second Amendment 


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

548


Pants dropped squatting down

In the middle of the road

Taking a big shit


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

549


A glimpse of bare butt

The street urchins shriek and howl

At the dark full moon


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

550


Sickened by the cross

And all that it represents 

Hateful hypocrites 


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

551


If Christ were alive

He would have been crucified

By his followers


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

552


Authentic Christians 

Are rarer than unicorns 

Most are hateful fakes


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

553


What’s a good idea

That most folks do not follow

Christianity 


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

554


Saturday morning

I’m still in my pajamas 

Relishing the peace


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

555


Days getting shorter

There is more darkness than light

I do not like it


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

556


One more day of heat

It’s sSummer’s last dying gasp

Before Fall sets in


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

557


Veils are always thin

When we know how to summon

Our ancestral shades


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

558


Moon and Jupiter

Chill together in the sky

Brushing by Aries


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

559


A God created

By men hates the same people

His creators hate


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

560


November draws nigh

No novel writing for me

I will do haiku 


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

561


Two sulky brothers

Their mom had no bloody clue

Monsters she had spawned


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

562


Read the road ahead

Most don’t bother to do that

Drive like maniacs


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

563


Too poor for jackets

They wrap themselves in blankets

When they ride the train 


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

564


The light had turned green

Car ahead still does not move

Lost in their cellphone 


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

565


Raw chill in the air

November is standing by

To frost the pumpkins


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

566


Wrapped in a blanket

Billows like a royal cloak

King of the lost souls 


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

567


We married brothers

Lost touch after she divorced

Three decades later


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

568


After her divorce

Terrible tales were tattled

I believed them all 

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

569


Two damaged brothers 

Both fucked up in their own way

Their wives both left them 


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

570


After thirty years 

When her brother died in Spain

We reconnected


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

571 


Both boys were charmers

Yet neither one was grounded

In reality 


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

572


If they were really 

Sincere about wanting change

They’d try something new


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

573


You cannot expect

Something better if you keep 

Doing the same thing 


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

574


October’s last day

Ancestors receive homage

And our offerings


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

575


Grey leaden morning

Chill permeates the marrow 

Seeking warmth within


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

576


Passing on the right

Is often scary when there’s 

An eighteen-wheeler


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

577


In the middle lane

Driving through Pasadena

Where traffic merges


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

578


No it is not true

I do not bash all Christians 

Only the fake ones


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

579


My dogs are much work

Much time devoted to them

They return my love


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

580


The family curse

Dictates that I should struggle 

Let that curse be damned


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

581


I observe others 

While I hide in the shadows

Where no one sees me


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

582


I learn by watching

Watching people who don’t know

That they’re being watched


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

583


Pasadena kids

Getting their dose of culture 

At the symphony 


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

584


Fire trucks can’t get through

A two hundred-car train blocks 

The intersection 


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

585


The house had burned down

The family died inside 

Train blocked the fire trucks


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

586


No one suspected 

That his poem contained clues

Of his love affair 


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

587


Read between the lines

And you will find out where their

Love child is buried


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

588


She did not tell him

The child buried in the woods

Was not their baby


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

589


Doing the same thing 

Does not help one single but

Problems still remain 

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

590


Can anyone claim

That almost killing someone

Is daily routine


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

591


He assassinates

My character and my worth

But they can’t be killed

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

592


Comatose lost soul

He will not get off the train

Cops had him removed


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

593


Dark skin and dark clothes

He crosses the tracks at night

And almost gets killed


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

594


Smug and entitled 

Women aren’t human to him

He rapes when he can


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

595


Not all men they say

But enough to not feel safe 

Around any man


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

596


I turned on the heat

Nosebleed season has begun

Each day a gusher


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

597


She tortured kittens 

Tossed them high and let them drop

She was only two


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

598


The homeless are marked

By cheap plastic rosaries 

Worn around their necks


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

599


A ripe carcass feast

The black vultures are happy

Their friends have joined them


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

600


I’ve seen them for days

The vultures are still feasting

No shortage of death


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

601


Money gets respect

But all that his can buy is

Cheap booze and bad drugs


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

602


Time change on Sunday

Early darkness heavy gloom

And blinding headlights 


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

603


Healthcare for children 

And abortions on demand

If men got pregnant 


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

604


