poetry

Connection at the Heart of Commerce

jdoublep, , , , , 2 Comments 
I was working at
a nearby coffee shop, 
when a friend of mine 
came in for coffee.

I had to say the words, 
“Here is your coffee, friend.
It is very hot,
but you should try it."

Then I took a break
to take the kids to school.
They told me, “Dad, we know
you are a real weirdo.”

It was very great
and when I dropped them off
their teacher wore a mask
of Ronald Reagan.

I drove back to work
and on the way I thought
I should open up
my email inbox.

There was a message there
from a friend of mine
who worked on UFOs
shot down by FBI.

She was asking if
I’d buy a UFO
if I happened to
see one on Etsy.

I wrote back to her
and said I’m on a break
and have to get to work
but I'll write later.

I signed off “LOL!
Your super duper pal”
before I used my thumb
to send that message.

Now I’m back at work
wondering what you think
about if my friend
will sell me UFOs.

I never thought before
that I'd be able to
but I can’t wait to tell
my little children.
Connection at the Heart of Commerce

In Every Room

jdoublep, , , , 2 Comments 
The heat we made lingers
and I ache.
Love is supposed 
to make the world better.

It’s not love.
It’s not love.
And it’s not a waste of time.
No, no it’s not a waste of life.

When I was a child, 
I was blessed by an un-light, 
Taken into a family of One,

Then led through fields and forests and swamps.
Through the quiet country 
and the monstrous places,
I roamed across a broken land.

I am man of peace
Standing at a barricade
Screaming: love everything, goddammit all!
But screams are soldiers’ sounds
And I am a man of peace.

True to the universe that took me,
I will wander every room,
Aching when the warmth
Touches my cold, tired bones.
In Every Room

The Way

jdoublep, , , , Leave a comment

lights out
time passes
summer close
i gotta sit down
i gotta find my friends
they have forgotten
the fairy tale ending

an open door
understanding
earth, my soul
never feel so good
as when i’m wonderin’
what i might be missing

the night
lonely star’s light
underneath it all
everybody knows
we’re gonna burn
fire, fire
in the darkest places
i know the way

The Way

Forever and ever, everywhere

jdoublep, , , Leave a comment

There’s a crack up in the sky
Forever and ever
I been everywhere
Since you said goodbye

All those salty tears I cried
Forever and ever
I been everywhere
Since you said goodbye

Remember times are changing all the time
I feel so insecure when floating blind
There just ain’t no fortune tellers that I trust
There just ain’t no fortune tellers that I trust

Will I ever let it go
Forever and ever
I been everywhere
Since you said no more

Left here to rest my head
Forever and ever
I been everywhere
Since you said no more

Forever and ever, everywhere

Down Turns

jdoublep, , , , , 2 Comments

I was trying
to find someone to take
me to the hospital
because my hands
were so full of stuff
I couldn’t drive myself.

My neighbor responded.
I was admitted.

My neighbor waited
and gave me big hug
when I was told
I could have the surgery.

We turned on
the room’s TV
and it said,
“Hi, your name is Broken,
and do I have a story for you.
After surgery,
you are going
to have no money.”

I was many flavors of nervous.
I was like, “My god,
I have got to get this done,
despite the TV’s warning.”
It was really tough.

In the end,
it was no problem
to do the surgery
and to be able
to take a picture
with my neighbor
afterward.
I got the medical help
I needed that allowed
me to grow
into a professional
that manages other
surgery-helped professionals.

I got my job,
but that TV’s words
hung over me
like a cloud of cat piss.
Soon enough,
the world started
to take my money
and I didn’t know
where to go for more.

I traveled from bank to bank, and asked “Where is my money?”
They said, your money is here,
you just can’t have it.
I traveled from crypto mine to crypto mine and asked, “Where is my money?”
They said, your money is here,
you just can’t see it.
I stopped traveling
and turned on the TV
and it said,
“Hi, your name is Broken,
and do I have a story for you.”

I stayed up too late
and called in sick
to work the next day.

Down Turns

Going Places

jdoublep, , , , 5 Comments

Take me to the bright sky
Tell me what I should know
Take me to the burning heart of the sun

Take me to the ocean
Show me how to stay low
I wanna be the only one

Sometimes it seems
We’re on opposite sides
Of this infinitely long dark hall

I keep my bags packed
I keep my shoes on
I will be ready when you call

Take me to the mountains
Teach me how to run fast
Push me past the edge when I think I’m done

Take me to the forest
Hide with me forever
I wanna be the only one

Going Places

The Embrace of Silence

jdoublep, , , 2 Comments

We never talk until we change
So there’s reason to worry
‘Cause if things change too quickly
We’ll never shut the fuck up

And if the silence arrives
We’ll share it together
There’s so, so much pleasure
And it’s ok to be scared

If I drop here a line
About how we are falling
And the need to blame gravity
It’s only because not all falls are bad

I’m not the seer of your eyes
And I know not to ask why
I stopped thinking things though
I know not to ask why

I stopped thinking it was easy
And that made it all easier
Took a kiss for an answer
Now we’re waiting and waiting

I’m slow but you’re patient
I know not to ask why

The Embrace of Silence

Not a Pure Thermal Phenomenon

jdoublep, , , 2 Comments

I had what it took then, honey honey

To take it straight into the sun

Get it – get get to me

Get it – get get to me

Get it – get get to me

Get it – get get to me

Honey, honey, it’s a minute past our dew point

Swim in time like water and I get this

Wet grip liquid reality

Waiting to inflect/intone oh no

Can you hear heat in my voice?

Yeah, No way, sugar sugar dumpling

I tell a truth: I am a truth

I had to live and had to care

I got an unfair

advantage

I got a big ol’ swollen belly

And this multi-colored tongue

Hallelujah! Gawda’mighty!

When I watch you touch your inner thigh

I’m kissing all these angels

In the endless white hot sunshine

It’s so hard – it’s up to me

‘Cause I ain’t leaving no one behind, no

I cain’t leave no one behind

Not a Pure Thermal Phenomenon