Fathers of Sons

Fathers of Sons

they say we take your DNA
and put it away when we
give you a son.

you never leave.
we absorb you.

it’s not chemistry.
it’s got to do with biology.

to Truth

to Truth

i never met you.
i didn’t want
to know you.
you live
in an unmarked grave.
i can’t save you now.

internal-memo

Internal Memo

a reminder to everyone who is receiving this message:
membership in the corporation
requires membership.
associate and honorary members
are required to uphold
the double standard by any means
until further notice.

Love in the Garden

Love in the Garden

me and me are under the tree
k - i - s - s - i - n - g
and eating juicy apples
and laughing
cuz they look like breasts
and they taste sweet
and satisfying.

Smug

Smug

you smother me with your hug.
your smile finds me wanting.
your open hand is a trick.
you’re quick to point away.
you won’t say.
you’ll let it lay
just the way you want it.

to Time

to Time

you’re not lost.
i probe me
to find you alive,
to robe my children,
so they can thrive.
you won’t wait; i know.
but you won’t go.

Bull’s Eye

Bull’s Eye

you miss the mark.
your arrows
fly indiscriminately.
you are the target.
you forgave
when no one asked.
you forgot
when it happened again.

Duh

Duh

no one will ask.
no one will tell.
no one will touch
your open hand.
there will be
no resolution.

Perpetuity

Perpetuity

a woman needs a man
for a one-night stand.
anything else she is told
is an old tactic
to make it seem like
it’s the other way around.

The Mill

the Mill

The threat is the grist
that feeds the grind.
Fear is the wheel
churning the water.
Confusion and disillusion
are the dust in the air.
We get sweets and treats.

School

School

you were striking
they pretended
not to care
you went back
to playing the Fool
for nothing

You Bought It

You Bought It

no refunds.
exchange
your attitude.

What’s Funny

What’s Funny

if everyone
laughed
and you too
can you stop

Undercover

Undercover

the brother ain’t a lover.
his glam and yes ma’am
is a scam for your heart
to play its part on his stage
keeping watch on his rage.

Strespassed

Strespassed

the sea has no borders.
waves are above the law.
the aftermath of the storm
becomes the norm.

miss take

Miss Take

i lost time to the daily grind
of minding my pain
made it rain on childish sunshine
hurt what was all mine to love
fathers nowhere to be found
i am around
the thread that binds

Shower Action

Shower Action

i couldn’t discern,
without glasses,
what sort of bug was trying
not to drown,
as i would,
but falling backward
is what killed it.

Action

Action

show your face
with the right piece
at the right time
and put it
in the right place.

Ruminoting

Ruminoting

i was told what i was told
thought what i thought
was who i thought i was
did what i did
they were who they were
were who they thought they were
did what they thought they should
did what they thought they could
knew what they thought i should do
what they thought i would do

What

What

the mirror reflects
a broken sculpture
mended
with sticky memories.
i see it’s wrong
no, it’s right
no, it’s just light.

My Grain of…

My Grain Of…

some grist in my brain mill
feels the grind of my mind
calling attention to tension
between what i don’t want
to think i am thinking
and the uncouth Truth.

in the Mirror

in the Mirror

my life looks over my shoulder
warns me to be bolder
tells me i’m the holder
of everything and nothing.

i was
i am
i will be
me.

Fault Line

Fault Line

it’s all mine.
i’ve kept it.
no one else wanted it.
my breasts were too big.
my butt was too wide.
i had a bad attitude.
i chose to respect myself
but it was a mistake.
i had a choice.
i shouldn’t have done that.
it turns out that i didn’t anyway.

Pretend

Pretend

tell me you’ll mend me into being.
wear me ’til you soil me.
pour bleach on my blemishes.
wring out my tears.
leave me hanging on the line.
let the wind whip me
and carry my questions away.

Interdiction

Interdiction

you’ll find me on deep discount
in the bargain basement
with books of old jokes.
my name was changed to a
comedy of errors
so i didn’t know
when it was my turn.
i could burn.

Rage

Rage

daddy was mean
mommy played along
the song of ages
people in cages real as the feel
of the steal of steel bars
enough handcuffs for all
who disagree with whoever sees
god in the mirror

Whipped

Whipped

Same time.
Same Race.
A horse beating itself
doesn’t believe it’s dead.

ExCiLlusionist

ExCiLlusionist
if you’re a
two percenter
in anything
you’re either
special or special,
hard to get along
with or have a hard time,
or both.
what’s your specialty?

Beware the Preacher

Beware the Preacher

your prison bars wilt
with our Guilt.
nothing’s the same
without Shame.
where you gonna point
now that we’re gone?
how you gonna
get along?

Scapenote

Scapenote

you’re together
cuz of me.
you deserve
each other’s company.
leave my head.
i’m sending a well-fed
goat in my stead.

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