I see them daily

She’s in her wheelchair reading

He’s holding a sign


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

605


The sign says homeless

When he is not panhandling 

He attends to her


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

606


Cops wielded the broom

The urban campers dispersed

Seeking a new camp


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

607


Migrating nomads

Move around from place to place

No one welcomes them


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

608


Rumbling throaty growl

Mean black Jeep with purple eyes

Waits for the green light


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

609


Side swiped by a car 

Leprechaun on a wrecked bike

Curses the driver


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

610


Fierce competitors 

Wheelchair athletes are in town

For some badass games


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

611


Dogs are excited

They know where we are going

Bark park here we come


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

612


My mother groomed me

Just like her faith had groomed her

To accept abuse


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

613


Though it still remains

The family curse has not

Gone on beyond me


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

614


I was growing up

Sitting in a pile of shit

That I could not smell


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

615


Her sister stayed on

To perpetuate abuse

And fulfill the curse


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

616


She thought it funny

To put her vibrator in

Her toddler son’s mouth


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

617


She gave him no peace

He would have been alive today

Her abuse killed him


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

618


He died to escape

Her unrelenting abuse

And harsh bullying


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

619


When my mother dies

I will not go there to grieve

Sis can be the star


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

620


If she only knew

How much her son hated her

She still would not change


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

621


Doing the same things

Making the same poor choices

Stuck in the same shit


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

622


Passed out on trash bags

Bananas and strawberries 

By his pickled head


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

623


When I’m on a roll

No one is safe from my verse

Let them all get pissed


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

624


I’m counting the days

To the next block of time off 

I need a reboot


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

625


The dichotomy 

Between emotional states

Between work and rest


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

626


My passions don’t pay

No money in poetry

But I can still hope


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

627


Slow moving auto

Emergency flashers on

Moves to the left lane


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

628


When animals kill

It’s not a moral issue 

It’s instinct and drive


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

629


His wife is a judge

He still works his humble job

And paints his murals


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

630


The leaves are less green

Gulf Coast greets Fall’s arrival

Temperate air


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

631


If I were wiser

I would know the clouds’ language

And learn its secrets


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

632


‘Hood evangelist 

Preaching about promises

That he’ll never see


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

633


Preaching on the train

Vain sky daddy promises

Not meant for his kind


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

634


Where’d the eagles go

Their homes were razed to the ground 

For concrete and steel 


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

635


A bald headed dude

Wearing girlie sunglasses

Dozes while he waits


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

636


Sleepwalking zombies

Are way more far less trouble

Than nighttime crazies


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

637


Walking in traffic

They are OK with dying

Nothing left to lose


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

638


The ancient spirits

Do not dance on broken glass

Or scattered litter


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

639


Can trees comprehend 

The kindness that we show them

Or even the pain


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

640


When morale is low

And no one does anything

To make it better


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

641


The smell that I smell

Is it coming from my car

Oh thank god it’s not


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

642


We all tend to have

Unpopular opinions

That piss off someone 


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

643


Another assault

Yet nothing is being done

To assure we’re safe


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

644


It’s been apparent

That every job I’ve had

Was like my marriage


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

645


What went through your mind

When you bought that pretty dress

With the pink blossoms 


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

646


Don’t make the mistake

That they are your sincere friends

You can be replaced 

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

647


With needle and thread

Stitch by stitch quiets the bitch

Through embroidery


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

648


Six haiku cranked out

In under thirty minutes

My Muse is on fire

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

649


Her heart is as big

As the ocean she dives in

Blue serenity


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

650


The words that aren’t there

Are just as much important

As the ones that are


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

651


If I cannot cry

When I am sad or angry

Perhaps when I’m glad 


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

652


The words keep flowing

Enjoy it while they’re gushing

Before they dry up


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

653


Because they don’t pay

And just ride from stop to stop

I leave them behind


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

654


Tapping on the glass

I pretend I don’t hear him

And take my signal


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

655


Two large dogs and me

The balance and energy

Is right for my house


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

656


A dangling nuts sack

Swings behind a pickup truck 

Small dick energy


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

657


It could have gone bad

But the truck ahead of me

Stopped short just in time 


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

658


He had no idea

She was videoing him 

Having sex with her 


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

659


She sent an email 

Attached the sex video

He thus lost his job


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

660


She did not love them

She only had sex with them

Just to blackmail them


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

661


Long torso short legs

