Monday, February 26, 2024

Cuckoo for Haiku 2 — The Next Thousand

  


1001

Turned the funeral
Into a flaming shit show
That’s all about her

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1002

The one thing that she
Complained about more than me
Was how much it cost

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

1003


It’s been since COVID

That she stopped taking showers

Uses wipes instead


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

1004


She’s the new best friend

With absolutely no clue

Why the others left


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

1005


I hope she stops soon

This shit talk and harassment 

Has gotten tiresome


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

1006


My Muse needs to rest

This last drama was too much 

She needs to reboot


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

1007


It takes an effort

People can’t hide forever 

Who they really are


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

1008


Pieces of my life

Suddenly fell together 

When my eyes opened 


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

1009


I allow nothing

To come me and my

Precious peace of mind 


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

1010


An unlikely pair

Glam girl and a sloppy bum

Can he afford her


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

1011


Is all that I am

Just particulate matter 

Clinging to raindrops


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

1012


I’m dressed cowgirl style

A Spanish lady exclaimed

To me ¡que guapa! 


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

1013


Green lights all the way

Traveling unimpeded

On straight and smooth roads 


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

1014


Spring is almost here

My heart sings with longer days

Darkness gets banished


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

1015


My hoodie pouch stuffed

Giving me the bloated paunch

Of an old white man


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

1016


The sun cannot rise

Until it is awakened

By morning bird songs 


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

1017


The rooster’s asleep

And neglecting his duty

To wake up the sun 


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

1018


The weekend’s over

It’s back to humanity

At its ugliest


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

1019


People I deal with

Are either very stupid

Or being ugly


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

1020


Each day I keep safe

Darwin Award candidates 

From their stupid selves


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

1021


Zombies are sleeping

Limp bodies frozen in time

On the train platform 

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

1022


Spring is almost here

Mexican primroses bloom

Along the sidewalks 


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

1023


Getting the stink eye

From a glowering hermit

As he fouls his nest


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

1024


It’s made from the piss

Of diabetic weasels

Bud Light is nasty


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

1025


If it is not good

Still write it down anyway

To stay in the flow


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

1026


My Muse has a name

She whispered it in my mind

Somehow it suits her


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

1027


Not just a windbag

She’s much more refined than that

While keeping it real


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

1028


Come Election Day 

I hope sanity prevails

Let there be reason


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

1029


It’s disheartening

To see an incompetent 

Elected to run


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

1030


Monsters in our midst

And other scary humans

Mingle among us


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

1031


Those who see the truth

Get their names sullied and smeared

And discredited 


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

1032


Nothing in the bank

Yet she has on her fingers

Quite the nice fortune


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

1033


She wants attention

So I’ll give her a chapter 

In my tell-all book


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

1034


The lights are so bright

At the soccer stadium 

They whitewash the sky


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

1035


I’m away from home 

For more than sixty-five hours 

During the workweek 


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

1036


I wake up early

My mind is racing nonstop 

Feeling overwhelmed 


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

1037


Yo-yo weather

A string of hot days followed 

By a string of cold


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

1038


I could not resist

ADHD impulse buy

An eBay bargain


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

1041


Daylight Savings Time 

Made it very hard for me

To get enough sleep 


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

1042


He gave me the code

So I could let myself in 

New level unlocked


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

1043


She communicates

With ETs and aliens

They talk in her head 


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

1044


Wherever I am

Once it’s time to leave I will 

Without looking back 


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

1045


He was very young 

When he sucked his uncle’s dick

Cuz he was told to


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

1046


He thought it was love

Didn’t know it was abuse

Or that he was raped


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

1047


His uncle taught him

That there’s more to a penis

Than just making pee


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

1048


He slipped his fingers

Inside her tiny panties

She was only five


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

1049


He tried to blame her

Said she was leading him on

But she’s only five


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

1050


He cannot accept

That he’s a twisted pervert

Children serve his needs


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

1051


She is what she is

Incestuous pedophile 

Preying on her son


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

1052


Musette’s on a roll

Dictating to me haiku

About pedophiles 


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

1053


Nothing is taboo

From killing tiny kittens

To fucking schoolboys


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

1054


She is a hoarder

Who cannot even throw out

Her shit-filled diapers


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

1055


When I tell others

Of my sister’s craziness

They all are speechless


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

1056


Hope she looks at him

With a dispassionate eye 

Then she’ll remember 


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

1057


Never felt better

Ever since I decided

To go no contact


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

1058


It’s the harshest truth

Everything I cherished

Was based on a lie


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

1059


Smear campaigns starting

If she cannot control me

Lies are the next choice


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

