Neringos Kampelis ✨ Neringa’s Corner

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!

Through doors left open

cucarachas hitch a ride

in looted treasures

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

It is in the cards

and in many glass bottles

a taste of Tarot

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

While storm is raging

neighbors sing Spanish love songs.

I head home to bed

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

A shattered lifeline

lies broken and forgotten

a lost connection

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

“Normal” redefined

I’m Conspiracy nuts abound

Chinga tu MAGA

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

Got my prescription

Anxious to commence healing

Goddamn childproof cap

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

Five hundred horses

Racing under a steel hood

Jaguar is purring

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

Aerated leggings

Questionably stained T-shirt

Bag lady couture

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

I don’t watch TV

History is being made

I don’t give a fuck

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

At o’dark thirty

Trains lumber out of the yard

As lost souls await

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

For twelve hot days straight

Unrelenting Texas heat

Dissolves tense muscles

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

Free meals in the trash

Independence has a price

As all homeless know

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

Use the horn only

When there’s imminent danger

But not to annoy

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

Drivers in Houston

Get their license from a box

Of stale Cracker Jacks

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

I wave to my team

But I don’t wave to that bitch

Because she’s not nice

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

In back of the train

Junkie’s huffing Fix-A-Flat

While barking loudly

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

Already at six

Skinny little chicken man

Is guarding the bank

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

Six-thirty AM

The train’s reeking of reefer

And cigarette smoke

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

The doors were too slow

To keep escabioso

From boarding the train

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

The start of the month

Is made worse by the full moon

When all hell breaks loose

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

Skies breaking open

Urban campers seek shelter

On trains and platforms

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

I see many men

In white t-shirts and black pants

Sweeping up tossed trash

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

Wheelchair lady parked

Outside of Whataburger

Sleeps until sunrise

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

Liminal spaces

That lie in between the worlds

That’s where you’ll find me

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

If I give names to

People it is because they

Have caught my notice

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

Scabies burrow deep

In el escabioso

Who’s always scratching

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

When he cussed loudly

And threatened violent harm

Handcuffs grabbed his wrists

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

Sleeping near the track

His cardboard bed on the ground

Trains cannot proceed

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

Police board my train

To apprehend a robber

And to arrest him

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

So many lawyers

Advertising on billboards

Promising big wins

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

Deranged night walker

In a strapless sequined dress

Shouts profanities

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

Little Miss Big Mouth

Meows for attention as she

Winds around my legs

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

After my dad died

We met in the afterlife

How much he had changed

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

Never see him sleep

Scabies man is always up

Itching and scratching

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

How much does it take

To sink deep into madness

From getting no sleep?

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

Urban campers and

Scavengers are often the

Same thing on the street

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

For several weeks

We’ve been promised rain and yet

Not a single drop

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

When we were young we

Made a pact to meet in the

Park after we died

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

I am a harsh judge

I decide who gets a smile

And who gets stink eye

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

A skinny sliver

The Cheshire Cat moon smiles and

Brushes the treetops

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

Vagrant calls me “bitch”

Demands the respect that is

Not his to be had

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

Everyone knows

That the most trouble is caused

By those who don’t pay

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

Flight has been delayed

Still stuck in Massachusetts

Sleeping on a couch

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

Fermenting bubbles

Pressing against intestines

Seeking an escape

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

Sleeper on the train

Fusses and cusses when I

Try to wake him up

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

G.I. Joe chanting

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

Silenced with a fist

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

G. I. Joe washes

His head with sanitizer

And also his shoes

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

It’s the same old shit

Overdosing on the train

And soiling the seats

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

A denim blue sky

In the early morning just

Before the sunrise

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

Sprawled on the platform

He’s no longer watching porn

Because his phone died

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

My compassion is

Tested ev’ry single day

By trifling humans

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

Haze shrouds the city

Another scorcher today

With no hope of rain

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

The East End shaman

Gave me a stuffed red monkey

As another gift

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

Driving a Beemer

He thinks he’s untouchable

And his shit don’t stink

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

Drooling on the seat

The sleeper wakes up confused

No clue where he is

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

Unconstrained chichis

Like synchronized pendulums

Swing inside her dress

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

Every Sunday

Wannabe evangelists

Keep pushing Jesus

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

Think I’m judgmental?