Her hips as wide as she’s tall

She waddles along


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

662


Never missed a chance

To snitch out her coworkers

Just to get ahead


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

663


White trash ambitions 

Ultimately did her in

She’s now history


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

664


Small man in a suit

That is big enough to fit

Ol’ Herman Munster 


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

665


Two dogs and their dame

Need to go on a diet

All three are too fat


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

666


Lone owl hooting

No one answers back its  call

The rooster still sleeps


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

667


Three owls calling

A call and response chorus

Increasing in pitch


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

668


Into November 

Turkey Day is almost here

A nice break from work


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

669


Lost family ties

I don’t know my ancestors 

They remain silent


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

670


Four glorious days

I will cocoon and reboot

Enjoy my time off


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

671


Weeping willow tree

She does not cry wail or weep

She shares Earth’s secrets 


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

672


New year new girlfriend 

His colleagues know the pattern

She thinks she’s special 


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

673


Young and quite naïve 

She slept with her professor

Seduced by his charm 


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

674


Blood on the platform 

A crime scene being processed

Trains are rerouted 


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

675


The city’s not safe

Random strangers with weapons

Nobody is safe


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

676


Three school kids got stabbed

He must have been a psycho

Retaliation 


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

677


Kids had it coming

They had messed with the wrong guy

Three ambulances 


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

678


Just wanted some sleep

But the kids stole his blanket

So he cut them up 


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

679


Assault on my train

I have to file a report 

But nothing will change


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

680


He took her cellphone

So she could not call for help

She’s his to control


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

681


Always finding fault 

Complaining is her lifeblood 

That is all she knows


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

682


Just keep on scrolling 

If you don’t like what you see

Trolls are so passé 


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

683


Jacked up pickup truck 

Drivers are predictable 

They all drive like dicks


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

684


Harley bike riders

Do not like to wear helmets

They’re organ donors


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

685


The laws don’t apply

Do not tell them what to do

They love their free-dumb


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

686


His homeless ID

Left abandoned on the train

They will not track him


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

687


Jewish space lasers

And other secret weapons

No one talks about


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

688


They wear tin foil hats

To prevent the government 

From probing their brains


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

689


Leaders do not lead

Reptilian overlords

Pull the puppet strings


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

690


Patchy in places

Morning’s fog shrouded blanket 

Lingering tatters


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

691


Early morning’s walk

Stirs the sweet curling tendrils

Of decaying leaves


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

692


The owls are silent

No call and response hooting

They sleep in the mist


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

693


The lightening sky

Heralds the sun’s fast approach 

Dawn is almost here


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

694


Sky’s getting lighter

Homer’s Rosy Fingered Dawn

Will quickly arrive


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

695


Sparse patches of blue

Peeking through sprinkling grey clouds

Intermittent drops


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

696


Missing door handle

How can the door be opened 

How is it secured


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

697


Don’t care for dating

I’m happy living alone

Just me and my dogs


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

698


Just like with the rich

There are among the homeless

Some shitty people


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

699


Capitalism 

Only benefits the rich

The poor still struggle


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

700


He flipped me the bird

It did not occur to him

That I saved his life 


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

701


I appreciate 

A quiet trouble free day

I wish there were more


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

702


The eyes of Texas

Think they see everything 

But they really don’t


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

703


What could it be like

Living in a sundown town

Having the wrong tint


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

704


I have heard folks say

Don’t pass through Vidor at night

Hate made its home there


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

705


What I used to see

So many ages ago

Were just illusions


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

706


There are times I see

The ghosts of children playing

In the school playground 


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

707


When I was a kid

I used to think he was cool

Now he’s an old fool


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

708


A split in his pants

Makes it clearly obvious 

He’s gone commando


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

709


He will share with me

His wild slut boy adventures

He knows I won’t judge


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

710


iPhone did not charge

Though it was plugged in all night

Yup, first world problems 


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

711


Yes I am a witch

It is not my religion

It is what I do


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

712


Soy una bruja

Y no es mi religión

Es lo que hago


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

713


Je suis sorcière

Ce n'est pas ma religion

C'est ce que je fais


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

714


Esu ragana

Ne mano religija

Štai kas aš darau


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

715


Depression gripped him

He hovered between choices

To live or to die 


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

716


On days he chose death

He lacked the motivation

To go through with it


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

717


Thus he decided

On a slow death through neglect

And self harm habits


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

718


He kept on screaming 

I’ve got fucking enemies 

In my head! My head!