1060


The platform sitters

There’s nowhere they need to be

They just ride all day


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

1061


That’s absolutism

It’s either all or nothing

With no room to breathe


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

1062


Yellow kimonos

Lying on the garden bench

I woke up too soon


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

1063


Elusive meanings

Dreams of yellow kimonos

I could not try on


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

1064


I do not reward

Any unsafe behavior 

With a free train ride 


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

1065


Baby left the nest

Helicopter mom and dad

Hover close nearby


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

1066


No hope for humans

Collective stupidity 

Will get us all killed


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

1067


Showed me her tattoo

A little bit of whimsy

Mushrooms on her leg


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

1068


Our connection morphed

An emotional affair

His wife does not know 


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

1069


Dreams had fallen flat

Ambition gone up in smoke

Nothing left to lose


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

1070


Some of them just sit

Doing their best to kill time

Bothering no one


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

1071


I talk in haiku

With each measured syllable 

I communicate 


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

1072


The package arrived

A faint whiff of cigar smoke 

Clung to the contents


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

1073


If he were cut loose

And all entanglements gone

I’d surely say yes


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

1074


I know that he sees

My encoded messages

And my secret thoughts


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

1075


It’s ok to dream

And for now I’m content

To be with my dogs 


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

1076


I may hate my job

But I love my peace of mind 

It’s worth ev’rything


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

1077


Eagerly waiting 

For my Asian tea shipment

I can taste it now


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

1078


Eagerly I wait

For his email to arrive

We share a soul bond


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

1079


Those three loaded words

Someday I will be able

To say l love you


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

1080


He cares for his wife

He will not abandon her

So we’ll have to wait


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

1081


We share a deep bond

That burrows into our core

Spanning across time


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

1082


The time is not yet

We enjoy the sweet tension

That comes with waiting


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

1083


Lone black dog trotting

Another lost throwaway 

Looking for a home


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

1084


My heart always breaks

When I see a homeless dog 

It’s not the dog’s fault


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

1085


A homeless couple 

Had a cute little puppy

And now it is gone


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

1086


While she slept soundly

He strangled her lil puppy 

Threw it in the ditch


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

1087


He is a weak man

Jealous of the attention

She gave her puppy


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

1088


First it was her dog

And what she does not know yet

Is she will be next


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

1089


In my dream last night

The lil puppy had returned

And had grown bigger


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

1090


I need to be careful

My iPhone can get cluttered

With the growing tabs


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

1091


It can get intense

Limerence is a wild ride

With an abrupt stop


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

1092


I’m still sputtering

Over having to brake hard

And grinding my gears


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

1093


Need to cool my jets

Take the throttle down a notch

And let things idle


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

1094


Flew so very high

I burned up re-entering

The earth’s atmosphere 


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

1095


It’s been a wild ride

Unexpected twists and turns

Smoother roads ahead


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

1096


There is no static

There’s only intensity 

That’s unrelenting


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

1097


Real time responses 

Evolving and mutating

Churning deep waters


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

1098


Hidden dog whistles 

Like buried treasure await

To be discovered 


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

1099


I’d rather stay home

To comfort my frightened dog

Who’s scared of thunder


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

1100


Picking through the trash

With not a cent to their name

They hope to find luck


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

1101


A nearly full moon

Reflecting in a puddle

That the dogs run through


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

1102


Lunar reflections 

Puddles in concentric rings

Broken up moonglade 


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

1103


Well before sunrise

Do some night photography 

And write poetry


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

1104 


Escaping a cult

That does human sacrifice 

Weird strange dream last night


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

1105


Even through the clouds

The full moon’s light shines brightly 

Illumination


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

1106


Forgotten verses

Spending the dark night outside

Cold and neglected


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

1107


Trying to stay warm

With a soaking wet blanket 

In January 


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

1108


Trash in nice gift wrap

Mofo in a G-Wagon

Flexes and namedrops 


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

1109


Cheap choking perfume

The stench of entitlement

Corrodes all respect


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

1110


He fell in the trap

Sprung by some entitled scum

A guy lost his job


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

1111


A revolving door

Another one bites the dust

Four more workers gone


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

1112


When each new day comes

I never know if that day

Will be my last day


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

1113


An obscured skyline

Brown smog over the city 

Filtering sunlight


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

1114


It’s Opening Day 

Baseball madness has begun 

I just don’t get it


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

1115


People will people

Allowing their ugliness 

To take over them


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

1116


Forked tongue Antichrist

Hawking his tainted Bibles

To the gullible 


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

1117

 