Walk in these boots for a week

Then you’ll understand

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

It’s not always black

And white although many try

To insist on it

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

No one understands

My path until they set foot

Upon it and walk

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

I face my demons

Ev’ry day when I confront

Human ugliness

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

With weeks without rain

Blood gets baked into asphalt

By persistent heat

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

People say I’m strong

Trauma brought resilience

And survival skills

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

My strength was forged through

Intergenerational

Trauma and abuse

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

We have abused and

We perpetrated abuse

Let’s break the cycle

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

Ancient family

Programming dictates that we

Are meant to struggle

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

She asked if I saw

A match burn twice…I said no

She then burned my hand

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

The less dead who ride

Eventually become

The ghosts on the train

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

Gris the tire shop dog

Is a happy dog when he

Gets a carnita

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

She lost another

Tooth today whilst a black rose

Bloomed around her eye

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

Stabbed in the back twelve

Times on the train because he

Stole someone’s sandwich

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

The urban campsite

Was dismantled yesterday

While the police watched

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

Financial troubles

Mounting he rushed in front of

The oncoming train

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

Little gordo cried

My colostomy bag broke

Help me please help me

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

My haiku are like

cockroaches you see one but

there are many more

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

A cheeseburger and

Coke from the dollar menu

Cost her a blow job

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

When their money comes

from the dangerous safety

becomes lip service

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

I once performed a

Train assisted suicide

It was not my choice

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

People who elect

And follow evil leaders

Are evil themselves

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

Or they are blind

And disconnected from all

Of humanity

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

The john would not take

No for an answer so he

Shot her on the train

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

Vomit at his feet

Scabies man is unperturbed

While scratching himself

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

Passed out drunk lies on

The train platform while pigeons

Peck at his vomit

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

He broke her nose and

Then made her clean up the blood

Splatters on the wall

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

Listen to your gut

No matter how outrageous

It will never lie

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

A train whistle blows

in some way far off distance

piercing the dark night

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

Last call is over

Drunks hit the freeway as I

Make my way to work

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

Riding close to my

Bumper on the freeway I

Can’t see the headlights

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

Drunk drivers are not

Constrained by the broken white

Lines on the freeway

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

Regular folks sleep

While less dead zombies shamble

At o’dark thirty

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

Third wave feminists

Undid the progress of their

Second wave sisters

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

Blocking the trackway

Idiot Uber drivers

Are so annoying

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

Wearing only his

Chones and shoes scabies man

Rides the train standing

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

Reading the billboards

While I am driving to work

My morning commute

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

While driving the train

Trauma is revisited

With every trip

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

Sitting at the light

Where I nearly got carjacked

I am on alert

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

Posting on Insta

Spammy comments come rushing

Hashtags are bot bait

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

A shortage of clues

Not a national treasure

Stop sending dick pics

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

No lollygagging

Have your damn shit together

Before you hop on

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

100

He can’t get it up

His erectile dysfunction

Is induced by porn

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

101

Cheap drugs aren’t enough

Acid is hitting the streets

So many lost souls

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

102

Too young to notice

Their actions did not line up

I believed their words

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

103

A lot of delays

Technical difficulties

Trains are running late

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

104

I don’t ask questions

‘Cause Google is my best friend

Who knows the answers

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

105

Slumbering escape

Pizza box for a pillow

A train rumbles by

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

106

Feathers in his ‘fro

Pigeon Head shimmies and struts

Belting out his soul

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

107

Feeling entitled

Abandoning shopping carts

Moral disconnect

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

108

The platform people

Spend the day riding the train

Platform to platform

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

109

Shopping cart piled high

Small fortune in scrap metal

Thwarted from boarding

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

110

Always new faces

Spinning in revolving doors

They come and they go

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

111

He is a mirror

In search of a reflection

To shatter and break

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

112

Lost souls to harvest

Underbelly convulsing

The Grim Reaper waits

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

113

Eik šikt, poniutė

Palik mane ramybe

Man galva skauda

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

114

Take a shit, lady

Leave me alone and in peace

I have a headache

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

115

The cross and the flag

Both betraying the poor folk

Who cling to their lies

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

116

All predators know

Enticing lies become hope

To those who have none

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

117

The sun has risen

Freaks go back into their holes

It’s like night and day

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

118

With my feet I walk

Through obstacles in my way

To claim what is mine

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

119

Well before sunrise

A far off train whistle blows

While a rooster crows

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

120

Months of silence pass

The ghosting zombie returns

No explanation

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

121

Men don’t always like

The ones they stick their dicks in

It’s just a release

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

122

Call me selective

Call me fussy and stubborn

I’m not settling

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

123

Single is better

Than dealing with spoiled children

Disguised as grown men

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

124

Mano katytė

Kaip aš ją labai myliu

Man doda džiaugsmo

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

125

My sweet kitty cat

How I love her very much

She brings me much joy

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

126

The well has run dry

Inspiration has left me

Feeling emptiness

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

127

As the sun rises

Another broiling hot day

In the big city

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

128

The sound of impact

Emergency traffic called

The car left the scene

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

129

With each new trauma

All the previous traumas

All become replayed

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

130

Feeling rather glum

I cannot shake the sadness

Keep on keeping on

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

131

Fuck you! She rages

I don’t like your attitude

Credit card declined

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

132

His lips are moving

You know that he is lying

The truth burns his tongue

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

133

This job has changed me

I do not like the person

That I have become

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

134

Folks see an angel

But miss the demon lurking

Behind bolted doors

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

135

Processing through pain

I write the poetic words

That my Muse dictates

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

136

Washcloth on his head

He thinks he is a hot catch

On the dating apps

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

137

I watched a bird die

Watched its body decompose

And then disappear

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

138

Animated words

Chattering Spanish ladies

Sound like jungle birds

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

139

Noticing movement

As I approach the platform

He is jerking off

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

140

Chuckles and laughter

Police radio chatter

Someone stole a bus

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

141

Police on horseback

Road apples in the trackway

Plop! Clippity-clop

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

142

Why do you persist

Cannot argue with the dead

They all have moved on

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

143

Still waters run deep

No one knows what lurks beneath

I cast a ripple

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

144

She’s no longer there

The building razed to the ground

Emptiness remains

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

145

iPhone did not charge

Charger cord did not connect

Damn fury world problems

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

146

Pushing a wheelchair

That is not meant for sitting

But for hauling junk

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

147

California dude

Sparking up a gnarly blunt

At the traffic light

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

148

Not riding cholo

Need to see what’s up ahead

Gotta be prepared

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

149

Both of them tricked her

Signed her daughter’s life away

Forty years of hell

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

150

Gentrification

Driving folks out of the ‘hood

With nowhere to go

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

151

Wind waltzing leaves whirl

Dust devils pirouetting

Air dances with fire

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

152

Not all mothers love

Many are broken creatures

Who break others’ souls

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

153

When she was little

She tortured tiny kittens

Until they all died

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

154

Her young son awoke

To find her straddling him

Pumping up and down

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

155

Reading her Bible

The devil whispers to her

Tear those pages out

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

156

Banana Atlas

It just popped into my head

