patterns of flight

these slow, slow bites
of fast, fast food
may be the end of my patronage
for anything good

another meal alone
another blackened night
moths on the bulbs
eating at the light

i still have the coals burning
the melodies and the lines
looping like the coasters
in the fair rides of my mind

and there was something here
something i came back to find
in this turned over card catalog
this puzzling palindrome of mine

i almost believed you
when you said i'd be alright
but baby these wings
have forgotten the patterns of flight

here, here and here

yes i'm too skinny dear
eating time is weightless

in my sleep i float over
to your house of wires
winter profile
leechee eyes
hair crown wild

i am something like a transparent astronaut
i can barely hear the space heater hissing
we would start kissing
------>here
here<---------
-------------->and here
if it weren't for my
nasa fish bowl head
my conflict with gravity
my american flag tattoo
shiney shiney red white blue
white blue blue blue

normally you would start pacing
tell me right now what to do
resume
call backs
give your name
stay on track

but i'm a satellite
just out of your sight
something that warps the light
makes your heard turn
ever so. . . . .

hungry

no i'm not lonely in this one room abbey
apricot paint job
crickette loop

the hair in the drain is mine all mine
wet nest
open dictionary
car rumble
soap shortage
inside
here
the closets half used

clock tower bells attend this
sushi dinner
plastic plastic sticker
wasabi ginger
rice soggy
pick, pick, pick

the streets empty
superbowl sunday
football shaped cakes at the supermarket
i wanted to give you one
white laces
you say
what are you doing with this?
clock tower bells
your moving mouth unaudible
the palm of your right hand expanding in size
your eyes lower
here climb up
i see that you are tired
i'll fold my fingers around you

yes love,
i am still jobless
still
hungry
hungry
hungry

sparrow eyes

keep away
with your spanish charm
your sparrow eyes
your tattoed arms

your candied groin
your rolling 'rs
your yum rum lips
your panting hard

keep back
with your spicy tactics
your licorice hair
your exotic rack

your feathered mattress
your lanterned shack
your rusted chevi
with wolf in back

i'm not the kind
to flutter and greet you
not your red rose lady
nor your mamacita

won't fluff your bed
won't groom and feed you
won't bend my back
to rub and please you

but just this once
i'll let you taste
let you touch
let you take
open the french doors
shed me naked
naughty now
confessions later

leave that there

don't you touch that
leave that there
the eggshell china
the silverware

the oil painting
the knobbled chairs
the furry coats
the minx's stare

you can't bring him
leave him there
his baby grand
his kinked up hair

can't take him with you
beyond repair
his splattered stop watch
his concrete stairs

time is ticking
time's a bear
it runs for office
it runs for mayor
the people gather
the people swear
it promises victories
it says its prayers

gypsy, gypsy
don't stand there
in that quilt of faces
with your tattered layers

the wind is burning
the wind won't share
its itinerary
its predicted fare

so before the paint dries,
the carpets wear
pack your satchel,
your pots and flares

but that heavy piece
leave that there
it's not your time
for walks in pairs

lonely export

she is a lonely export
she is sunburned and leather
she is a misplaced map
he is going down to get her

it's the same tray of circumstances
it's the same unopened letter
it's the moving violation
it's the chronic bed wetter

she's a rambling export
she's moldy cheddar
she's cutting off the lifelines
and threatening to sever

the day they walked the hudson
along the garbage and the feathers
he went home and drew her picture
i thanked the stars he'd met her

he rubbed the buddha's belly
he said they'd be together
she says she left for winter
but he's going down to get her

this is pain, this is pleasure

no you can't see them
in the fog of the dawn
alone on your futon
with your pajamas still on

they are paving your road
they are moving your boulders
carrying your name
on the nape of their shoulders

i know you are lost
i know you are broken
the pac-man machine
rejected your tokens

i know you are stuck
i know you weren't joking
when you said you'd had enough
when your car started smoking

so take this shield,
this song, and soak them
put this kimono on
find the embers and stoke them

there is fire in the lines
of the path you've chosen
melody in the pit of the throat
that's been choking

i know you are lost
i know you are broken
this is pain, this is pleasure
take the time to know them