... (ix)

the most dangerous aspect of love

being: that it robs us of sense

that it renders us unable

to bear reflection

come now, you lovers!--knuckles dripping

come now, over what you have shattered

shards glisten in your soles.

come! you vast and shambling company

--who knows how far we might walk?

for your sake--

I tore out my eyes.

ash (ii)

one of the boys across the street

is trying to learn a song

                  hear the chords grinding towards ascension

       he falters, pauses

cannot master

                      the solo

I am leaving

a trail of smoke, only

I have burnt to ash

fluttering and cold

I pause at the edge of the driveway

the cat pauses, also

and skirts me, as always

        I hold myself, hard

in the soles of my boots

in the pressure

    of the sky on my head

the mirrors have throw

their reflections

                             out

      --in a heap, sprawled

the chords rise

     straining, against themselves

and begin to dissolve

         shedding notes, clatter

fall senseless

    into disonance, and the player

confused, a little betrayed

noodles a progression

like a sparrow's howl

        disjointed, melodic

rage--lost in the bushes

the song of an axel

        --a screaming, circling hum

I will fall

      behind myself

a scatter, and the wind

will sweep the pavement clean

     

  

... (x)

written awhile ago, before I left.

---

bury me under silver skies

fading to blue

under drifts of hanging stars

bundled nebulae rising shaggy

thick and green

edged in light

sink me when

the birds are clicking

bury me face bare

to the dirt

I leave my corpse in trust

the dust and heavy rains

and trickle from the sprinkler

will tend it

the winds will tend it

when I come striding the boulevards,

again

heavy, and in defeated triumph

I will see my ghost

peering brightly through the leaves

I will take the hands of the seconds themselves