What a silly phrase

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

157

Monkey mind chatters

Not allowing me to sleep

Makes me write haiku

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

158

Unrelenting heat

Bakes blood into the tarmac

When will there be rain

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

159

The tears will not come

No matter how hard I try

I simply can’t cry

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

160

Only eight years old

Mom gave him her vibrator

To put in his mouth

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

161

The pickings are slim

Much better to be alone

Than stuck with old trash

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

162

I feel like Charon

Always ferrying lost souls

For eternity

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

163

With nowhere to go

All day long they ride the train

Platform to platform

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

164

Starved in a closet

Sold to the highest bidder

By her own mother

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

165

At the bottommost

Beneath all the pestilence

That is where hope dwells

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

166

Stay put in that chair

Do not leave ‘til we get back

She stayed there for hours

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

167

Alone in the crib

While her mother and sister

Went to see the queen

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

168

Her father watched porn

While she worked on her homework

Sitting next to him

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

169

To make him stay put

Tied to the crib with restraints

Mom needed a break

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

170

She yelled at her child

I wish you were never born

The wound remains raw

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

171

So many people

In wheelchairs with missing limbs

Did the train take them

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

172

When I am at home

I swear nowhere half as much

As I do at work

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

173

Can’t handle the stress

He needs another cocktail

To dull frustration

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

174

Little kid riding

A bike way too big for him

Stolen bicycle

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

175

Black tar heroin

He took a hit on the train

And then overdosed

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

176

Stars over Houston

Are invisible at night

With light pollution

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

177

A wrong way driver

Traveling several blocks

Eludes the police

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

178

Dancing scooter dude

Gets off at diff’rent platforms

Delivering drugs

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

179

He thinks he’s the shit

But he’s just a meth dealing

Human parasite

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

180

A black gaucho hat

And wearing colorful rags

She looks like my Muse

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

181

Two nuns and their friend

Enjoy looking at selfies

On the lady’s phone

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

182

A tight long pink sheath

Hugs a luscious derrière

Throwing off her gait

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

183

Chattering monkeys

Insomnia once again

Could not sleep a wink

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

184

Isn’t it funny

That my marriage paralleled

The job I have now

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

185

No coincidence

That a new job and romance

Are both elusive

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

186

Swiping left again

Only trash on dating apps

I will die alone

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

187

Folks say I’m a Witch

So I may as well claim it

And be what I am

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

188

Today I fasted

And slept throughout the day

Called in sick to work

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

189

Another hot day

With no rain in the forecast

The lawn turns yellow

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

190

Hypochondriac

Whiny boy worries over

A tiny sniffle

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

191

Haiku only comes

When something else should get done

Message is received

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

192

Jacked up pickup trucks

Intimidating drivers

Fueling more road rage

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

193

Harvesting haiku

It should take a year to do

After that we’ll see

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

194

Too many dummies

Why natural selection

Move so goddamn slow

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

195

Little Baby Cruz

Watched La Llorona beckon

Outside his window

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

196

Do not follow her

La Llorona’s resting place

A watery grave

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

197

The starlight I see

Took many millions of years

To reach my green eyes

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

198

Intoxication

Eight-thirty in the morning

Already passed out

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

199

My time to cocoon

Off days are very sacred

I need to reboot

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

200

Noses in their phones

No one bothers to look up

And see the danger

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

201

Thin waning crescent

The new moon will soon be here

A new cycle starts

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

202

Weekend is ending

Clinging solid heaviness

Depression returns

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

203

When their gazes met

Plumbing the depths of their souls

The stars exploded

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

204

The first train is out

On its way to the mainline

Scooping up riffraff

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

205

They never get it

Trains do not wait for people

People wait for trains

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

206

Three shits already

And they were big ones at that

There’s still more to come

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

207

Feeling vomitous

The bowels are unsettled

Hope to find relief

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

208

It’s like night and day

The lightness I feel at home

Vanishes at work

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

209

Never feeling safe

Tears trapped behind barricades

Smothered in silence

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

210

The sun has come up

Ghosts shatter like cockroaches

Avoiding the light

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

211

Crumpled dead pigeon

Broken neck head tucked under

Trains rolling over

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

212

Young and entitled

Women not seen as human

Rapist in training

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

213

For no good reason

I get called a bitch again

So tired of this shit

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

214

A smothering weight

Arriving uninvited

Workweek companion

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

215

Trying not to be

Self-absorbed in my sadness

As I drive to work

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

216

Ugly lights come on

Last call borrachos scatter

In weaving patterns

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

217

They tell me to fight

But I do not like fighting

It makes me anxious

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

218

Wrapped up in the flag

Costume party patriots

Claim to follow Christ

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

219

No excuse needed

It’s OK to hate others

When Jesus says so

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

220

MAGA hats spewing

American fascists cry

Like melting snowflakes

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

221

Others assert rights

Christian nationalists bleat

Like mad slaughtered sheep

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

222

So quick to lash out

When they are caught in the wrong

Yet slow to do right

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

223

Deep cracks in the earth

Under the withering dome

Are thirsty for rain

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

224

Even in this heat

The cicadas wail and call

To one another

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

225

With each heavy step

Despair pounds into the streets

Crushing broken souls

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

226

I see homeless dogs

And lots of homeless people

Trying to survive

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

227

Light changes to green

And yet the car does not move

Nose in the cellphone

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

228

Scowling young man

Carrying a trashed guitar

Walks in the trackway

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

229

Why do they insist

To ram their Bible down throats

Of non believers

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

230

When I was little

I was indoctrinated

Good Christian soldier

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

231

As I grew older

I have Sky Daddy the boot

And reclaimed my soul

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

232

It’s always the same

PTSD ev’ry day

When I drive the train

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

233

I once killed a man

He stepped in front of my train

That’s what he wanted

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

234

Panhandler pimps

Giving the homeless a bed

For their hustled loot

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

235

After I have died

Let the dogs see my body

So they’ll know I’m gone

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

236

A driving bass beat

Four on the floor techno groove

My kind of music

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

237

Justice in motion

The orange one indicted

Interesting times

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

238

Driving in the dark

On the way to the bark park

Dogs are excited

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

239

ISS passes

People are in that tin can

Orbiting the earth

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

240

Scientists in space

Living the zero G life

Untethered from earth

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

241

When I was a kid

I wanted to be in space

Exploring new worlds

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

242

I would watch Star Trek

Dad would say it is not real

Someday it will be

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

243

I would often dream

That I’d be taken away

In a space vessel

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

244

Folks in a tin can

Two hundred fifty miles high

Work in zero G

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

245

Unfamiliar foods

Asian market adventure

With a trusted guide

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

246

Vietnamese coffee

Got my phin and got my grounds

Cannot wait to try

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

247

Pouncing paws lungeing

It may be just a cricket

But it is still prey

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

248

One more figure eight

Around the bark park we walk

And then we go home

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

249

Going to Buc-ee’s

Gotta get gas for the car

Five percent discount

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

250

Flickering orange

Cloud undersides illumined

By flaming flare stacks

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

251

Above the treeline

A McDonald’s sign shines bright

A guiding beacon

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

252

En route to Austin

Zebras on a Texas ranch

Vast grazing acres

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

253

Bamboo walkway

Leading to tranquility

Being with loved ones

