A Savage Sort of Longing
Held party to a savage sort of longing
Resident of dementia,
Of fearful silence.
Find this man in the quiet corners
The dark forest,
Places you’re not going to go.
Take a Punch
So learn to take a punch, Amigo.
Open your stance, square your shoulders,
A scar can be distinguished
Provided you wash the dirt off.
I think this eating worms.
Clean shirt stained green.
Mom will kill me,
So long as the bleeding stops.
Timmy and the School Bully
Timmy:
Dad?
Dad:
Yes Timmy?
T:
Can I ask you a question?
D:
Of course Tim! Why don’t you sit down and tell dear ole dad what’s on your mind.
T:
Okay… um… Well it’s like this dad; I’m at school, right? I’m there every day; I do my homework, get good grades…
D:
Yes Timmy, and your mother and I are very proud of you.
T:
Golly, thanks, but stuff has been happening lately…
D:
Timothy, are you causing trouble at school?
T:
Heck no! I mean, shucks, you know I’d never cause any problems like that dad.
D:
You’re right Timbo, I was just kidding, I know you’re too bland for that.
A Loop
It was the last time. Just now, I think.
Or maybe it’s next time.
That would make this ok.
Unless last time was the last time.
Making this the first time.
Again. That’s probably not ok.
It’s too hard to keep track of.
Honestly, I’d need a chart.
Pages of notes.
Or just one I could use over again.
My situation has not proven fluid.
To this point, at least.
And you’ll still be sitting there.
This is harder for me.
But you knew that.
Mostly Rain
It’s all coming in waves.
It being confusion,
Mostly.
It being nothing I’ve been able to break down
Or start to comprehend.
It being my plans for tomorrow.
It being failure,
Heavy.
It Being rain poinding hair flat to my forehead
Keeping my eyes closed.
Danger Dan
Danger Dan the Danger Man dances so that he won’t get his ass kicked. DD dances with a beast of a fellow, a real gorilla mother fucker, decorated head to toe with hair. Unusual coloring, however, a disconcerting human silverback covered with coarse blonde locks.
The unnamed fellow drank like a maniac, which did not recommend his character. A real gem, the chap matched personality with appearance, mammoth and scary right to the core. DD wondered what to say to the guy pounding Appletinis on the edge of the bar. It was his stool, afterall.
‘my seat, man, my chair’
DD joined the man beneath the shade of a novelty umbrella, watching the wind stir his wheat-covered arm, watching for traces of tattoos, veins in blue and red. A number of thoughts occur here, wide ranges of questions, but DD forgets them all.
‘my seat, man, my chair. all my action’
Danger Dan intended to reclaim his place. Danger Dan got asked to dance instead. What’s a man to say? Which objections to raise, which to shelve, how to figure the format of the debate? Danger Dan doesn’t do the expected, however. Yes is your answer, DD, if you know what’s good for you.
‘yes. I do, I’m no hero’
Danger Dan spins round the floor in a lovely tango, caught up in a quick-stepping number which seemed a much better course than the abuse discretion might incur. The beat was fast, the bar mocking, but DD could not avoid the feel of the thing.
‘should I be settled? should they be soft?’
Danger Dan dances with a man, and is put at east by platinum mitts placed upon either shoulder. He sighs as he spins, and glances along the faces lining the edge of the floor. DD knows the damage done, knows who’s going home alone. A quick look tells him that much.
‘this is strange. that much is clear.’
Danger Dan disengages from the man, adjusts tie and coat and the buttons of his shirt. Returns to the bar in haste. Snapped fingers summon another round and DD begins to drown. The silverback begins to wander, prowling the bar and is gone.
‘a strange night.’