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

719


Can get anything

At Alice’s Restaurant 

Thanksgiving special


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

720


Fifty was once warm

Now that I have Texas blood

It’s rather chilly


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

721


Silence in Baytown 

Is a nonexistent thing

Refineries roar


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

722


People post photos

Of pale monochrome food

Where is the color


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

723


After Thanksgiving 

Christmas lights are going up

But where is the joy


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

724


At the doggie park

Walking the figure-eight loop

I write five haiku


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

725


Music’s transporting

Listening to Govinda

Takes me to Austin


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

726


Imposter syndrome 

Reminds me that I’m not smart

That I am a fake


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

727


A bright Christmas tree 

With a brighter cross on top

Christian oppressors 


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

728


To reach mastery

One must make frequent mistakes

And make them often


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

729


It is a given

On every holiday

She ruins the day


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

730


Not understanding 

What his mother did to him

He’s doing to me


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

731


The lines can be blurred

What often fits one people

Also fits others


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

732


While his heart is good

He often lacks the insight 

To see past himself


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

733


Though she destroys him

He continues to remain

That’s trauma bonding


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

734

Though she be my kin

She’s also deadly poison

To stay away from


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

735


The passion of Christ

Tortured and executed 

A Christian wet dream


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

736


The older I get

The less tolerant I am

Of stupid bullshit


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

737


There’s a reason why 

Church followers are called sheep

They’re easily led


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

738


They are lambs of God

Easily led to slaughter 

While their leaders feast


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

739


He’s a predator

Who does not need sheep’s clothing

To lead brainwashed sheep


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

740


Though he is a fool

His blind brainwashed followers

Are much bigger fools


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

741


Christians are confused

Christmas is to celebrate 

Christ’s birth not his death


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

742


Three shining crosses

Amidst Santa and reindeer

Mixed up holidays


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

743


Pushing a wheelchair 

That’s not meant for sitting down

But for hauling stuff


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

744


Years of solitude

A nonbinary trans soul

Saw his inner light


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

745


Always othering

There’s no hate like Christian love

Biggest hypocrites 


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

746


For many people 

Jobs are their identity 

They’re lost without work


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

747


My life is most sweet

My book of haiku poems

Is a best seller


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

748


Today I don’t feel

Charity t’wards the homeless 

Who delay my train


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

749


It’s interesting

Weird people doing weird things

Is rather common


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

750


Most people don’t know

Nice and normal families

Have hidden darkness 


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

751


Wherever you look

There is a story waiting 

To be uncovered 


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

752


Driving in Houston

Taking your life in your hands 

Accidents happen 


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

753


Others were involved

She’s the one who took the hit

They did her dirty


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

754


A train got shot at

By someone riding a bike

Cops are in pursuit 


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

755


I drugged my dogs

The thunderstorm is coming

I will not be home 


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

756


I made a promise

To my dogs to care for them 

Please let it be so


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

757


What is a dicktim

One who acts like a victim

While being a dick


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

758


Cars on the freeway 

Encapsulated motion

Within and without


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

759


Early morning dew

Soaks through my sneakers and socks

Walking through the grass

 

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

760


She wears many masks

What her family has seen

No one has a clue


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

761


I doubted her smiles

No one can be that happy

Her fakeness was real


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

762


Finally seeing

Gaslighting for the first time

You can’t unsee it


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

763


Watch their deceptions

They are armed with many tricks

Yet they’re transparent 


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

764


Performing good deeds

Are a better use of faith 

Than proselytizing

 