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

254

It’s vacation week

I have ten days of no trains

It’s so glorious

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

255

So grateful for health

Sixty-five and going strong

I don’t want to quit

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

256

Dogs are excited

We’re going to the bark park

Their favorite place

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

257

Cuckoo for haiku

Surprised it’s lasting this long

Still riding that wave

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

258

My time is my own

Such a natural feeling

Not to have to work

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

259

Blistering heat dome

Keeping the rain from coming

Ev’rything withers

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

260

Another hot day

As much as I love the heat

I want some relief

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

261

Those summertime vibes

Time is preserved in amber

Eternal gold drops

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

262

Schedules are the same

But time moves a lot slower

When it is summer

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

263

Trying to keep cool

In the sultry summer nights

The crickets still sing

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

264

Our nighttime degrees

Are daytime highs somewhere else

A blast furnace drought

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

265

A baby raccoon

Tried to cross the road at night

But did not make it

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

266

Headlights illumine

White dog on the railroad tracks

Searching for a meal

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

267

A very strange noise

Water falling from the sky

But then it all stopped

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

268

‘Twas six years ago

When Hurricane Harvey hit

And submerged Houston

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

269

I’m walking alone

Footsteps crunching on gravel

Beneath the dark sky

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

270

Vacay nearly done

Heaviness creeping in

Unsettling gloom

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

271

Morning mist settles

An ethereal blanket

Deafening silence

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

272

Today’s the last day

A biting reality

Awaits tomorrow

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

273

She denies she drinks

Empty nips litter her car

Tell a diff’rent tale

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

274

Folks destroyed by booze

I see it ev’ry day

It’s never pretty

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

275

She always drives drunk

Insists she’ll never get stopped

Drunk logic says so

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

276

Tall tight goat paths carve

Through forty years of strata

She cannot toss out

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

277

A poet and witch

I no longer deny it

I claim my true self

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

278

Vacation’s over

Five more months ‘til the next one

Such sinking feeling

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

279

The land is alive

Ev’ry place has a spirit

To watch over it

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

280

Houston is hostile

The heat makes it even worse

Always be on guard

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

281

I try not to make

The fart bigger than the hole

Don’t always succeed

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

282

Why do I prefer

Things that aren’t profitable

Bills need to get paid

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

283

Injured in a wreck

Millions recovered monthly

We’ll fight for your rights

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

284

Winding crochet thread

Into tight and compact balls

For future projects

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

285

Insects get entrapped

Encapsulating amber

Millions years later

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

286

Fawning pick me girls

Appeasing bottom feeders

Betray their sisters

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

287

Dude in a wheelchair

Skateboard sitting on his lap

Try to explain that

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

288

Did your mama know

That you would become homeless

After you grew up

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

289

Many decades past

I thought of killing myself

I’m glad I did not

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

290

Not giving a damn

He walked in front of the train

Without looking up

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

291

Multiple triggers

Never know when they will hit

Always on the edge

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

292

Reliving traumas

Ev’ry single day at work

It just will not stop

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

293

On very hot days

Muslim ladies are wrapped up

Covered head to toe

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

294

Some just want to die

And some are oblivious

I watch out for both

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

295

Neurotypicals

Although some can be pleasant

Most are still boring

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

296

Fussing and cussing

A loud tangle of voices

Drama on replay

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

297

Having to adjust

To a new schedule and route

I’m not feeling it

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

298

The random things I see

Like copulating squirrels

And men needing bras

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

299

Toothless old geezer

Cigarette between his gums

Laughing with his eyes

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

300

Fixing broken chains

Only to have them broken

Again and again

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

301

The first of the month

Mortgage payment gets withdrawn

Leaving a big hole

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

302

Grumpy geezer dude

Makes silly vroom-vroom noises

At giggling toddlers

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

303

Dragonflies darting

Like determined bombardiers

In the summer haze

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

304

Bottle green Bronco

Barrels down the boulevard

Picking up fillies

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

305

Robbery gone bad

Body under a white sheet

In the parking lot

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

306

No one has the scoop

Of what really had happened

Or why it happened

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

307

How could no one see

The community sculpture

A three-head penis

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

308

Ball clutching red man

Carries a long metal pipe

On the boulevard

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

309

It took fifty years

After an old friend had died

We reconnected

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

310

The earth is thirsty

It heaves and it convulses

Breaking water lines

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

311

We can always talk

He tells me everything

Slut boy adventures

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

312

We met the trainer

Domingo will be going

To doggie boot camp

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

313

The dry earth heaving

Seeking underground water

To relieve its thirst

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

314

When will the rain fall

Water dropping from the sky

To kiss the dry earth

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

315

Across the night sky

Venus chasing Sirius

She does not catch him

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

316

Up above my head

The moon and Jupiter chill

Close but yet so far

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

317

Early one morning

We saw a meteor streak

And then fade away

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

318

This summertime drought

Turns tropics into deserts

When it denies water

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

319

The ghosts walk with me

They touch my hair and then

They skitter away

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

320

It is the birdsong

That summons the sun to rise

Don’t people know that

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

321

In the dark silence

Early morning roosters call

To wake up the sun

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

322

Far off barking dog

Sets off a chain reaction

Dogs join the chorus

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

323

In the dark forest

The blood orgy has begun

As coyotes howl

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

324

Off in the distance

Incessant barking prevails

Lonely dog wants friends

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

325

Indoctrination

Unquestioning acceptance

Grooming for abuse

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

326

I sleep much better

But it’s a shift I dislike

The reverse is true

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

327

I can no longer

Swallow the religious lies

That I have been fed

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

328

It took six decades

For me to find my calling

Writing dark haiku

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

329

When trav’ling the stars

How will Christianity

Mutate and adapt

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

330

Jacked up pickup trucks

Left turns from four lanes over

Driving in Houston

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

331

Someone once told me

There are a lot of people

Like me in Austin

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

332

She’s just like me

My Muse has ADHD

But she’s more fussy

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

333

They do not feel pain

In ignorance there is bliss

Unaware dunces

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

334

Basic rule of thumb

Dudes who claim they are alpha

Most surely are not

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

335

Show it not say it

If you tell me you’re honest

I am not convinced

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

336

Shitfaced ev’ryday

Hookup scenes and STIs

Folks being trashy

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

337

The first time I saw

A homeless person sleeping

I thought he was dead

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

338

Aftermarket trucks

Tell me you have a small dick

Without saying so

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

339

You may never know

The common worker you see

Could be a poet

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

340

Eat the rich they say

And I find myself asking

Why? Are they tasty?

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

341

You’ll see them walking

Among the dead and dying

The hidden poets

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

342

He does not deserve

Keys to a Lamborghini

While crashing Kias

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

343

The young dog lady

Discharged from the hospital

Now sleeps on sidewalks

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

344

I gave him a choice

It’s me or pornography

He did not choose me

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

345

He’s so filthy rich

Wipes his ass with Benjamins

And fucks the nanny

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

346

Wearing only jeans

Without any underwear

I close the doors fast

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

347

His bare butt showing

I don’t let him on the train

To shit in the seats

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

348

Blood of stolen lives

Spilled on stolen and raped soil

Built this “great” country

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

349

Thunder and lightning

A brief thunderstorm passed through

But did not linger

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

350

What is that creaking

I hear when I move around?

For fuck sake! Bra straps?

