The Ends
Bittersweet
chocolate, coffee
apirin, M&Ms
a hateful word
followed by embrace
Two extremes tear me apart
the opposite-ended poles
drag my heart in different directions
and leave my mind muddled and confused.
Sip of coffee.
Nibble on chocolate.
Taste buds repelled
angered
leap from my mouth and
parade down my chin,
hold little signs -
they're on strike.
My brain is on strike.
From the world.
Two poles
positive, negative
bitter, sweet
him, her.
Who's who?
Why's that?
Can't I mix them together?
sweet and bitter?
I'd get switter
or beet
But mixing those poles won't produce a happy medium
the extremes will precipitate
become even more extreme in the close proximity -
super extreme
explosively extreme. Really bad
like aspirin and M&Ms
him and her.
No, the best thing to do
would be to keep them separate.
Chocolate.
Coffee.
Not coffee and chocolate,
no coffolate.
Let them have their distance -
separately, they each make a statement.
I am sweet chocolate.
I am bitter coffee.
Together, they just bicker
and it's the innocent tastebuds that suffer.
Heartache
Thunderous cacophany
swirls, deafens
lie back, stretch out
my bed is eating me
Close my eyes
the world still spins
hold on tight
to reality
My heart, heavy as lead, plunges down
to the center of the earth
my body, on a rollercoaster
hold on tight -
the world is spinning, and there are no lap belts
Is it always this loud?
Plug my ears - even louder
schitzophrenic world makes me deaf
quiet, Quiet!
Hold still!
Turn off the lights
be quiet
if nothing exists, nothing spins
get a grip
a foothold
crawl out of bed
it sucks me in - angry, ravenous
turn off the noise
plug my ears against the light
Try again -
the floor isn't hungry tonight.
To the Freshman
To hell with your perfection.
Those sparkling eyes
perfectly gelled hair
and muscular thighs
Straight teeth,
burberry scarf
perfect smile
I'm gonna barf.
You've got nothing
left in store
I want someone
with something to work for.
Perfect nails,
perfect job
perfect car...
god, you're such a snob.
You bore me with
your incessant wit -
what do you take me for,
mindless twit?
Where's the magic,
spontaneity?
What joy will come
if I allow you a chance with me?
Do you ever walk through a field
and feel calm, serene peace?
No, you just hide from the wind
and pull closer your Old Navy fleece.
Do dancing birds
draw your eye to the sky?
They do mine,
and I long to fly!
Your perfect nose
perfect toes,
perfect genes
I know how it goes:
A perfect family,
perfect life
what need do you have
for an imperfect wife?
I'm overweight
too short - I snore
I find conservative politics
a horrid bore.
My pants don't fit,
and they're not brand name
dammit, I'm sick of playing
your stupid game!
I don't care what you think
a scapegoat I'll be
but I bet I'm happier ...
you wait and see.
I've got so much to see
so much to learn
no time to worry
about money to earn.
There are mountains to climb
seas to explore
when I've tired of that
I'll wash ashore
and walk the entire length
of a long, sandy beach,
then round the earth
and come back to teach
you
and others in your section
to love every inch of life:
every mole, blemish, imperfection.
this poem is untitled. Have any suggestions?
What a warm night
the sky, heavy with fat, juicy stars
girl smiles with an unspoken joke.
How mysterious - puff of smoke curls from the shadow.
You'd like to be mysterious
take another puff, that'll help
girl coughs on a foul breeze
Night's secrets swirl around my feet
whispering tales of dry, cracked leaves
Want a ride?
No, you've had too much.
Modern science gives us shiny, loud toys
we take them for granted
Come on, we'll get there faster.
Bitter barley water glows pale
interrupts the continuous night
would you like it dark, or light?
We've come so far, created so much.
Drink it down, wet your whistle
girl whistles a familiar tune
Just got this new toy
so big and loud
and fast, too.
So wonderful, the things we create
take the corner on two wheels
This is great, I want one too!
Night sky hangs lower as stars cry "no!"
Why not?
Have another.
Lean back, life is great
Open the window man, it's so warm tonight!
What was that? Stop
Girl
unspoken joke upon her lips
now forever a secret between her
shiny crome
rough, warm pavement
Longing
I can't ask, because you don't even know
can't begin to wonder - where would I start?
If only life were as simple as that.
On your mark, set, here we go
to a place only the rainbow knows.
I can't cry, because there's no real reason
I could think of a milion things,
but none of them mattered a minute ago.
Tears fall empty and hollow onto apathetic soil.
I can't feel unfulfilled, because they were all just dreams anyway.
Sweet dreams plump with juice,
hanging low on a creeping vine
ready to be picked.
Dreams so beautiful they hurt
my entire body craves something -
the dream opened a door to a light my eyes can't see,
but I know is there.
Dreams so rich they drip from my brain
eloquently encoded in a language not of this world.
A longing undefined
ravaging my sleeping form
it steals bread from my mouth. I'm hungrier for magic after my dream than before.
Dreams so rich my throat is clogged
I'm awake, coughing up shards of something so beautiful
it left scars
tears for a sadness I can't remember
and questions I can't begin to ask.
4/20/02
This poem is currently titled "Do," which I don't think fits. Again, any suggestions?
I feel it:
the reason behind every intention
coursing through my veins
responsible for heartache
tears
laughter -
it's life.
Did I choose to have this soul-crushing burden bestowed on me?
No; no one did
but what a wonderful gift.
What a wonderful, painful, inspiring gift.
Tomorrow is never guaranteed to any of us.
Dance.
Sing in the shower.
Eat cake.
Eat a big ice cream cone in the middle of winter.
Bike.
Watch the sunset.
Travel every chance you get.
Listen to children.
Hug your close friends every time you see them.
Talk to yourself.
Catch snowflakes on your tongue.
Look up.
Take notice of what’s happening around you,
not to you.
Look at strangers.
Look at trees - they are wiser than we will ever be.
Do more, with less.
Make peace.
Be politically active.
Learn from everything.
Turn around to see your footsteps in freshly fallen snow.
Laugh out loud.
Cry at movies.
Listen to old people.
Strike up a conversation with that person wearing the same shirt as you.
Look up.
Smile.
Smile at that person smiling.
Smile at strangers.
Gaze out windows.
Explore.
Hold hands.
Climb trees.
Listen to jazz.
Try new things -
The worst reason ever for not doing something
Is that you’ve never done it before.
Look at the stars -
it’s scary, it makes you feel small,
but empowered at the same time.
Look up.
Protest.
Turn off the TV.
Imagine.
Write poetry.
Write a song.
Write a letter.
Listen to your parents.
Make believe
Sleep in.
Wake up early
to see a meteor shower,
or the sun rise.
Scream with delight.
Open your arms.
Open your eyes.
Accept.
Question.
Play.
Sweat.
Build a snowman.
Learn how to say “hello,” “good bye” and “I love you” in every language.
Open yourself up.
Stare into a candle’s flickering flame.
Laugh at jokes.
Protest injustices.
Accept pitfalls.
Look up,
LOOK UP!!
The world does not lay at your feet!
Meet people’s eyes
smile at strangers
laugh out loud
dare to dream
dare to think
dare to LIVE!!!
new poem
I want to write a record hit
which will fill the hearts of lonesome folk
in its prime
and echo through time long after
mine is up.
Drift from an old jukebox ina seedy
bar, croon to country folk
and remind 'em of old times.
another new poem
I could stare at you staring out there all day.
With your back turned to me, I'm sure I haven't been spotted
but the joke's on you...
some people don't even see love coming
they're blindsided by it.