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

765


Rather than push God

Christians would do much better

With acts of service 


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

766


With each decision 

Feeding the algorithms

Assumptions are made


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

767


Swarming human mass

I am part of the landscape

For better or worse 


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

768


Got Zucked once again

For something they won’t reveal 

A kangaroo court


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

769


AI overlords 

Pass down their judgments blindly

Zuck pulls puppet strings


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

770


No purpose ever

Misery etched on her face

She walks in wet socks


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

771


Still waters run deep

Butterfly trajectories

I cast a ripple


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

772


Thirty years wasted

The love that I thought I had

Was based on a lie


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

773


She tries to hook me

I already know her tricks

And I play along


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

774


I have sold my soul

For many dollars an hour

Serving time in hell


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

775


Mephistopheles 

Can have my soul if he wants

Hell can’t be much worse


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

776


Humid warm morning

Subtropical December 

No snow on Christmas 


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

777


The hypocrisy 

Is more than I can stomach

Proselytize elsewhere 


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

778


They are god-fearing

Hypocrites who can’t discern

The facts from fables


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

779


Sometimes it feels like

I’m chipping a huge glacier

With a small ice pick 


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

780


We reconnected 

After almost fifty years

Too bad he’s married


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

781


We have always had

A mutual attraction 

Nothing came of it


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

782


The human landscape 

Amidst the ugly litter

Are some hidden gems 


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

783


Life in a wheelchair 

Missing limbs from some mishap

They beg for money


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

784


I feel very bad

For trees in captivity 

With imprisoned roots


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

785


He drops his britches

And sits on the concrete slab

In his underwear


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

786


Doll heads on spikes

Raoul’s house scares the locals

It doesn’t scare me


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

787


Mama in a coat 

Her baby in a stroller 

Bare legged and cold


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

788


The skyline at night

Thousands of pin pricks of light

In concrete lanterns


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

789


Slapping on some paint

On a decaying building

Gotta sell it fast


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

790


The billboard informs

If we don’t win you don’t pay

Shyster promises


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

791


Shyster promises 

Come with many conditions

They have their cards stacked


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

793


A sliver of blue

Peeking from between two walls

A slice of bayou


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

794


He was once chatty

But all those years on the streets

Cut his silver tongue 


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

795


Entitled frat boys 

Are projecting rapey vibes

With smug assurance 


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

796


Winter’s almost here

Chilly December morning

The rooster stills crows


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

797


Yule is almost here

Winter quietly slips in

There’s no grand entrance


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

798


Oleanders sway

Scattering their pink blossoms

When the stiff wind blows


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

799


Wasteful and obese

Lacking critical thinking 

That’s America


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

800


Worship the dollar

Decency is a stale myth

That brings no profit


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

801


Life is very sweet

When I am making great money

Working from my home


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

802


I’ve moved to Austin

Where my life is much sweeter

Austin is my home


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

803


They have grown apart 

Living under the same roof

Nothing in common 


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

804


When I do expire

Do not put me in a box

Let worms eat my flesh


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

805


My decaying death

A silent installation

Of beetles feasting


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

806


With my bones picked clean

Place my skull on your altar

Memento mori


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

807


When it’s vacation

Bestie will come to visit

We’ll have adventures


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

808


When I am driving

I let the idiots pass

It’s safer that way 


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

809


Abandoned like trash

Baby left on the platform 

Where is the mama 


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

810


Conflict fuels their blood

Thousands are being slaughtered 

No damn side is right


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

811


Christmas is over

I’ve already left for work

The kids leave later


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

812


On all my days off

ADHD takes over

Space cadet squirrel 


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

813


When I’m back at work

Extra effort must be made

To maintain focus


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

814


Their battle cry is

Do not tell us what to do

We’re Americans


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

815


It’s much easier

To ban books that make you think

Than to gouge out eyes


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

816


Coming together

In their place in the morass

They sing hymns of shame


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

817


Can’t confront their shame

They replace it with anger

Feelings get denied


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

818


Pants down to his thighs

He waddles like a fat duck

No self awareness 


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

819


In a striped sweater

The Giant Schnauzer prances

Tugging her human


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

820


A wee touch of frost

Glazed the rooftops this morning 

Furnace got no rest


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

821


A car caught on fire

Totally engulfed in flames

Fire truck on the way


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

822


He’s not staggering

He’s dancing on the platform

Jamming to his beats


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

823


The New Year has come

But did it come with new change

Somehow that’s doubtful 


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

824


My dog is panting

