moving

i looked at the boxes 

massed on the living room floor

like i was watching the edges 

of an approaching storm

out over the ocean 

that appeared more like the painting 

of an approaching storm 

as it made its way slowly to land

seeming to be static 

so that there was an eerie sense

of calm that it would 

never make landfall  

until with fury 

it would avail itself upon the shore

bringing rain and wind

and flood and destruction

and I would be left there 

after the clouds had passed 

with the task of disassembling 

each discarded cardboard box

after the contents inside had 

been found removed and inserted 

into their final resting place.

Where I can find a home

Ah man, sound of cars
reluctantly head north
over the old bridges
at a new angle, crossing
the river--God's river--the
ol' Potomac, that's one of those
ancient arteries drives right into the heart
of the dark American soul, the mighty
rushing waves too far away to
hear over heavy planes
that scorch the sky with businessmen,
stewardesses, free drinks and first classes,
I'm in a new room, that's again,
not my own, tip-toeing uncertainty,
wondering when these sounds
will be mine again, when these sensations
will be private, when I can finally
let these bones rest as the
door closes

No money

Cacophony of sounds moving in,
Jack reading Bowery Blues,
chains, bed posts slamming to floor,
feet on the stairs, hammer, nails, screwdriver, screws,
grunts and exclamations, creaking
boards, click of light switch, Whit
moving between rooms his wonder
sonorous in the hectic clatter, rain
pelting old city streets in the night
outside, cars passing, tearing at puddles,
ripping up the mold and dirt of past droughts,
the discordant era blessing a new day
coming, a prophetic dream,
an idiots dance

tonight on jamestown road and lancer pl

book of poetry written for you
I'd burn it to keep you warm
slender legs in the maryland night
last christmas lights remain
sky is orange-black
purple clouds and purple winds-

when did we sleep this perfect world away?

new rooms old rooms

I write(approximate) THESE dreams
that drive me mad
                           mad
                                  mad
Kaleidescope visions upside-right
ashes perched...sad-
I'm about to start cupped water over my right eye
burning squinting and afterthoughts.

I fool these dreams to drive me away

and
you

are near.

Showers

So I moved away,
the shower head's no longer the same,
the water drains differently
around my body
and you're no longer there
wet and waiting and warm
under the pressure
cold yellow tiles.