It’s not God who speaks

When they say God hates all fags

It’s projected hate


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

1118


God is on their lips

Hate dwells in their stony hearts

Hate is love to them


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

1119


Such a naughty dog

She heard other dogs barking

Ran across the street


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

1120


Deep in the forest

The trail has gotten quite dark

I can’t see my feet


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

1121


Two trucks had arrived

My trail hike got cut too short

I did not feel safe


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

1122


In a foreign land

Hot cross buns bring him back home

Across the vast pond


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

1123


The small things matter

Like a tiny taste of home 

In a hostile land


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

1124


When she is silent

I fear my Muse has left me

But she is still here 


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

1125


With a less rich life

I’d have a much cleaner home

And a sterile soul


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

1126


It’s sweet spot weather

Where I need neither heat nor

Air conditioning 


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

1127


My brain is too full

It is at capacity

There is no more room


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1128


Window can’t get clean

No windshield wiper fluid 

Bird shit on the glass


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

1129


My palate prefers

Agave distillations

Viva tequila 


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

1130


I taste the magic

Of the desert on my lips

Agave whispers


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

1131


Delusional fool

Believes an Only Fans girl

Has the hots for him


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

1132


He’s an old fat slob

Looking for a nurse and purse

And bangmaid to boot


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

1133


He makes no effort

There’s nothing on his table

But he’ll eat from yours


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

1134


The creative flow 

Is plugged up by a log jam

Of sheer exhaustion 


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

1135


Dogs are on the trail

Some random guy starts yelling

He’s freaked out by them


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

1136


It has been awhile

A sweet reunion with friends

The dogs are happy


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

1137


Religious fruitcakes

Are awaiting The Rapture

When the sun goes dark


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

1138


And yet once again

Science will prove them all wrong

And make fools of them 


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

1139


Keep your religion

At home behind your closed doors 

Where it can’t cause harm


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

1140


More harm has been done 

In the name of religion

Than anything else 


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

1141


With humans in charge

Religion is a weapon 

To oppress others


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

1142


The superstitious 

Fall victim to ignorance

And their religion


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

1143


What is true for some

Is not rightly true for me

Or someone else


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

1144


Rapture came and went

No ascension to heaven

There is still traffic


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

1145


I opened the door

And in came a blast of moths

Like blowing snowflakes


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

1146


Where was Morpheus

I waited for him last night 

But he stood me up 


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

1147


Vacation planning

Far more stressful than I thought

How do I relax


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

1148
When I get no sleep  I’m a diff’rent animal With claws and teeth bared
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1149

I now understand 

A little bit more about 

Sleep deprivation 

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

1150
They cannot sleep tight For they are vulnerable  Predators abound
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1151


Two cats are sitting 

In the middle of the road 

Having a stare down 


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

1152

Freedom rides my train

While furtive cockroaches take

Long deep sips from it

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

1153

Motorized wheelchair 

Trying to cross the trackway 

Towing a large load


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

1154
It’s a bit chilly No extra layers for me Gotta walk faster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1155

They are well behaved

Well for the most part they are

After all they’re dogs

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

1156

She can be spicy

Does not play well with others

Her circle is tight


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

1157
Abandoned puppies I wish I could stop caring They deserve better
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1158

Why is there evil

Why can’t all human beings 

Be compassionate 

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

1159


8:30 AM

His cheap-ass bottle of wine

Already half gone

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

1160


It’s too much to bear The crushing humanity  And its ugliness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1161
If folks were nicer To people and animals  I would engage more
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1162

I am so relieved

The three puppies got scooped up

They’ll soon have new homes 

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

1163

A barometer

Of my emotional state 

Such is my haiku

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

1164

I made a diff’rence

In the lives of three puppies

Who got abandoned

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

1165

This is what I’ve learned

There is nothing like a dog

We need each other 


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

1166
Illustrated man Is carving up a doll head With his pocket knife 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1167

Texas Instruments 

Reverse Polish Notation

For calculations 

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

1168

A paralysis

Borne of math anxiety

Numbers freeze my brain

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

1169

Old college notebooks

Differential equations 

That I once could do

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

1170

I changed my major

All because of a cute boy

From art to physics 

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

1171
I stumble through math No elegant equations

With brute force methods

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

1172
Young robotic geeks Vying for championship  Whose machine will win
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1173

My bestie and I

Video chatted last night

For almost two hours

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

1174
Back to work I go
I feel sad to leave my dogs  All alone at home 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1175

Young man on a sign

He looks a lot like Jesus

Shopping at Walmart 

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

1176
My father exclaimed She’s washing her hair with shit No it’s just henna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1177

Illumination

By the light of the full moon 

There is no dark night

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

1178

Dark night of the soul

There’s an empty restlessness 

An out of reach itch

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

1179

Alienation

Total disenfranchisement 

Dark isolation

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

1180

A bleak existence 

Tar pit of meaninglessness 

Existential dread

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

1181

A numbing routine

And mindless repetition 

You don’t want this life

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

1182

Well before sunrise

Lone dude with a basketball

Is checking his phone

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

1183

A rancid player

Who’s fifty shades of ratchet

Pouts when I say no

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

1184

She’s all hips and butt

And she’s not at all even

A Kardashian

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

1185


An unpaid day off

Is still a nice treat and break

From the daily grind 


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

1186

Out the door and back

Gone for fourteen hours a day

Bone deep exhaustion 

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

1187

Expectations dashed

Another disappointment 

I’m back at square one 


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

1188
Could sagging pants be An uncouth resurrection Of long hobble skirts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1189