To the beat of the music

A danceable beat


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

825


Blood bloated skeeters

Have come out after the rain

In a red frenzy


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

826


Pesky mosquitoes 

They’re coming like bombardiers

We may have to leave


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

827


The nervous jogger

Freaked out when my dog approached 

Not a dog person


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

828


Short necktie buffoon

Chauffeuring his granddaughter 

Without a seat belt 


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

829


No one notices 

A low rung city worker

At the mayor’s bash 


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

830


It is sure as hell

No Jesus on a pancake

Trump on a taco


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

831


Closed eyes cannot see

That a deranged psychopath 

Is their loving God


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

832


What if Jesus knew

That Yahweh was a psycho

He tried to rebrand 


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

834


What could have been bad

Became an inconvenience 

I’ve learned to adapt


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

835


Simple addition

I still count on my fingers

Digits are useful


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

836


Boys in pajamas

Riding their bikes through downtown

In the dark of night


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

837


Woke up to the noise

Static electricity 

Rolling overhead


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

838


Flash before the boom

Sound travels slower than light

Through water it flies


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

839


The bark park’s a swamp

From all the rain we have had

Muddy paws splashing


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

840


It’s a dark morning

I’m out in the elements 

Raw rain chills my bones


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

841


A pink thermal cup

Triggered a buying frenzy 

Advertising works


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

842


Now that you are dead

You can see that your whole life

Was all based on lies


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

843


From the afterlife

You can see your spawn were sick

Abusers like you


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

844


No one believed me

When I saw the demon dressed

Up like an angel


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

845


I saw through the lies

Through the glittering glamour 

The demon had cast


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

846


One-legged beggar

Kicks the cars from his wheelchair 

No one gives him cash


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

847


Car riding my ass

Small dick energy drivers

Come in all genders


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

849


I went on a date

And found out he was married 

Had a girlfriend too


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

850


He used dating apps

To find and recruit women

For his doomsday cult 


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

851


I’m going to eat

More beets to wreak some havoc

On random drug tests 


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

852


Each time I pass by

The dog’s on the patio

Alone neglected 


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

853


If you can’t commit

To taking care of a dog

Don’t get one at all 


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

854


Hard freeze gonna hit

Gotta do my winter prep

So my pipes don’t burst


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

855


Passed by a crime scene

Dead body under a sheet

Keep the train moving


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

856


The body’s scooped up

Cleanup crew is mopping up

Sidewalk looks like new


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

857


In twenty-four hours

It will be a lot colder

Than it is right now 


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

858


I would have not thought

That I could get accustomed 

To the subtropics


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

859


Early Sunday morn

The cold keeps away people

The dog park is mine


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

860


I’m not feeling it

My car is warm and toasty

It’s too cold outside


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

861


I start my long shift

Multiple bulky layers

To stave off the cold


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

862


A state that favors

Employers does not do right

By its commonfolk


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

863


Psychopaths are far

More common than the experts 

Lead us to believe


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

864


Ev’ry psychopath 

In leadership positions

Needs to die right now 


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

865


Two fat psychopaths 

Step in an elevator 

Oozing sliminess


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

866


A toxic culture

And dysfunctional workplace 

Benefit no one


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

867


Capitalism’s

Roots in slave economy 

Screw the working class 


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

868


Sitting in my car

In the parking lot at work

Writing rage haiku


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

869


Dude with a football

Doing trick tosses and spins

On the train platform


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

870


Had jury duty 

Did not get chosen today

But learned some new things


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

871


Texas — the only

State where traffic offenses 

Get a jury trial


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

872


I did not get picked

And that was OK because

I got the day off


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

873


I left the courthouse 

Rejected as a juror

No skin off my teeth


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

874


Rejection is great

I was very productive 

Cleaned out my closet


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

875


I am quite surprised 

That my Muse is still at it

Cranking out haiku 


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

876


How many flowers 

Lie at the feet of the dead

In their cold repose


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

877


Two dudes cutting up

Slinging their drama loudly

And missing their stop


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

878


Mama’s in a box

He’s in a black suit wailing

Consumed by raw grief


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

879


Suffocating grief

Cutting him down to his knees

A hand reaches out 


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

880


Someone left The Word

I found Jesus in a box

Praise the Lord I’m saved


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

881


A paramedic 

Standing near the gas pumps with

A lit cigarette 


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

882


He’s a foreign boy

Who married a local girl 

And learned her language 


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

883


There is much gladness

For the rain on vacation

I am dry at home


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

884


Because of the rain

I’ve a very good excuse 

To cocoon at home


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

885 


Rain for four days straight