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

351

It’s a miracle

Large orbs suspended in space

What keeps them all there

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

352

You can’t have secrets

With mail clerks and carriers

They know you’re a perv

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

353

Hate is a strong word

It should be used sparingly

Not for petty peeves

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

354

Going to work sick

Because I’ll get written up

If I call in sick

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

355

The haiku hustle

Some days I do not feel it

Like when I am sick

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

356

An Asian lady

Her hair bleached a chestnut red

Makes her look trendy

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

357

Put the damn phone down

Be mindful of what’s around

Awareness saves lives

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

358

Strange to imagine

An old radio tower

Became an icon

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

359

A fat lady wrapped

In a tight leopard casing

With expanding spots

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

360

Red bricks hold the screams

Of scared schoolboys being raped

By their parish priests

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

361

En route to the vet

The dog jumped out of the truck

And became roadkill

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

362

Haiku stamina

Is not there when I am sick

But it will return

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

363

The basketball coach

Wanted to show her his balls

After the team left

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

364

It would be quite nice

If drivers actually

Obeyed traffic laws

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

365

Laws are only there

Because people are shitty

At being human

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

366

Don’t expect riches

No money in poetry

Do it for the love

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

367

Neurospicy soul

Among neurotypicals

Deflector shields up

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

368

Austin calls to me

My heart swelling with longing

Yearns to return home

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

369

Her dad jerks off

To AI generated

Porn photos of her

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

370

After her dad died

And she went to clean his house

Memories escaped

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

371

We can’t have nice things

When we’re convinced trash is gold

And poison is food

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

372

Creating haiku

Like playing Tetris with words

Finding the right fit

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

373

Control the masses

Make sure they’re dumb and gaslit

Starve them with sweet lies

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

374

Imposter syndrome

Afraid that they will find out

That I’m not all that

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

375

So many people

Are not paying attention

Sucked into their phones

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

376

Satan would not leave

So the loud preacher lady

Bullied him instead

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

377

The house is quiet

It’s just us two ladies now

While the lad’s away

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

378

I’m on the mend

And feeling a lot better

But I’m still tired

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

379

Alone in my house

Soothed by deafening silence

Cocoon and reboot

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

380

The future looks bleak

No change in trajectory

Gotta roll with it

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

381

It’s the same ol’ grind

Unchanging unrelenting

Ev’ry single day

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

382

Feeling rather glum

Sitting on my pity pot

Weeping in my beer

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

383

My footsteps echo

The heaviness of my heart

And overcast soul

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

384

Raucous blue jays call

Piercing the morning stillness

Pumpkin spice season

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

385

A tilting axis

Summer heaving her last gasp

While autumn stands by

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

386

Out of shape people

Obese protruding bellies

And sickly pale skin

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

387

He lost his hustle

Now he sits all day humbly

On the train platform

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

388

He used to sell kush

Spent six months in county jail

Three hots and a cot

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

389

Crazy ghost face girl

Argues with unseen demons

Her titties exposed

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

390

Grey putty slurry

Smothering her chestnut face

Nappy hair matted

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

391

Plastic tiara

Cigarette butt through her nose

Bathrobe and bundles

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

392

While holding his hand

Ghost face girl had worked her John

She will eat tonight

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

393

He got off the train

Fired up his old school boombox

Rattling up windows

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

394

Off-campus housing

Amidst dilapidation

Gentrification

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

395

Out-of-tune crooner

Belting out Christian praise songs

Please shut the fuck up

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

396

No shame in her game

Body positivity

Let it all hang out

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

397

He said I was rude

‘Cuz I gave a smart answer

To his dumb question

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

398

It is hard to tell

If someone’s high or confused

They both look the same

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

399

The well had been dry

But my haiku groove came back

For which I’m grateful

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

400

White car abandoned

On top a parking garage

To be demolished

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

401

A barefoot hood rat

In a yellow bikini

Sifting through garbage

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

402

Plump paw print raindrops

Splattering on my windshield

While I drive to work

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

403

Exploit the workers

Labor lawyers cost too much

For them to afford

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

404

Little stalled robot

No more juice to deliver

Food rotting inside

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

405

Two dead cars out front

Were resurrected today

With new batteries

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

406

Autumn has arrived

Summer has not packed her bags

Both must share the house

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

406

Mother was inside

She did not see her daughter

Torturing kittens

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

407

The big boys grabbed her

And pulled down her torn knickers

In the back alley

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

408

She kept blaming him

But the drama continued

Long after he died

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

409

Advertisers lie

They lie through their veneered teeth

Saying shit is gold

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

410

He lost his right eye

A machete sliced his face

Taught him a lesson

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

411

Train blocking the road

Necessitates a detour

My morning commute

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

412

Men not doing shit

Weaponized incompetence

Women are leaving

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

413

I should have retired

But I had to start over

After my divorce

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

414

A small bungalow

Bedecked in bright fairy lights

Would be my dream home

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

416

Refineries spew

Brown haze over the city

Stinkadena smog

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

417

Stopped looking for signs

No more magical thinking

Just deal with the shit

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

418

I learned it’s a crime

To make threats against someone

In the Lone Star State

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

419

They’re three Asian lads

Hitchhiking to somewhere east

Starting from the ‘hood

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

420

Five hours later

Insomnia strikes again

Monkey mind chatters

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

421

Well before sunrise

Insects sing to each other

While the birds still sleep

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

422

The climax has passed

Ride off into the sunset

The scene fades to black

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

423

Tiny infant squirms

In a shopping cart bottom

Ignored by her ma

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

424

Skanky hood rat ho

Peddles her nasty used hole

While her infant wails

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

425

The heat dome had popped

Inviting the rain to pour

Relieving Earth’s thirst

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

426

The forecast was wrong

It rained all freaking day long

We needed the rain

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

427

People had warned us

Americans are rush rush rush

We saw for ourselves

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

428

Thumping on their chests

Myopic Americans

Think they are the best

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

429

Workday just started

Stupid fucking idiots

Already waiting

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

430

A wrung out t-shirt

That was dropped in a puddle

He washes his face

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

431

Crazed look in his eyes

His broom attacks the puddles

That torment his mind

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

432

Is three days of rain

Enough to quench the earth

And relieve her thirst

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

433

Let me work from home

Where my soul is unfettered

And peace of mind reigns

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

434

When there’s no hope left

Lost souls do not look both ways

When crossing the street

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

435

Soup kitchen lineup

Can’t be homeless and fussy

Take what they give you

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

436

A prankster vagrant

Scoops up some puddle water

To baptize a butt

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

437

Daylight distractions

I write better in the dark

When the words run wild

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

438

A rushing torrent

An overflowing fountain

Words fill the vessels

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

439

Not a billionaire

Not even a millionaire

My tickets were duds

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

440

The sun is shining

It’s a spectacular day

Got off that damn phone

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

441

Ignorant neighbors

Not allowing me to sleep

Blasting loud music

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

442

The dead cannot sleep

But they also will not dance

To loud off-key beats

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

443

All these many years

I thought I thought I was seeking love

Now I’m not so sure

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

444

Short sleeves put away

Long sleeves and hoodies are out

Autumn has arrived

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

445

This is now the time

Veils between the worlds are thin

And ancestors speak

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

446

Watch the words you speak

While I play Tetris with words

Others play Jenga

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

447

A cyanide haze

Hovers over the city

Trailing yellow plumes

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

448

He could be lots fun

But the dude in zebra sleeves

Will cost you your soul

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

449

I do not argue

With patriarchal douchebags

Who act entitled

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

450

Misogynist men

Can stay far away from me

And go their own way

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

451

Parasite humans

Aren’t the homeless and lost souks

They’re the profiteers

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

452

Through corporate greed

America kills its own

While turning its back

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

453

Get the words out now

The tweaking and refining

Can come later on

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

454

Excuses are lies

They know what they are doing

And hope that you don’t

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

455

Men fear ridicule

While women fear getting killed

That’s the difference

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

456

Foundation is set

It’s now up to me to build

Create a palace

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

457

Words are important

What’s even more important

Are words we don’t see

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

458

Fake yellow roses

Mylar balloons and candles

Where someone got killed

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

459

Each day I witness

Lots of risky behavior

Fools evading death

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

460

I learned a new word

Jabroni — go look it up

Enrich your vocab

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

461

Jubilant youngsters

Creating loud silly songs

And belting them out

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

462

Lost or abandoned

Lone dog rests on the wet grass

While trains roll by it

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

463

Always a bright smile

Affable and friendly guy

With deep dark secrets

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

464

Clean new red t-shirts

“Stand Up for America”

