I smile at you from great distances,
through walls,
through dreams,
with the river in between,
or even mountains in between.
You may not feel it every time
I smile at you,
but I hope you know
somehow that there are smiles
aimed in your general direction.
Friday, August 29, 2008
8/30/08 You Say Tomato
Today on the phone with mom I said
"I want to strangle everybody.
Did I just say that out loud?"
Meanwhile on the other side of the universe...
Cookie is playing a snowboarding video game
and figured out how to make his guy
meditate during the jumps.
Okay, well, to each his own.
"I want to strangle everybody.
Did I just say that out loud?"
Meanwhile on the other side of the universe...
Cookie is playing a snowboarding video game
and figured out how to make his guy
meditate during the jumps.
Okay, well, to each his own.
8/29/08 Memo to Consumer
Dear Consumer:
Please allow us to thank you for your ridiculously regular consumption of our product.
As a gesture of our gratitude for your brand loyalty, we are including a one-year supply of Excedrin Migraine Formula for you completely free of charge.
Of course, for you, valued customer, it will likely only last a month, and the addictive nature of the drug combination will reinforce your need for more.
Much luck with that in the future.
In gratitude,
Your Friendly All-Powerful OTC Drug Manufacturer
Please allow us to thank you for your ridiculously regular consumption of our product.
As a gesture of our gratitude for your brand loyalty, we are including a one-year supply of Excedrin Migraine Formula for you completely free of charge.
Of course, for you, valued customer, it will likely only last a month, and the addictive nature of the drug combination will reinforce your need for more.
Much luck with that in the future.
In gratitude,
Your Friendly All-Powerful OTC Drug Manufacturer
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
8/28/08 Old Photos
In this one, grandpa Moorhead leans against a car
and his posture reminds mom of Spencer.
In this one, baby Molly with ringlets hugs a chicken
and her smile is shaped kind of like Ama's.
And this is one of the only ones of baby Mary
together with her grandma Mary with the goiter.
There's one of the family having a picnic on the porch
of an abandoned house on Romie's birthday, December 2nd.
In this one, grandma Clarice is young and with her friends,
and I try to find any of my features in her smiling face.
and his posture reminds mom of Spencer.
In this one, baby Molly with ringlets hugs a chicken
and her smile is shaped kind of like Ama's.
And this is one of the only ones of baby Mary
together with her grandma Mary with the goiter.
There's one of the family having a picnic on the porch
of an abandoned house on Romie's birthday, December 2nd.
In this one, grandma Clarice is young and with her friends,
and I try to find any of my features in her smiling face.
8/27/08 On the Podium
Of all the feats of the greatest olympic athletes,
I most enjoy watching them stand on the podium,
still damp with sweat or pool water,
but in coordinating sweatsuits now.
I like when they fidget.
I like to see if they will sing all the words
or cry or smile during the national anthem.
Sometimes they only sing the parts they know,
and sometimes it's not their song playing.
Sometimes the podium doesn't mean you've won.
I most enjoy watching them stand on the podium,
still damp with sweat or pool water,
but in coordinating sweatsuits now.
I like when they fidget.
I like to see if they will sing all the words
or cry or smile during the national anthem.
Sometimes they only sing the parts they know,
and sometimes it's not their song playing.
Sometimes the podium doesn't mean you've won.
8/26/08 Housewife
When I get the housewife blues,
which would be fine
if that were a pharmaceutical
but it's not,
I can at least be thankful
that I don't have to
pincurl my hair before breakfast,
or wash the dishes
in three inch pumps.
which would be fine
if that were a pharmaceutical
but it's not,
I can at least be thankful
that I don't have to
pincurl my hair before breakfast,
or wash the dishes
in three inch pumps.
Monday, August 25, 2008
8/25/08 Hooters
I ate at Hooters.
For real.
There isn't even a punchline,
just a little bit of sadness.
For real.
There isn't even a punchline,
just a little bit of sadness.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
8/24/08 Dressing the Dragon
Tomorrow we are dressing the dragon,
which is an activity that might
fall somewhere between
dressing a child and
dressing a turkey
(because she's stuffed, you see)
(with batting - not edible)
(you can ignore me - I'm just trying to be clever)
which is an activity that might
fall somewhere between
dressing a child and
dressing a turkey
(because she's stuffed, you see)
(with batting - not edible)
(you can ignore me - I'm just trying to be clever)
8/23/08 Poodle in a Life Jacket
The lady driving the boat
next to the poodle
in the life jacket
is a good example
of someone I might
not be friends with,
not as a judgment against her,
it's just that I don't think
we'd have much in common,
which might actually be
a judgment
in her favor,
but probably not
because she has a poodle
in a life jacket.
next to the poodle
in the life jacket
is a good example
of someone I might
not be friends with,
not as a judgment against her,
it's just that I don't think
we'd have much in common,
which might actually be
a judgment
in her favor,
but probably not
because she has a poodle
in a life jacket.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
8/22/08 Parties
There is another flag sewing party
on my calendar.
I believe this may be how
revolutions begin.
Of course, there is a tattoo party
also on my calendar,
which could very well be how
revolutions are undone.
on my calendar.