I’m grateful to be at home

Not wet on the train 


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

886


Visiting a friend

He gave me his front door code

New level unlocked


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

887


I’m wearing mud boots

‘Cuz the bark park is a swamp

They keep my feet dry


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

888


I like to reflect

I am much happier now

After my divorce


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

889


Mosquitoes are out

Even in January

In the subtropics


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

890


He lied like he breathed

Lies flowed out with each exhale

Truth was toxic air


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

891


Out of several

Hundred haiku only one

Stands out like a gem


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

892


There’s a difference 

Between a haiku poet

And haiku master


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

893


The mind suppresses

What the body remembers 

To its detriment


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

894


He called me a nag

But could not manage his life

I checked out and left


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

895


When I was married

I did not like being home

It’s different now


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

896


He had no restraint 

A kid in a candy store 

Now he is bankrupt 


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

897


It is back to work

Back to seeing sagging pants

And petty people


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

898


Observe carefully 

Men always tell on themselves 

They cannot help it


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

899


There are too many

Sleeping dogs on the freeway

Who never wake up 


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

900


We are resources

To be exploited by them

Who don’t give a shit


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

901


Everything feels

Closer together under

Blanketing darkness


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

902


Sunlight’s arrival

Dissolving the boundaries

Darkness erected


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

903


Why can I not care

Not allow folks to be dicks

Just leave me alone


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

904


My very best days

Are those days when I’m alone

Just me and my dogs


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

905


I expect drivers

To run red lights and stop signs

Typical Houston


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

906


This week is dragging

Friday can’t come fast enough 

The weekend is bliss


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

907


Dude in a helmet

With a blanket wrapped around 

Like a miniskirt 


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

908


While the world’s asleep

I glide among the zombies

A silent pale ghost 


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

909


It is still too dark

For the symbols on the sign

To form clear letters


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

910


Light lends to shadow

The contrast lost in darkness

Sharp divides expand 


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

911


Bubbles in amber

Hold the air that once pumped through

Lungs of dinosaurs


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

912


Cracked walls dropped ceilings

Their house is falling apart

The neighbors moved out 


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

913


Five-thirty AM

As we arrived to the park

Someone was shooting hoops


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

914


A thin crescent moon

Trapped in a puddle on earth

Will still shine brightly 


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

915


There’s no ecstasy 

In the creation of art

Until it is done


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

916


From opposite ends

Taking each other’s measure

Moon and Venus stand 


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

917


Yellow glowing orb

Up over the horizon

Awakening sun


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

918


It always returns

This overwhelming sadness

First thing on Monday


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

919


Each day I don’t know 

If I will get home safely

With my health intact


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

920


What is religion

Nothing but a toxic lie

That has duped billions


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

921


Nazi Germany

Stripped the rights of their women

And made them livestock 


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

922


There are parallels 

Between Nazi Germany

And the Christian Right


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

923


Imagine a place

Where knowledge is forbidden 

Learning discouraged 


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

924


What if you woke up

To find all your rights vanished

What would you do next


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

925


Scriptures were written

By men perpetuating 

The patriarchy 


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

926


He found her go bag

Learned that she could not trust him

So he proved her right


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

927


Young man on the train

Enthuses about his god

And how cool he is


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

928


A white Mercedes

Trunk tied down with bungee cords 

Not very classy


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

929


It hangs on her wall

My vest sacrificed for art

Belongs to no one


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

930


I had a nice chat

With my daughter yesterday 

Loved hearing her voice


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

931


She limps behind him

Heavy leaden legs keeping

Pace with his shadow


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

932


Her eyes are downcast

On her cheek a purple rose

Blooms like a ripe plum


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

933


Shut up fucking bitch

What words start his fists finish

Driving home the point


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

934


His words make her flinch

She knows what’s gonna come next 

She braces herself


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

935


Her native beauty

Snuffed by the coarse borracho 

She is tethered to 

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

936


She cannot leave him

What she thinks is a lifeline

Is her hanging noose


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

937


Despite what she says

She is not on her deathbed 

She wants attention


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

938


Death watch has begun

He will be her psychopomp 

When she transitions


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

939


Not even the most

Ravenous of sin eaters

Will eat from her corpse 


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

940


She cracked tasteless jokes

And disrupted the Last Rites

It’s all about her


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

941


It’s all about her

Demanding a photo shoot

By her mom’s deathbed


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

942


Before arriving 

She asked the nurse for morphine

So she could relax 


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

943


Death watch continues

The Grim Reaper has to wait

She’s not ready yet


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