Worn by the homeless

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

465

The vagrant village

Had moved to across the street

Who knows for how long

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

466

Scowling angry face

Curses flowing from its lips

Ignored by demons

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

467

Laughing demons taunt

The lost arguing insane

Who see only them

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

468

It occurred to me

Haiku and meditation

Can be the same thing

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

469

Craving chicken wings

While on a vegan diet

Also craving cheese

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

470

Wanting to look rich

Affluenza affliction

Bankruptcy declared

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

471

Please don’t expect me

To be someone that I’m not

That’s not how I roll

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

472

If I can’t be real

You do not deserve my grace

Go find someone less

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

473

Women in high heels

Step over the railroad tracks

With an awkward gait

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

474

Don’t tell me to smile

You won’t say that to The Rock

Don’t say it to me

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

475

I will wear a mask

Because I don’t want strange men

Telling me to smile

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

476

No job and no home

He weasels into your bed

Hobosexual

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

477

Barking gravy seals

Costume party patriots

Ammosexuals

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

478

During construction

He fell into the concrete

His bones built the bridge

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

479

He waited too long

Procrastination killed him

There is no second chance

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

480

Four sick calls a year

Is considered excessive

By my toxic job

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

481

What is the purpose

Of a daily grind that sucks

Life out of your soul

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

482

U.S. investors

Benefit more from fascism

Than democracy

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

483

When I write haiku

My words may not contain facts

But they do hold truth

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

484

His wife and son gone

He works the hours counts the days

Until reunion

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

485

Spaces between words

Those unspoken omissions

Where the story lies

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

486

So you missed the train

There will be another one

Don’t act so butt hurt

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

487

Must be quite the life

Riding the train all day long

With nowhere to go

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

488

We all have drama

But unlike many people

Mine stays to myself

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

489

One hand on the wheel

The other clutching a phone

No eyes on the road

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

490

Maiden mother crone

Each has value and meaning

Each has a lesson

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

491

Never looking up

Faces glued to their cellphones

They shut out the world

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

492

He jumps in the track

Playing chicken with the train

Today he’s lucky

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

493

He had had enough

Another ghost rides the train

While his maker screams

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

494

I’m an open book

But I also have secrets

That no one else knows

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

495

Two hoodie morning

There’s definitely a chill

While walking the dogs

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

496

The way people drive

Like raging crazed lunatics

They’re filled with anger

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

497

Each one for themselves

Compassion’s out the window

Greed fuels the nation

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

498

Upon her deathbed

She had her diaries burned

Secrets died with her

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

499

No one was looking

They exchanged hungry kisses

Their shadows melding

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

500

Classic bait and switch

She was sold a bill of goods

Stuck for thirty years

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

501

Always on one track

There’s an unexpected change

Diverging moment

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

502

The end of the line

His stop was three platforms back

Engrossed in his phone

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

503

All hell broken loose

A comedy of errors

Clusterfuck shit show

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

504

Multiple warrants

Trying to evade the law

Train got in the way

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

505

More mariachis

Mexicans matching en masse

Making much music

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

506

No ticket in hand

They’re running to catch the train

I leave them behind

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

507

Train severed his arm

He bled out under the train

Got what he wanted

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

508

Taking a detour

Over the Fred Hartman Bridge

A more scenic view

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

509

Shared bloodlines be damned

Estranged from my family

Loyalty is earned

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

510

Got a friend request

Obvious it’s a scammer

Do I want to play

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

511

Shoes crunching gravel

Pre dawn early morning fog

Softens the edges

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

512

Trying to discern

If my Muse abandoned me

On days words don’t flow

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

513

On the train platform

She wore a sheer coverup

And not a thing more

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

514

He swiped the train keys

Locked himself inside the cab

A four-hour standoff

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

515

He jammed the door closed

Then ate lunch and took selfies

The SWAT team was called

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

516

Cops caught him at last

Despite the trouble he caused

He was soon released

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

517

Discipline the mind

To be clear and receptive

Otherworld awaits

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

518

Most don’t understand

The Devil is not Satan

He’s much more ancient

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

519

Divine partnership

Co-creation with Nature

I worship no one

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

520

Who is this Satan

He was an adversary

That Christians made god

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

521

Do not blame the dead

For your own messy mistakes

Be accountable

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

522

When things go awry

It’s easy to blame the dead

They do not talk back

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

523

Sprawled on the platform

Fat man in his underwear

Cops are on the way

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

524

Squirming in my seat

Pressure against my sphincter

Needs to be relieved

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

525

Flat out on his back

Just another overdose

Part of the landscape

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

526

Needing new supply

A narcissist on the hunt

Hoovering mission

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

527

One true Holy Church

A cult divorced from Nature

Burned ancient wisdom

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

528

Hallowed ancient gods

Reviled negged and demonized

Yet still prevailing

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

529

They burned the Witches

Feared their wild untamed spirits

While they lived in chains

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

530

Christian enslavers

Faith based on exploitation

God-ordained abuse

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

531

Pristine safety vest

Desk jockey tryna look real

His hands are too clean

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

532

The thin veils parting

Otherworld glimpses revealed

Real magick lives there

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

533

Crook-arm Anthony

His shorts three sizes too large

He flashes the girls

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

534

Not right in the head

He walks barefoot in winter

Throws away his clothes

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

535

I follow no path

Forging my own way instead

A Witch on my terms

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

536

Daily tragedy

Need no TV for trauma

When it’s in my face

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

537

Found some prescriptions

Abandoned medication

Crazies stay crazy

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

538

School bus armada

School kids at the symphony

Getting some culture

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

539

Tall long-legged girl

In high water bell bottoms

Skips over puddles

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

540

No home of his own

Shares his lunch with the pigeons

At least they don’t judge

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

541

It’s been four hours straight

Shoes off beer cans by his feet

Passed out once again

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

542

Their foul delusions

Fueled by their festering hate

Destroy the nation

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

543

The God they follow

Is not one of compassion

But of fear and hate

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

544

They cannot discern

The devil in God’s clothing

They follow blindly

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

545

‘Nother mass shooting

Thursday, March 30, 2023

False Intimacy, Limerence, and Other Fun Stuff

I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt such an intense connection with someone I met online that when we finally met in real life it was like 💨 POOF! 💨 “What the hell happened???”

Having it happen the first time, I didn’t give it much thought; just figured it was a fluke. The second time it happened, I figured it was coincidence. But after it happened the third time, I started paying attention; this was a pattern.

It’s easy to see how we can get drawn in by texting and talking on the phone. What we’re experiencing is limited to a screen, and it’s easy to get sucked in and feel a connection has been made, especially when the words that bounce back and forth affirm the same values and similar interests. (OMG! You like having lightsaber duels on the rooftop too?!)

Pretty soon, we may be feeling that…oh wow!…we really do have a connection, that we’re experiencing the four out of five types of intimacy. And we’re eagerly awaiting for the moment when we finally meet IRL, where we rip each other’s clothes off and catapult ourselves into the fifth type of intimacy (which needs no explanation).