How did that cute pup

Get stuck with two clowns like those

Borrachos on bikes


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

1190
On the street corner The junkie and his dealer Transact their business
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1191
Addicted himself The dealer’s not better off Than his customers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1192
A brisk breeze blowing Clouds scudding across the moon Wild wind waltzing leaves
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1193

Subtropical spring

Where morning temperatures 

Are mid seventies

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

1194

A windy morning

Thirty-five mile per hour gusts

The trees are talking


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

1195

Her son moved away

Her sister cut off all ties

She is abandoned

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

1196

This abandonment 

She had brought upon herself

As consequences 

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

1197

They will always bark

When approaching the same spot 

Hidden lurking threat

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

1198

At last the time came

When all her flying monkeys

Had escaped her thrall

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

1199

On her third last chance 

Her Teflon coating cannot

Stay slick forever 

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

1200

A buck twenty-five

Yet folks still act offended 

When they’re asked to pay


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

1201

It’s the shitty folks

Who will get pissed off at you

When caught doing wrong 

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

1202
Vacation planning It’s more and more exciting  With each passing day 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1203
Driving twelve hours straight  Road noise echos in my ears In a cheap motel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1204

He taught only love

Othering was not His style

Something got twisted

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

1205
I’m mainly she/her Once in a very rare while  I will be they/them

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

1206

I woke up feeling

A large cockroach scurrying 

Across my forehead 


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

1207

Thin lunar sliver  

May the waning moon swallow

All that is stagnant 

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

1208

Let the Dark Moon take

All that’s no longer useful

To make room for good

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

1209

I’m sensing a shift

Skimming the near horizon

Making its approach

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

1210
More rain on the way Another flood watch today I felt a raindrop
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1211

There once was a time

Where I’d fall into outrage

Without asking why

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

1212
No other country Is as obsessed with their flag As America
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1213

It’s idolatry

To worship the conflation 

Of the cross and flag

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

1214

This land’s biggest threat

Is not those who follow Christ

It’s wolves cloaked as lambs

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

1215
Folks looking for work Ride the train clutching papers With job leads on them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1216

No home to be had

He scavenges for paper

So that he can draw

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1217
My dogs are at home  While I have to be at work  Can’t wait to see them 

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

1218

I bleed a rainbow 

Not for some identity

That’s just how I vibe

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

1219
The King of England  He raids his mother’s closet Searching for work clothes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1220

The homeless will form Unlikely alliances  To survive the streets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1221

Today’s my birthday

Sixty-six years ‘round the sun

A wild ride so far

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

1222

Under a heat dome

Hurricanes and tornadoes 

Summer is starting 

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

1223

Not in my lifetime 

Will I see America 

Be a kinder place

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

1224

It’s a sick system

That does not know it’s rotting

That’s patriarchy


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

1225

I stopped in my tracks

To hear the cicadas sing 

They are waking up

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

1226

While in ATX

There’s a trajectory shift

That changes my course 

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

1227

She showed me her world

Master crafted high living

Homeless guardians

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

1228
I love my two dogs My sweet canine companions A perfect balance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1229

They don’t know better

It’s not something exotic 

It’s a way of life

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

1230
What I wanted was To experience her world And be part of it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1231

Epigenetics

Conflict deescalation 

That’s in women’s genes 

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

1232

Men do not get it

Women don’t feel safe with them

They aren’t protectors

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

1233

The patriarchy

A very toxic poison

Humanity drinks

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

1234

Find other sources

Don’t drink from the poisoned well

That’s killing us all

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

1235

I love my freedom

I enjoy my peace of mind

Team Bear all the way 

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

1236
Ink under my skin I am itching to get more Another tattoo 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1237

A little lost dog

Found itself at my front door 

Setting off my dogs

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

1238 Struck hard by a bus Her purse and lunch in the street She’s not coming home 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1239
Just under three hours Is fast for a coroner To arrive on scene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1240

I ask this question 

How is the universe kind

Everyone dies 

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

1241

Some deaths aren’t timely

They may come out of nowhere 

With great violence 

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

1242

Now that they are dead

It does not matter to them

That their kids are jerks 

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

1243

Wish I could trade spots

With the gal ripping a bong

Behind the platform 


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

1244
A rooster’s crowing Inserts syncopated beats In between owl hoots ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1245

Summer’s almost here

The preheating has begun

Four infernal months

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

1246

They follow Jesus

Yet Jesus Christ would never

Condone their actions

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

1247 They take great offense When the laws give rights to all Not just only them  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1248


Friends with benefits

Rarely will a relationship 

Result from that


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

1249

Two old dudes strutting

They keep in step together 

Their canes synchronized


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

1250

The orange menace

An enemy of the state

Deceiving millions

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

1251

Their fear is misplaced

More lil children have been hurt

By them than drag queens 

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

1252

Demonized queer folk

Have far less blood on their hands

Than their accusers 

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

1253


A nation of fools

Will choose the biggest buffoon 

To be their leader 

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

1254

Don’t trust those who mix Religion with politics A dangerous blend
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1255


