Saturday, August 25, 2001

some skies are hazy
but better than cloudy skies?
can't see either way

Sunday, August 19, 2001

Ode to self (first haiku):

poetry - no rules
doesn't mean it cannot suck
or even matter

another:

derivativeness
splendid for the calculus
bane of pop culture


My first epic poem....

The Chameleon of Everyday

Soft, cool, cotton
And the desire to stay
The knowledge of my own laziness
Yields to thoughts of consumption.

Heat, suds, forks, spoons
A blue checked tablecloth
Recounting exploits of heroes
It always starts the same.

Repetition of screens
That gives connection to everywhere.
Very busy, lots of things to say quickly.
I've got 3000 minutes to use.

Meet me at the playground
I'll bring the ball.
Athlete, no - but small moments of glory
and most importantly, perspiration.

Three dancing lights in the window
singing of Paris and Rio
Sipping from my glass
Drinking words bigger than me.

Soft, cool, cotton
The desire to get back to her
The knowledge of my own selfishness
Yields to thoughts of oneness.



This is my first poem. It actually happened to me and sort of wrote itself. I've started writing poems in part to prove to myself that I might perhaps be "creative" - though not with any illusions that I have talent. For some reason, the cliche' about seeing the poetry in everyday life resonates with me. So if there's a theme to these poems....

Aviary Defenestration and the Function of Uncertain Strangers

Streak of green
from an open window
flap, smack!
a startled parrot in our path
makes companions of passersby
wondering aloud
whose bird is this?
"Hey up there!"
"Helloooo!"
"Your bird fell!"
Silence and I walk away,
Feeling just a little bit guilty.
14 Stories of Redemption

Dental tools were my agents
extensions of my hands
but not of my mind or soul.
That's why failure looks like a block of plaster
the image you hope for is inside
but chipping away the dross
takes some kind of x-ray vision.

A trip to Venice for
inspiration that didn't take
being mocked was too much
and so i threw that hunk over the balcony-
fourteen stories of redemption.