944


Two days were given

She is taking her third day

While ancestors wait 


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

945


Last night while I slept

Her body had had enough

She became stardust


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

946


She wears sweet perfume 

To mask her foul putrescence 

But I am not fooled


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

947


He does all the work

She gets all the sympathy 

That’s how it should be


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

948


She’s a narcopath

Stealing thunder from the dead

To feed her hunger


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

949


Don’t need the drama

Don’t care for the performance 

Not getting tickets


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

950


No arrangements yet

It is not rocket science 

Someone’s playing games


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

951


I am still waiting

For arrangements to be made

So I could make plans


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

952


Keep it up lady

You will get your own chapter

In my tell-all book


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

953


Walking to my train

I hear a lone rooster crow 

At o-dark-thirty


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

954


Deliberately 

Delaying information 

A narcissist’s flex


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

955


Nighttime descends on

A sea of red sleeping bags 

The homeless lay out


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

956


Since she had left us

The dead have gotten chatty

In welcoming her


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

957


Did she visit me

And did I forget my dreams

After I woke up


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

958


There’s an ugly word

That’s saved only for the most

Ugly of people


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

959


What she does not know

Is after her performance 

The curtain will drop


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

960


Those who know me well

Can find the hidden stories

Tucked in my haiku


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

961


Another countdown 

The funeral’s in four days

Guaranteed shit show


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

962


Which she is what she

Who’s the she that’s mentioned

Pronoun confusion 


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

963


Wrapped up in blankets

Because winter is too short

To spend cash on coats


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

964


Today is quite cold

Tomorrow it will be hot

Up and down weather


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

965


I’ve not heard from her

It’s the calm before the storm

She must be plotting


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

966


It has been a week

She has not yet mined Facebook

For condolences 


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

967


Deep in the bottle

Too far gone for cold turkey 

Wine flows through her veins


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

968


Before she had healed

He kept insisting on sex

She lost the baby


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

969


Shadows get processed

Through my Muse’s directives

And gut punch haiku 


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

970


Am I talking trash

Or creating poetry

I am doing both


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

971


Not smoke and mirrors 

But more like shit and shadows

Is what I’m seeing


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

972


Two days in a row

Sweet Nigerian ladies

Ask for assistance 


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

973


No word of a lie

Death and funerals bring out

The worst in people 

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

974


Making a big fuss

Over a buck twenty-five 

Just shut up and pay


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

975


Fog is rolling in

Ethereal paths leading

To another realm


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

976



I had missed my flight

‘Cuz I woke up sick «cough cough»

Too sick to travel 


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

977


Shit storm has started

Before the end of the day

My name will be mud


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

978


I’m shutting down 

And severing all contact

With toxic people


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

979


I’m cutting my ties

Family is no excuse

To allow abuse


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

980


Rot and corruption 

Festers and churns in a spot

That once held a heart


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

981


A skilled mortician 

Is an artist who evokes

Life in death’s repose 


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

982


A Christian death service 

Of the Catholic flavor

Is all about death 


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

983


Did you know that the

Anagram of «funeral»

Spells the words «real fun»


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

984


The chapter’s finished

There’s nothing more left to read

Time to burn the book


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

985


An era ended

I burn bridges behind me

Keep the past away


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

986


With each bridge I burn

The past committed to flames

I become more free


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

987


My past life’s shackles

Sink into the bayou mud

Ignored by ‘gators


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

988


No more attachments 

I cut the ties that bound me

Untethered and free


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

989


Talk shit about me

So be it I expect that

But hands off my kid


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

990


Folks are now asking

If the weight has been lifted

I’m still adjusting 


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

991


I had to remove 

Healthy tissue to keep the

Gangrene from spreading 


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

992


Branches are lopped off

The diseased family free

Wounds are cauterized


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

993


That toxic person

Ev’ry family has one

It’s OK to block


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

994


Some people do not

Deserve to be in my life

For the harm they wreak


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

995


She will reach down to

Unimaginable depths

To poison the well


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

996


When her time does come

We will celebrate her death

With a dumpster fire 


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

997


Sometimes I feel bad

For her life must be lonely

From others leaving


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

998


But it’s not my job

To immolate my own self

So she could stay warm


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

999


Our shared DNA

Is no excuse for me to

Allow her abuse


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

1000


For all that I care

She can go poison the well

I won’t drink from it 


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
































































































































2 comments:

MakBeth said...

#351 should end with "Because,gravity.

Pixelektra said...

Good one!