Just two dogs and me
It is a perfect balance
They’re my family

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

1256


Composting decay

Enriching the earth with death

To support new life


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

1257
Existing alone For many that brings panic For me it brings peace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1258

He gets on the train

Absentmindedly leaving

All his bags behind

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

1259

The train starts moving

He realizes his mistake

I hear him yell shit

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

1260

At the dark signal

Autos play Russian roulette

As they speed on through


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

1261 With each heavy step Through tossed and broken pieces  I collect the shards
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1262 My arms are loaded  Torn basket of shattered glass I emerge from hell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1263
Memories on film Washed away by acid tears Burn holes in my soul 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1264
It rains in my heart Cyanide tears watering  Flowers of evil
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1265
Il pleut dans mon coeur Larmes de cyanure pleurent Sur les fleurs du mal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1266
Soothing and rocking  A drowsy rainy morning He dozed on the train
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1267
Hot Sunday morning Dogs panting in the back seat Going for a ride ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1268
Unsuspecting dogs Excited in the back seat Heading to be dumped
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1269
People don’t listen I said I would bring my dog They went out to eat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1270
Just because I can  Think it does not mean that I Will ever do it ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1271 Mosquito netting And a pith helmet complete My safari look ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1272
Sometimes people do The unthinkable when faced With tough decisions 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1273

Deluded Christian

Fascists refuse to accept

Jesus was not white


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

1274
Austin my Austin Oh what terrible longing I possess for thee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1275
Logistics be damned Finances be damned as well I will find my way
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1276

When I first saw you

Ever since twenty-thirteen

You captured my heart 

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

1277

For over ten years

A quite deep and fierce yearning

Seeped into my bones


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

1278

Why can I not hold

In tight embrace in my arms

That for which I yearn


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

1279

Rasputin greets us

In a place that’s here nor there

With drinks on a tray

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

1280

Houston can go suck

My metaphorical dick

I swear I won’t come


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

1281
Just like my divorce I need to make plans and wait For the right moment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1282
Hipster douchebag mom And hipster douchebag daughter Visit speakeasies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1283 Talking on the phone I’m an H-Town Texas boy He says with a smile 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1284

