Lucky 8 Marathon

heresy of paraphrase after Untitled, by Franz Kline (USA) 1960

paraphrase is to say the same thing in less words / yet we attempt to suss meaning
from / a poem, a painting, / a sculpture. / it is impossible / the exact nuance / the artist is
trying to convey
we each experience creative works from our own perspective / in this experience the
meaning of art lies, / the essence of the thing is the thing, / it is a sacred other worldly
thing, / goes beyond intent / intertwines with it / rumples the sheets and stays the night.

Do Geese See God?

dove dive bombs

you want surrender, 

I want to war with peace itself.

peace is            uninterested,         unimpressed,       and unmoving.

peace is an even number waiting                     to be divided.

peace says til death do us part.

peace says stay put.

peace says you don’t need to look at the dead, stagnating under feet.

peace says there is no price too high.

peace says all this in a measured response to my scream.

throat scabbed over from repeated battle cries,

“never surrender.” 

Wishbone Words

anatomy of a body without lies

feet that tell you when to get off them,

legs that say, hey bending me that way will hurt down the road,

hips that tell the world how to treat you.

ears hear that whistle in the dark and say “run,”

vulva that speak of shame.

a uterus that begs him to stop.

arms that say how often they really need to hug,

hands that want credit for the words they create,

ribcage shouts “I’m so tired of protecting this tender heart.”

mouth that stays silent, because in truth no one is listening.