woe icarus

2.16.24 twenty-six

just as Purity is a kind gadfly,

the needle prods me to remember why

Permanence is still contingent for now

though black is sown and deep is the plow

winding and budding, the mellow ink sings

and She becomes the vibrato of wings

discreet and wordless, two icons unite

as one from mother and father takes flight

fissures and fire shape topography

and sweet life stems from what was once debris

both skin and spirit must dispel trauma

earth will renew with flora and fauna

welcome in now the Year of the Dragon

recall lessons taught by Phoenix, ashen

this is the month when plum blossoms waken

so honor all you may have forsaken

evade unbecoming burns and craters

guard the Genius from idle spectators

blend in proportion the figure and ground

‘Art’ will emerge and the ‘Self’ will rebound

2.26.24 temporary modality

Revised 8.21.24

fickle clouds showing sun who’s boss

saying pay your debts, cut your loss

limitless light darkness forbids

the mist mirrors your supreme eyelids

prick and poke me, hot suction cups

continued climb, incessant crux

big, bitter pills down the gullet

lion‘s sigh or fly and plummet

pray tell, what will bring improvement:

artificial rain, timed movement?

drain me to read me - doctor’s done

rays, break through - let me breathe and run

4.30.24 sumo wrestling

a navel orange is not a depokon citrus

no matter how hard it strives

it is smaller and smoother and cheaper, we witness

seeks segmentation with knives

who are you on the scanner: depokon or navel

in a basket, in the fridge?

at which angle will you present self for appraisal

one side or across a hinge?

5.10.23 night fairy

you infected my mind again tonight

have mercy, dear specter - exit, take flight

everything i kept to keep myself ill

starves me of blooms - floating seeds on a sill

shower me with more than sunshine and breath

tend to me gently - gardener of death