Heed the stern warning

Mama’s rule DON’T fuck the dolls

They will fuck you back


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

1285

Cicadas chanting

Loud treetop incantations

As the sun beats down 

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

1286

Sometimes talkative 

Other times my Muse remains

Tight lipped and silent

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

1287

I cannot always

Coerce creativity 

To flow on demand

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

1288

A wrong way driver

Startles on his fast approach 

On the railroad bridge

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

1289


Different faces 

Of homelessness populate

The mean city streets

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

1290

I now know their names

The Black gal and her red dog

Sondra and Bobo

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

1291

Why so many folks

With missing appendages 

Could it be a trend

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

1292

Unearned privilege 

Rides the breeze like a balloon 

Slowly deflating 

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

1293

Playing the system

And getting away with it

Like no one else could

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

1294


Stay invisible

Flying under the radar 

Unseen and unscathed

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

1295

I try not to long

Longing brings on more longing

Keeps the prize away

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

1296

Nature is not fair

Society is not fair

And life is not fair

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1297

The train approaches

Dude does not even look up

While crossing its path 


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

1298

Less than twenty bucks

Is collected each day from

The ticket machines

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

1299

Flowers have secrets

Whispering magnolias

Give ginger kisses

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

1300

Independence Day 

This country does not deserve 

A birthday party

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

1301

Tapped on her window

And threatened to shoot her in

The back of her head 

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

1302

Twisting his nipples

I immediately knew

That he was trouble

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

1303

So many lawyers

Advertising on billboards

Cluttering the view

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

1304

Good Christian driver

Cross hanging from his mirror

Drives like an asshole

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

1305

He gets off the train

Tries to cross in front of it

As it moves forward

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

1306

Car does not slow down

Rushes the intersection 

As the train crosses

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

1307

Not the guy I thought

He let his privilege show

I lost all respect 

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

1308

Those part of a group

Are easily blind to faults

Others clearly see

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

1309

When one sees attacks 

Where none have been intended

One needs to ask why

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

1310

Triggers are useful 

They point to where we need to

Focus on healing

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

1311

Look at religion

As an inkblot test that shows

What’s inside people 

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

1312

Dogs are much better

Friends and companions than

Mediocre men 

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

1313

Started editing

It’s a very scary task

So overwhelming

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

1314

Hurricane season

We’re being hit by Beryl

The dogs are alone

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

1315

Four days no power

Put lipstick on in the dark

Get dressed by flashlight 

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

1316

The wind took my words

Ripped them from my melting heart

Scattered them like leaves

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

1317

Storm debris gathered

Life gets put back together 

Words are uncovered 

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

1318

Wind blowing fiercely

Small tree keeps it together

Bending not breaking 

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

1319

Fences had blown down

Liberating many dogs

Confined within them

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

1320


my naïveté 

made me the perfect target

on dating apps 

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

1321

online predators 

desperate and lonely men

lying through their teeth 


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

1322

i will not settle

for men whose bars are so low

they’re burning in hell

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

1323

we are the product

we’re bargain appliances

on the dating apps

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

1324

i count syllables

like an ADHD chimp

swings from word to word

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

1325

getting nearly full

silver moon patiently waits

for werewolves to hunt

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

1326

there is no safe place

monsters real and imagined

hiding in plain sight 

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

1327

consumed by my house

taking huge bites out of me

bleeding me bone dry

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

1328

his wife does not know 

he’s talking to an old friend

he’s attracted to 

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

1329

sis is mistaken 

to think that i will pick up

her burgeoning tab

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

1330

we both got hit up

by careless needy spendthrifts

looking for bailouts

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

1331

the storm is brewing

a tempest in a teapot

swirling bitter dregs

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

1332

i’ve not much to hide

i’m an open book with some

redacted pages

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

1333

instagram snitches 

report back to her my words 

she sends me screenshots 

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

1334

her flying monkeys 

exist only to serve her

with blind allegiance 

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

1335

one leak found and blocked

there could be unknown others

i’ll check my email 

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

1336

five months of silence 

she emerged to provoke me

so predictable 

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

1337

recruited lackeys

can’t see the truth that took me

six decades to find 

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

1338

i am not upset

my muse is quite grateful for

the inspiration 

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

1339

thanks to her highness 

for feeding my hungry muse 

she is satisfied 

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

1340

passive aggression 

that is how she rolls because

honesty’s too clean

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

1341

he made it ugly

in the way that only he

could make it ugly

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

1342

his love is a lie

designed for entrapment and

manipulation 

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

1343

she offered him help

but got the silent treatment 

he wanted money

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

1344

we both got hit up

with big demands for money 

we gave them nothing

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

1345

alcoholic sis

has nothing better to do

than to stir up shit

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

1346

our shared dna

is not good enough reason 

to pledge loyalty 

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

1347

a far-off blank stare 

is all her slurred words receive

when she lambasts me

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

1348

when her husband died

my eyes were ripped wide open

i saw what she was

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

1349

won’t lift a finger

people exist to serve her

and do her bidding

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

1351

the last crack is sealed 

i’ve become invisible 

to prying stalkers

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

1352

no more drops of tea

will reach her foul corrupt lips

let her die of thirst 

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

1353

now that i’ve gone dark 

passive aggressive emails

no longer reach me

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

1354

promotions given

to baby mamas for their

service and silence

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

1355

cringey words spoken

while sergeant schultz looked away

who would believe her?

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

1356

he learned the hard way

that confiding in a snitch

would cost him his job

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

1357

nobody likes her

she is not a good worker

yet she keeps her job

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

1358

never in trouble

always missing in action

he works the system

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

1359

it’s not just women 

who get creepy vibes from him

men avoid him too

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

1360

it did not feel right

when he asked to touch her hair

he’s her boss dammit

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

1361

while licking his lips

tells her he’ll make her forget

she’s a lesbian

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

1362

she’s white chocolate 

he calls her his favorite

did she step in shit?

