wait your turn

------------------------------------photo susi white

she is wildly drunk
she is wildly bold
she's the spilling cup
that you're pining to hold

she is lavishly garnished
blue flamed but cold
undressing in your front lawn
spreading open in your folds

she is child and woman
she is ritual and word
too unorthodox for breakfast
too free formed to scold

she is matches and propane
sunburn and mold
you'd like to lay beside her
but you'll have to wait your turn
and you're glad to wait your turn
and you're glad to wait your turn

grace

i'm out a bay
this thunderous day
with your compass showing me the way
my starting plate is black and faded

i came all this way to see your face
i came all this way to share this stage
i'm feeling tired and a little misplaced
oh grant me grant me grant me your grace

take me to that southern sun
oh pump me up with florida love
the summer's are a lifetime long
like unleashed dogs we're running strong

oh i fall and oh i flee
but please don't think a fool of me
this solo road's my family
one plus none makes all i need

grace

it know it's hard to live simply
with these complications of man
it know you're trying to live simply
with these complications of man

old skies, new day
it was you who taught me how to pray
i know all these things will GO. away

rambling cars and stained glass windows
late night bars and weeping willows
red eyed mars and tear dropped pillows
dark graveyards and oak tree billows

oh won't you sit me down
back in your boat in our old town
the walls are rusting the seat's a plank
the river bank's our saving grace

it's so hard to live simply
with these complications of man
it know you're trying to live simply
with these complications of man

blowing kisses to the bridges

and as your soft steps hit the streets
forehead melting from the heat
fingernails clipped into half moon heaps
preoccupied with the residue
that each decision will leave

you know, you know, love will never leave you

crumpling up a bag of pretzels
looking out the window
the fields are smearing by
a horse is waving hi
black birds peck the pie
leaving the pan naked and dry

wind blown signs
bright light blinds
blowing kisses to the bridges
that you left behind
blowing kisses to the bridges
that you left behind

we could build a house

we could build a house
where the hard parts won't hurt
pain, prick and sting
soaked up by the dirt
we had grown to take for granted

kind face, you've soured
tired eyes fixed on the hours
they're paying you too little for

rainbow cactus growing through
the cracks in the floor
bluebird swooping
through the frame of the door

pulling your attention to the outside
pulling your attention to the outside

don't be afraid to lose it all
we've dropped the weight, we've dropped the ball
this battlefield is a bad backdrop afterall
for our muffled heart songs and paper walls

we could build a house
we could build a house
we could build. . . . .

why stay here

give, give
me a reason to not leave this place
neon light bulbs and a wrinkled face
fallen arch of the ankle
big toe's out of place
mad man on the bucket seat
shouting his hoorays

make this last lap super sweet
make this the school dance
you didn't want to leave

a fresh rose on the shoulder and
a twinkle in the teeth
tic-tocking baby steps
sandwiched cheek to cheek

tie me to the front porch
anchor down the bow
catch me in your dusty mit
like the pitcher's wildest throw

i'm yours
with your reason
not to leave this place

droopy lid
tired face

fight or flight

______________________photo susi white


i've been lovin the beast that won't love back
skyscraper spine and a side walking crack
the pain of 8 million loaded up on my rack
that i'm unstrapping from my shoulders
and never looking back

you can stay here if you want to suffer
i've got fire flies to count
you can play here with the prickled puffers
proclaiming their dark doubts

this is not my dream
it never has been
i'm going home to the sandlot
where the lousy losers
win

i came here for loving
i came here for love
and big sir you're shoving
the bent beak of my dove

pullling up the cotton stripes
over our bleeding shins
at the bottom of the 9th
there's no way to re-begin

game on
game on
i can take it in the face
i'm strong

game on
game on
i can't watch this awful race
i'm gone