i want to say something
about vulnerability or stupidity
about nakedness or nonconformity
or all, or both, or nothing
nope, because
there is direction, a plan
reverse change of wind
after the kite was trapped
by the branch, wings ripped
wooden vertebrae
stringed vein stretched
it's a loudness, a soul stomping regret
a wail plowing the field of gut
kicking loose the gate
it's the audacity of faith, when
you're gnawing on the last bite
of hope, the dinosaur coming
alive only to smell
his daughter's sweet old bones
it's soured, spoilt
curdled
something like that
nope
why stop now
let's find out

it's done, trust
shamed, mud and sand
fill the lungs and everything
smells like choke, but not dry
choke from burning leaves
nope
it's the slow gurgle
of rising, the last burst of bubble
air from the puddle before
settling into murk
what did i really think, truth
would plummet into
my marble-pond sod, splintering
like a chandelier giving birth to
a billion bits of knowing and blood
just because it opened up?
look at this very moment
nope.

12/13/07