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

1363

praising jesus and

inappropriate comments 

come from the same lips

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

1364

me too means nothing

he will keep on preying on

two X chromosomes 

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

1365

it’s his dark secret

he loves his daughter far more

than a father should

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

1366

he does not like her

in fact he really hates her

but he’ll still fuck her

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

1367

surreptitious sips

beer can in a paper bag

drunk by 8 AM

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

1368

they pick and choose their

causes like they pick and choose

their bible verses 

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

1369

butt hurt hypocrites 

crying out when they get called

out on their bullshit

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

1370

allow me the right 

to not have your religion

shoved hard in my face

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

1372

ask them anything

exciting perspective and

omphaloskepsis 

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

1373

all dreams possible

under the shroud of darkness

flow to fruition 

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

1374

as the young moon grows

it  brings great realization 

to my heartfelt dreams 

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

1375

by my words uttered

by my will i thus decree

and so mote it be

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

1376

too clumsy to grasp

my words mutate into dense

frozen metal spheres

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

1377

tripping on something 

brain chemistry is altered

through deep psychosis 

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

1379

once human cargo

indentured to coyotes

she now hawks flowers

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

1380

a cute bungalow

in a hip part of austin 

that’s one of my dreams

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

1381

do not yuck my yum

we each have different dreams

and aspirations

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

1382


sweet agave dreams 

sipping on tequila neat 

soaking up the vibes

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

1383

day in and day out

i am part of the landscape 

while i’m on the clock

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

1384

she burns all bridges 

and scorches the barren earth 

she once tread upon 

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

1385

neurodivergent 

counts ev’rything on fingers 

and measured out steps


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

1386

it’s masochistic 

pain frustration agony

those damn dating apps

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

1387

not online dating

more like online pimping where

women are products

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

1388

bone deep exhaustion

clenched in frozen inertia

i’m running on fumes

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

1389

less than a week left

until i’m on vacation

i intend to rest


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

1390

toxic work culture

reactive not proactive 

pawns set up to fail

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

1391

curiosity 

did it kill schrödinger’s cat

or resurrect it

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

1392

try to imagine

a human society

that imitates bees

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

1393

he is twenty-eight

he has been on the street since

he was seventeen

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

1394

he has no one here

mom is in choctaw and

dad’s drunk somewhere else

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

1395

he has no way of

letting his family know 

that he’s still alive 

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

1396

stolen sign in hand

blood pressure cuff on his arm

he tells me he’s stressed

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

1397

smudges on cardboard 

a silent scream emerges

on the stolen sign

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

1398

the street consumes him

bite by bite chewing up hope

spitting out despair 

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

1399

the end of the line

i wish him well as he leaves

i’ll see him again 

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

1400

when we meet again

perhaps i’ll ask him how he

wound up on the street

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

1401

how will this unfold

stories waiting to be told

more words to behold

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

1402


life speeding on by

trapped in an out-of-control

and runaway train

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

1403

she wants to cheat death 

and become more than human

she will die trying

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

1404

a toxic childhood 

sappy sentimentalists 

spinning nostalgia

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

1405

off to a rough start 

a dying car battery

generates panic

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

1406


rumination spins 

methamphetamine monkeys

body slam my brain

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

1407

it’s not a safe place 

something bad happened here

the vibe still lingers

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

1408

weird dreams disturb me

wake me from a solid sleep 

monkeys are released

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

1409

in a dark grey room

ancient trees within four walls

are trapped and confined

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

1410

morpheus returns

when valerian beckons

and invites him in

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

1411

ghost on the train speaks

suicide’s not the way out

don’t follow my steps

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

1412

a tossed word salad

ketchup splashing on the walls

shit sticks where it’s flung

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

1413

i need to take out

those monkeys with a dart gun

and tranquilize them

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

1414

maybe not all men

but ev’ryone was a man 

who killed out of rage

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

1415

how do I know things

a snake whispers in my ear

and shares its secrets

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

1416

i am living my

best life in austin texas 

it’s a dream come true

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

1417

the spell was broken

when the cobwebs blew away

limerence dissolved

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

1418

a bowl of gumbo

he could taste the animals

yes it was that fresh

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

1419

feral existence 

abandoned lost forgotten 

desamparados

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

1420

illumined shadows

by embracing the darkness 

i invite the light

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

1421

which is easier 

to wish for a million bucks

or wish someone gone

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

1422

i don’t want to be

stuck where i am stuck right now 

focus needs to shift

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

1423

neurodivergent 

not ev’ryone’s tasse de thé

that suits me just fine

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

1424

correct homonyms

proper spelling and grammar

that’s my love language

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

1425

say no to hookups

fuckboys a dime a dozen

porno sick wankers 

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

1426

writing poetry

allows me to break the rules

that govern language

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

1427

i do what i must 

breaking the rules artfully

to tell my stories

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

1428

empty nest dog mom

savoring sweet solitude

cocooned with my pups

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

1429

if i were to write

a haiku dating profile

that haystack would burn

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

1430

a big distraction 

in a very small package 

kept me up all night 

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

1431

who would want to kiss

some creep’s mouth that looks like a

puckering asshole

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

1432

major overwhelm

executive functioning 

is shot straight to hell

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

1433

a stiff breeze blowing 

pushing clouds across the sky

revealing bright stars

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

1434

mars and jupiter 

laugh with the seven sisters

while orion broods 

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

1435

uranus is shy

he blushes and hides behind

the seven sisters 

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

1436

mercury peeks out 

from under the covers while

venus still slumbers

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

1437

watch dog sirius 

stands guard by orion’s side 

ready to protect

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

1438

store bought red roses

no intoxicating scent

to expand my soul

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

1439

pretty to behold

sweet blue violets flavor

dainty confections

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

1440

for sweet alchemy

accept no substitutions

real sugar works best

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

