Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The wrong way...

Drill Bit

Tuesday I hear it’s going around;
I’m off...again, knuckled white.
Wednesday I will talk myself into
Round about routes to denial.
If I say it, then it won’t come true.
And, I find comfortable restraint; bound to
Repeating it over and over and over. And again,
It feels better that way, medicated meditation.
Then Thursday everything is white. I eat
From a bland full service spectrum buffet,
Plated and nothing touches.
I won’t even sip from her cup.
By Friday I am unable to tolerate human contact.
And, I count back to the last
In order to find spared time. I’ll be free-
On Saturday what is in the air will kill me.
So, I hold my breath between rooms. Suffocated,
Sunday I become completely restricted.
I will not accept from anyone, anything
That has been anywhere other than here.
Those days, they wear me hard
And to the end, so I have become
Exhausted from the fight. I finally sleep.
Then Monday brings me back, slightly.
With a negligent handshake,
So that again Tuesday I am found,
Wringing dry, anticeptic hands.
I will not allow myself to open a door
I stay; refusal and restraint, withholding.







p.s. its got quite a grip.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Showered

Why are my fingers cold
When they trace the back
Of your neck and up under
Your hair? It is smooth and pitch
And I wish it were my own
To push behind my ears
Before falling over your eyes.
Willing, asking it to stay.
Where it stayed...
Your shoulder now holds the ends
Fresh from washing, shiny and wet.
I rest my palm there then drift
Down your arm to your elbow,
And pull you into me. To find a way
To warm my hands that you find
Already warm and willing to stay.







Moonlit Night
Tu Fu


Translated by David Hinton

Tonight at Fu-chou, this moon she watches
Alone in our room. And my little, far off
Children, too young to understand what keeps me
Away, or even remember Ch'ang-an. By now,

Her hair will be mist scented, her jade-white
Arms chilled in its clear light. When
Will it find us together again, drapes drawn
Open, light traced where it dries our tears?