This is when the doorway is cracked open to allow, for those of us with such tendencies 🙋🏼‍♀️, for limerence to strut through like the lord of all he surveys.

I will admit, I’m very prone to limerence. Not only will I have a relationship already fabricated in my squirrelly ADHD brain, I will already have picked our pet names, and what language they will be in. I will have selected “our song.” I will be going through which selfie of us as a couple to post on Facebook when I’m announcing my new relationship status. And I’ll be planning further social media posts, where I’ll be commenting, “Even after all these years you still give me butterflies.”

So yeah, I really need to be mindful not to get sucked in…

…because getting sucked in feels so damn good!

At this point, your brain cannot differentiate between an illusion, which is what limerence is, and the real, honest-to-goodness thing of actual real love. As such, the brain is pumping those feel-good endorphins.

And dang! Do those endorphins ever feel good!

They feel so good that they make you forget you’re having a shitty day. Any monkey wrenches thrown in? Easy peasy! They’re like bullets bouncing off Wonder Woman’s bracelets!

But then…

…when the rubber hits the road…

…when both parties meet in real life…

…that’s when things get real.

In some cases, which I think may be more rare than not, people actually do experience that intoxicating love thrill that had been building up through the daily texting, phone calls, and video chats.

But in most cases, and certainly every one that I’ve experienced, the limerence illusion cannot stand up the vibe check that comes with the initial face-to-face contact.

The illusion will deflate and then evaporate. And sometimes in a really harsh manner.

What a rude awakening that can be, especially for those of us who have highly attuned “early warning systems” that will pick up and lock in the tiniest details. Unfortunately, those early warning details don’t show up on the two-dimensional screen radar.

Basically, no matter how well someone looks good on paper, a real life face-to-face meeting is a must.

So, what does one do?

Well, I really can’t say as I’m neither a professional nor a qualified expert. But what has worked for me is knowing that I am susceptible to limerence. Knowing is half the battle. And even though I know that when the switch gets flipped, the endorphin pipeline will be shut off.

In the meantime, I may as well enjoy that heady rush. And perhaps I can catalog that feeling and see if I can reproduce it through a different avenue, maybe perhaps through art or some other productive diversion.

Since my last foray into Limerence Land, I decided to treat each face-to-face “date zero” as either a game changer — Because who doesn’t love a game changer? — or as a valuable learning experience. Either way, it’s a win for me.

And who knows? Maybe some day that game changer may include a rooftop lightsaber dueling partner!

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Friday the 13th...

...was a lucky day for the unknown customer in Maine who purchased the winning Mega Millions ticket that had a $1.35 billion jackpot.

I hope that the lucky winner will not follow the path of the majority of big jackpot lottery winners, where 70% lose all their lottery winnings in 5 years or less. It may seem, at first that winning a huge jackpot would solve the winner's money problems. But what actually happens is that if the person was poor at managing their money in the first place, winning an obscene amount of cash will just merely delay the inevitable.

It's always nice to dream about what one would do if they were to win the jackpot. How many of us have fantasized about saying, "Take this job and shove it!" to our bosses. I know I have (and still do). But seriously, to make the best of winning the lottery, one needs to be smart about what they're going to do once they learn that their ticket is the big winner.

Anyhow, I have given some thought about what I would do if I were to ever win a huge lottery jackpot.

First of all, I would keep quiet and not even tell those closest to me until I contacted a fiduciary financial planner and estate lawyer. I definitely do not want to throw myself to the wolves without some expert reinforcements.

I will wait until the money is actually in my bank account before quitting my job and making some major spending decisions, the first of which would be to pay off all outstanding loans. I would want to start off with a clean, debt-free slate.

There would be no need for me to buy fancy homes and fancy cars. I don't even have a need to move into an über wealthy neighborhood. In fact I would not want to. I prefer to live simply, and I would use my winnings to merely upgrade my lifestyle to the point where I am more comfortable and have greater freedom to explore my creativity.

Seriously, I don't see the point of owning multiple homes. Rather, I would prefer a modest, yet tasteful home in an area with a beautiful view that I could enjoy all year long. I would like to have more land than what I have now for the dogs to run around in. And I would like that area to be fenced in order to keep my dogs safe and to preserve my own privacy. Maybe I would have a monolithic home built.

As for cars, I really don't give a rusty crap over luxury and exotic models. But if I were to have a "statement car," the 1972 Citroën DS would be it. (I'll take it in red, please.) And for a knock around car, I would keep my 2013 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X. It's been a good and reliable car, and it's served me well. And it would be nice to be able to take much better care of it.

Of course I would like to travel and see different parts of the world. But I really have no desire to be a jetsetter.

I would make sure that loved ones are no longer struggling. There are some small charities and non-profit organizations that I would like to help out.

All in all, I still want to remain in touch with my own authenticity and continue being the same person that I am. The only major different thing that would change for me is that I will no longer have to leave my pets alone while I'm gone for long hours at a soul sucking job where I am just another cog in the machine.

My days would be spent doing the things I love: creating art, learning new things, enjoying the company of my dogs and cat, and exploring my surroundings. Maybe I've even have a social life!

Friday, July 29, 2022

To the Ghost Who Rides My Train

It was just two days before Christmas

When you caught my eyes

And gave me this weird smile

Before you stepped in front of

My oncoming train.

I screamed,

And I screamed,

As I heard the impact

And saw your head briefly bounce

In front of me,

Before the train finally

Sucked you under,

Leaving only your butt

Sticking out.

The rest was a montage

Of passengers trying to comfort me while

Eager to exit the train,

While pausing to examine your still body,

Of yellow clad firefighters carrying

Blocks of lumber for cribbing,

Of feeling and hearing the creaks of the train

With each bit-by-bit rising

Off your crumpled and broken body,

Of surrealistically feeling like

Princess Diana,

Hiding her face from the paparazzi.

Even with all that, you were still alive.

Somebody found your brown wallet,

But I never learned your name.

It was two days before Christmas,

But I was not going to allow you to spoil it.

This was the choice you made when

You recruited me to serve as your

Involuntary psychopomp.

And it was on Christmas Day

That you got your wish

As you entered the other realm.

No, you did not ruin my Christmas.

I did not let you.

But you still sat at my table

As a silent guest.

I thought I saw your your ghost

Riding my train.

But it wasn’t you,

But some vagrant panhandler hustling dude

Who stole the luggage from

An out-of-town visitor

On the platform.

It wasn’t you.

You still ride my train, though,

And sometimes you let me

Know you’re there.

Sometimes I still see

Your weird smile

And the two giant steps you took.

Sometimes I still hear the impact.

Sometimes I still feel the train

Rise up with each creaking cribbing block.

I gave you what you wanted.

You now owe me one.

What will you give me?