1441

it’s just only me

there is no you in my life

i’m ok with that

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

1442

he begged me to not

tell his best friend that he fucked

his best friend’s daughter

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

1443

as long as they thirst

for an oozing orifice

they will wet their dicks

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

1444

she is an old maid

with an infatuation

for her parish priest 

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

1445

she’s never been kissed

the perpetual old maid

had never orgasmed

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

1446

up in the choir loft

her loins are engulfed in flames

while the organ plays

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

1447

for father she baked

a cake that he used for bait 

to lure altar boys

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

1448

father’s going down

does not hear the door open 

and silently close

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

1449

faith may be shaken

but never ever broken

she keeps his secrets

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

1450

let me share with y’all

this tale of a church lady

and her parish priest 

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

1451

while still very young

he realized that his mother

was not a mother

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

1452

in their sunday best

besotted church ladies fight

for father’s favors

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

1453

there was this one priest

who was the target of her

infatuation 

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

1454

he did not return 

her affection and besides

she was not his type

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

1455

he was made bishop 

sent to a far remote place 

she wept while she prayed

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

1456

her dreams had been dashed

her desperate hunt now targets

parish men and boys

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

1457

something about her

makes the menfolk uneasy

whenever she’s near

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

1458

there’s only one man

who is unperturbed by her

she has what he needs

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

1459

a hungry jackal 

he smells her desperation 

his lust salivates

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

1460

he’s an aging priest

who’s anxious to slake the thirst

of his aching groin

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

1461

there’s no need to see

the bulge under his cassock

to know his intent

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

1462

she would not have it

reported him to the church

let them deal with him

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

1463

the church defrocked him

took away all his vestments

and then cut him loose

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

1464

disgraced by the church

he established his own church

in an old trailer

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

1465

wearing a cheap suit 

the charlatan priest conducts 

his sunday service 

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

1466

inbred swamp yankees 

sacrifice their daughters and

wives for his blessing 

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

1467

no chance of being

a sacred bride to a priest

she lowered her bar

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

1468

choices exhausted

she casts her net far out in

a polluted pond

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

1469

a small time felon 

who burglarized old ladies

caught her desp’rate eye

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

1470

no speculation 

romance was not plausible 

no one was convinced 

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

1471

delusions indulged

gossip continues to flow

with each new rumor

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

1472

longing for something 

a snitching flying monkey

is once more thwarted 

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

1473

she was abandoned 

once she lost her usefulness

to a conning friend 

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

1474

yet she’s still too dense 

to know the meaning of fuck

around and find out

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

1475

it’s the same story 

that repeats over again

with diff’rent players

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

1476

our clients love dick 

we do not give them the shaft

get dick for the win

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

1447

from my comfy nest

i rule the vast universe

that thrives in my mind

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

1448

any threat to my

peace of mind gets extinguished 

immediately 

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

1449

at her interview 

she did not notice she had

lipstick on her teeth

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

1450

looks like the pee hole

is not a she hole but it’s 

instead a he hole

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

1451

dangerous people 

are allowed to ride because

they bring in money

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

1452

instead of safety

for their workers and patrons

they choose the dollar

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

1453


they say they listen

but if that were really true

there’d be improvements 

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

1454

read between the lines

that’s where the information 

one seeks will be found

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

1455

that which was not said

is often more important 

than that which was said

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

1456

when two towers fell

a stunned nation reeled in shock

the sky grew silent

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

1457

stuck in a time warp

of some bygone glory days 

old age seeks escape

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

1458

tricks on the sidewalk

self satisfied skater boy

grins broadly with glee

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

1459

you can see her eyes

black garment of oppression 

hides ev’rything else

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

1460

meaning is compressed

a distillation of words

savored in small sips

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

1461

three black cats rhyming 

finding grace in a strange place 

laughter and fist bumps

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

1462

when we reach our goal

achieving neutrality 

there’ll be harmony 

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

1463

obscured perspectives

multiple layers of laws 

often hide the truth

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

1464

i swear nowhere near

as much at home as i do

when i am at work

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

1465

my mother would make

much fun of me when i sang

she silenced my voice


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

1466

she had me believe

i was not good at singing

and other such lies

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

1467

it took me decades

to unravel all the lies

that i was force fed 

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

1468

old wounds uncovered

digging deeper to find more

my healing journey 

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

1469

if one thing’s a lie

how can i be sure about

all the other things 

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

1470

always remember 

lies never travel alone

question ev’rything 

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

1471


if there is one lie

there’ll be more from where it came

don’t get fooled again 

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

1472

i am not my job

it’s not my identity 

it’s just a paycheck

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

1473

if i had known then

what i know right now i would 

have left much sooner 

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

1474

but i was blinded

by cognitive distortion 

that kept me tethered

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

1475

he said i could leave 

but he threatened to fight me

for full custody 

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

1476

he held the chain tight

tail between a whipped dog’s legs

i choked on my heart

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

1477

i knew in my heart

she would not be safe with him

i could not lose her

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

1478

i did what i could

and sacrificed my freedom 

kept her safe from him

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

1479

it can stand alone

but it makes more sense to see

what’s on either side 

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

1480

because i feel peace 

the decision i had made

was the right choice 

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

1481

thought he was asleep

medical examiner 

proved so otherwise

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

1482

with a new kitten 

energy is adjusted

to find a balance 

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

1483

a peculiar dude

wearing shredded booty shorts

that expose his butt

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

1484

she got promoted 

two times a baby mama

made it a cinch

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

1485


things have to get done 

plans blown out of the water

when adventure calls

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