ton of books

two flames on the table

before him and the place he drops

his thoughts down like a ton of bricks

books rather

how many thoughts until he runs out

he has already spun dizzy enough to be

invisible on a pedestal

in the middle of nowhere

one flame stands still

and the other jumps from the wick

with the sound of a helicopter above

somewhere to be really fast no messing around

the dog barks as if it will attack

anyone who enters

understandable it's his heritage

maybe he is mistaken in thought

the candles are there as symbols of power

beyond his control putting down the sticks

as he was told they would be his death

to late it may be almost June

the back porch at night makes his nose cold

as if it were March

the two flames suddenly join in jumping

and somehow coordinate with the sound

of a jumbo jet and three birds singing

above clouds and a colorful sky

from the sun setting on the horizon

as if it would set somewhere else

the pen skips and spins in his fingers

as if he has a deadline and it's been almost ten years

since his last assignment he knows he should go back

even if only to see what it is he might be missing

but it's only a bridge and he heard that they

tore it down to build a tunnel...