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Setting the Tone for 2022

This morning started like many other mornings that fell on my days off. The only thing that was different was that today was New Year's Day. I was still planning on doing my seven-mile walk (which takes two hours and twenty minutes to complete), but I wanted to do it alone, as I wanted to include a White Stone meditation during the forest trail part of my walk.

I had no idea what I was going to be in for in my walk. All I knew was that I was going to wait until I got to the bridge that crossed Goose Creek to start my White Stone meditation. Until I got there, I was going to enjoy listening to my music and take some photos, like this one of sago palm seed pods.

When I got to Goose Creek, I took this selfie, fired off a snarky message to a snarky coworker, and then turned off my music, and put my phone on "do not disturb.

I then took three [sort of] cleansing breaths, set my intention to receive my word for the year, and proceeded with my walking mediation.

Well...

...sort of.

I don't think I was too successful with the meditating part. My squirrel brain was much too active, jumping from thought to thought. It wanted to explore. And it insisted the I go check out that body of water to the left of the path.

After reining in my attention, I briefly reflected back on my intention to "receive my word for the year." My attention then got snagged on the word receive.

That's when I started arguing with myself:

It was too early in my walking meditation to get a word.

Maybe another word will come to me.

Don't go into this already attached with the first word that pops into my head.

It doesn't have that "ping" factor like the word be had for me in 2017.

.........squirrel!.........

OK, OK, so maybe receive is the word I need for 2022.

But, dammit! Wait until I'm done with the walking meditation to claim that word. OK?

.........squirrel!.........

Anyhow, I wound up realizing that perhaps this word ~ RECEIVE ~ may indeed be the appropriate word for me. Maybe it is time that I learn to actually receive ~ to be open to receiving ~ instead of running on the hamster wheel chasing that daydream feedback loop in my brain. And perhaps it may be useful to explore my relationship with receiving.

Getting back on track, I continued walking.

Next thing I knew, this bright leafy green seahorse caught my eye.

Of course I had to take a photo of it, do a quick editing job in my iPhone, and then fire off that pic to a seahorse-loving friend.

In the meantime, my mind was whispering:

receive.

Continuing with the walking...ahem...mediation, I happened upon this pond.

Ever since I've moved to the Gulf Coast area, I've been very fascinated with Spanish moss. There's plenty of it here, and I find it quite evocative.

I tried to get a closeup of the egret. The iPhone camera can only zoom so far.

Even though it was on the other side of my pond, it was aware of my presence. What it did not realize was that I did not have the means to come after it.

By the way, that's a useful thought to keep in mind. Whenever we may be afraid of something, or feel threatened, it would be important to ask ourselves just how real that threat actually is. Just like the egret, who thought that I was going to teleport to the other side of the pond and choke the living daylights out of it, are the threats we perceive realistic?

Approaching the end of the trail (where the rest of the trail is closed due to the animal shelter expansion and construction project) I spied this beauty of a tree shelf mushroom. It practically blended in with its host tree.

Here's the underside of the mushroom.

Having turned around and heading back, I saw a clump of Spanish moss on the ground and decided to get a bit silly.

My mind is reminding me:

receive.

As I approach the bridge that crosses Goose Creek, my little green eyes spy this.

That's a crawfish mud hole.

Crawfish season is almost upon us!

Mudbugs! Mudbugs steamed with corn and sausage with a nice spicy blend!

...receive...

I've arrived at the bridge. The walking meditation is done. I turn on my music and take my phone off "do not disturb" mode. It's time to head back to the Emmett Hutto Parkway circle, finish my walk, and head home. After all, the dogs are patiently waiting for their food. And I want to write the word receive on the blank white stone tile I have at home.

But...

...the grass bank alongside Goose Creek looked so inviting!

And I simply had to explore!

So I followed along the riverbank. The bike tire tracks told me that others have been this way before. But given the small lack of wear in the grass and the small amount of litter, it did not seem that this was a popular and much frequented thoroughfare.

Then I came across this. It caused me to stop in my tracks.

I was blown away by the composition!

Next, I climbed up the site drainage system, and this is what I saw.

At this point I was super excited! Finding something new to explore always does this to me, giving me a huge rush.

Climbing down the site drainage, I continued with my exploration, and very soon I came upon this.

It was another manmade structure, just like the site drainage, that combined brilliantly with nature to create an amazing and dynamic composition! And how lucky I was to come upon two such visual treats in such a short span of time!

Next, I continued to follow the riverbank. And I could not get over the natural beauty that was just a few miles from my house!

More manmade stuff ~ this time a fence ~ juxtaposed with nature.

And more concrete...

I was definitely getting into what I was seeing! And I was thinking that this would be a great place to bring Alice so that she could burn off some energy. (I'd love to also bring Kane and Yoda, but they are elderly dogs who no longer have the physical stamina for such a jaunt.)

But I know that Alice would most certainly love it, and Kane and Yoda would have fun sniffing her and trying to figure out where she went.

I saw this pretty lily-like flower along the riverbank. I'm hoping to get an identification on it.

This bird was a little bit too far away for me to get an idea of what it was.

I've reached a part in my exploration where I felt that it was time for me to turn around and start heading back. It was already close to 10:00 AM, and I did not dare delay my getting home.

As I was heading back, I came across a site where someone had done some illegal dumping. Even the trash had an artful and evocative quality.

Next I came across, amidst the rubbish and the overgrowth, what looked like a part of a building foundation. (Or maybe it was something altogether different.)

As always, when in nature (which really is EVERYWHERE and is EVERYTHING), there are reminders of the circle of life.

I continue on my way back...

...until I get back to the paved walking trail, where this paper wasp nest catches my eye.

It's definitely time to be making my way back home and not adding more time and miles to my walk.

I reflected back on my experiences and realized how this walk set the tone for 2022 by the following:

Maintaining my commitment to my health and fitness by continuing to get my steps in.

Examining my relationship with receiving.

Being open to new experiences.

Staying curious.

Taking time to explore new things and reveling in that exploration.

So yeah, this walk in the woods was a good thing. And now it was time to hurry home, especially since it started raining...

...and there were still some two to two and half miles left to go.

Fortunately, it was a light rain that did not last very long.

In no time I was back in the boring fancy-schmancy subdivision where all the houses are monotonous ticky-tacky brick boxes.

The all-night-and-into-the-morning revelers who wished me a Happy New Year have disbanded.

I continued.

Just a random photo of some kid's toy car.

Finally, after nearly three hours of walking, I am home.

I am home.

The dogs and cat have been fed.

And I committed my word for 2022 to the white stone tile.

Happy New Year, all y'all! Make it meaningful!

Neringos Kampelis ✨ Neringa’s Corner

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Cuckoo for Haiku — The First One Thousand

Thursday, March 30, 2023

False Intimacy, Limerence, and Other Fun Stuff

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Friday the 13th...

Friday, July 29, 2022

To the Ghost Who Rides My Train

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Setting the Tone for 2022

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