nothing concluded 85

falling from far

above nothing

to stop the fall

concluded by

the ground below

up so high

cannot see that which

eye may have missed

falling fast seeing

what never hit eye

seemingly secure

in whatever comes this way

never as comfortable

even in free fall

forward at least

prepared to fall

as hard

if not harder than before

strong arm raised

steady in the air…

nothing concluded 84

rewind then

stop for a moment

lasting too long

this time around

and on again

don’t’ know why

bothered and some will

never quite understand

can’t explain and no one

really cares anyway

climbing up the rope

pass someone who says there

is no top

the bottom is still

close pull harder

drowning in a glass

of water

tapping at the side

until it breaks

and releases these thoughts

blank (ask me again)

blank
page fourteen
thinking
another may know me
well enough
blank
mind cannot
think hard enough
soft as I fall
from where went down
too far
blank
empty
mind
blank
white or non-white
simple
sorry I asked
don't answer
blank again
why wait
ask me
no
don't
all right
ask me again
may not know
blank
who are these people
why so quiet
blank
simple
done
blank again. . .

nothing concluded 83

many times

stopped wait wondering

what is it we must do

in order to get by

maybe write a song

everyone coming

back from

where they have been

and getting ready to

go wherever they go next

pushing the toes off

the ledge where standing

was what eye wondered looking

down how many stories

nothing concluded

some even whisper

while in the same room

doesn’t matter what’s being said

only that others can’t hear it

how rude

slow day

working backwards

from the beginning

when will we all

walk together

some people act as if

every stranger is going

to rob them and that

must feel strange

to the stranger

soon the sun will set

and the day will be done

too fast today

need to reprogram and slow

down that fast

sun smiling onto

this Fro—Zen ground

and still the toes

back from the ledge

but cold

everyone will be converging

on this spot soon

won’t matter much

never has

nothing concluded…

paper snowflake

looking through the yellow window

don't have answers

or even know question

out into the cold

sun burns down pounding

a silent dream beat

wandering soul finding a match

lit the darkened room

once green across out another window

two pieces of tape hold

the paper snowflake in place

see it from here but empty or full

does it really matter

that much not sure

voice muffled thinking someone

must know not here not now

wrapping pictures

who's present or past

and what does the future hold...

Thursday noon

so close to the edge

hoping not to fall
rise up above
but feeling so small
the thoughts that rage
and notion that I'll never fit
into the puzzle of life
but I won't quit
escaping necessary
in order to find peace
cross legged on the floor
and the rage will soon cease
expose all my wounds
despair
and all of the thoughts
leading me to not care
about myself
in the least bit
haunted by that feeling
might never fit
and it's a feeling
won't soon get
it's like swimming
without getting wet
bet all your money
or better yet mine
something will assist
wait for the sign
to tell the tale
still really not sure
and when we stop caring
we will be here no more
no more of this
and way too much of that
remember five years
right there where I sat
seeming so long
flying so fast
positively feeling
as if the time would last
not long enough
cannot sit still
feet still planted
on the window sill
with all of the plants
growing strong
like the will to go on
but will it last long
as the hair grows
out of my head
worry not much
just thinking instead
upon departing
what do they say
never felt wanted
they want me to stay
and not move
the spot found
no one is here
upon turning around
in my sleep
never quite reaching a dream
and this reality is
exactly what it seems
so simple when
put into words
different somehow from
those I once heard
the news but
know not what it said
everything living will
someday be dead
this doesn't sadden
but a far look ahead
some kind of goal reached
when we are dead
still unsure
and may have it all wrong
sorry to disappoint
held captive too long. . .

the pen won't rest

1210/1997

and the pen does not

stop me if I go too far

from my point me

in the right direction

if followed by clouds and rain

the skies tears

on pale cheeks and skin

turning red when touched

by the thought I would

know by now

and again I see the writing

on the floor cracks under

too many feet

rising to the occasion

then falling to the floor again. . .stop to think I may be moving

slowly at times down

to the end of the road

where this race ends

and another soon to

begin and away from

but close enough too

much more to come

back tomorrow

always twenty-four hours away

behind lie the days we cannot

return to that day

speaking loud and clear. . .

the hat doesn't fit

down to the depths

ears pop
windows smash
out of a mind
spinning with no end
the dizzy spell
the world
just like it sounds
as if it can't be seen
clear enough
of what's needed
not much to get by
my side by side
with him
again repeating
what's been said
this was important

now and then
sitting alone
not so content
with a mind
feeling empty
cup of coffee
keeping him sleepy
sounds silent
screaming so loud
pound the thought
that won't die
in footsteps
in front not behind
the man alive
and breathing heavy weighing down
from above or below
toes take root
in the soft earth

brought to that spot
you in the crowd
millions of strangers
nothing is stranger
than eye
thinking too much
of the same song stuck
in a head
won't float away
from where he thought
he knew what it all meant
to tell you
will be missed
don't hear words
when eye
stand alone

it's now
from now on
the other side
with stronger forces
a mind to scramble
to its feet exposed
under the sky blanket
and all is falling
tremendous height
now sinking
in the seat
under the hat
that doesn't fit. . .

fear the day

today is the day
after yesterday
he told me things
will change
and what was it that the thunder said?
‘Da Da Da!'
how could anyone take him serious
this day has arrived
what can we say
still frozen with the chill of last night
the stars shine as bright
eyes of the night
a night that would not end
today came and ruined the equation
proving it false
again hearing
‘Da-Eliot closed his heart'
‘Da-he closed his mind'
‘Da-what a disappointment'
to each his own
admit that it saddens
to move from the river bank
and forget all he said
out of fear. . .