I believe this may be how
revolutions begin.
Of course, there is a tattoo party
also on my calendar,
which could very well be how
revolutions are undone.
8/21/08 Ransacked
I think while I was sleeping
someone snuck in and
ransacked my house.
I think while I was sleeping
in a more figurative way
someone snuck in and
ransacked my life.
someone snuck in and
ransacked my house.
I think while I was sleeping
in a more figurative way
someone snuck in and
ransacked my life.
8/20/08 Zucchinied
Who did you
zucchini
last night?
I couldn't help
but notice
that you didn't
zucchini me.
zucchini
last night?
I couldn't help
but notice
that you didn't
zucchini me.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
8/19/08 Eagles
I saw a bald eagle eating a steak on a log
under a low net at the zoo yesterday.
Dina said she's seen three on the river this year.
They installed the last eagle statue this summer.
I know it's illegal to possess an eagle feather,
but what if you just found one on the ground?
What if everywhere you went everybody
just wanted you to play Hotel California
over and over again?
under a low net at the zoo yesterday.
Dina said she's seen three on the river this year.
They installed the last eagle statue this summer.
I know it's illegal to possess an eagle feather,
but what if you just found one on the ground?
What if everywhere you went everybody
just wanted you to play Hotel California
over and over again?
8/18/08 Badminton and other Unexpected Joy
NBC
like a siphon
sucking all my time
and vital energy
and now I suddenly
care about badminton
and the 3000-meter steeple chase
beach volleyball
rhythmic gymnastics
the 100-meter butterfly
javelin for crying out loud
like an ugly American zombie
I watch it
all.
like a siphon
sucking all my time
and vital energy
and now I suddenly
care about badminton
and the 3000-meter steeple chase
beach volleyball
rhythmic gymnastics
the 100-meter butterfly
javelin for crying out loud
like an ugly American zombie
I watch it
all.
8/17/08 Clay People
Clay people rise out of the river
and play on the lignite-littered shore.
Lignite!
Clay people dance in circles
under the ancient harvest moon.
Orange!
Clay people bundle russian olive
and chase the sunset until dark.
Fire!
and play on the lignite-littered shore.
Lignite!
Clay people dance in circles
under the ancient harvest moon.
Orange!
Clay people bundle russian olive
and chase the sunset until dark.
Fire!
8/16/08 Lifescape
Wrapped up in a purple hammock cocoon
hanging between the trees like a Warhol print
a horizontal purple banana swinging there
considering the best use of my 15 minutes
considering, too, how all of these landscapes
that seemed so unchangeable, unconquerable
have been ripped and redesigned, thinking perhaps
this seemingly unchangeable lifescape might also
change.
hanging between the trees like a Warhol print
a horizontal purple banana swinging there
considering the best use of my 15 minutes
considering, too, how all of these landscapes
that seemed so unchangeable, unconquerable
have been ripped and redesigned, thinking perhaps
this seemingly unchangeable lifescape might also
change.
Friday, August 15, 2008
8/14/08 The Last Market
The last kid's hour.
The last drum circle.
The last late night leg ache.
Lots of lasts and I'm not sure
I even know what's going on.
The good thing was
it rained so hard
I didn't have to cry.
The last drum circle.
The last late night leg ache.
Lots of lasts and I'm not sure
I even know what's going on.
The good thing was
it rained so hard
I didn't have to cry.
8/13/08 Lots of Letters
Two possible ways for me to get some credentials
since normal school doesn't seem to jive for me:
I think when you finish 25% of a degree
you should get a quarter sheet of paper.
Then when you've done all 100% of it
you can tape the pieces together to make a certificate.
But if you don't finish, you've still got something.
OR
We could just reinvent the thing where
your degrees add letters after your name.
PhD. What about: OCD?
MD. Let's try: ADHD.
Then I could say, look, I'm ADHD.
And here's the quarter sheet of paper to prove it.
since normal school doesn't seem to jive for me:
I think when you finish 25% of a degree
you should get a quarter sheet of paper.
Then when you've done all 100% of it
you can tape the pieces together to make a certificate.
But if you don't finish, you've still got something.
OR
We could just reinvent the thing where
your degrees add letters after your name.
PhD. What about: OCD?
MD. Let's try: ADHD.
Then I could say, look, I'm ADHD.
And here's the quarter sheet of paper to prove it.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
8/11/08 Remind me again
what it was I was looking for on this planet
when I agreed to come back here.
when I agreed to come back here.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
8/10/08 A Mi Mami
Mi a mi mama
dame a la pacha mama y yo te digo
que te quiero entero
me llamo dame a la mama
le doy flores para la mama
paque me quiere
la mamita chiquita chipichita
la pachita bonita
que se duerme la mama
que se llena la mamila
que se queda llena la mamita
paque me quiere
mi a mi mama
a mi mama
dame a la pacha mama y yo te digo
que te quiero entero
me llamo dame a la mama
le doy flores para la mama
paque me quiere
la mamita chiquita chipichita
la pachita bonita
que se duerme la mama
que se llena la mamila
que se queda llena la mamita
paque me quiere
mi a mi mama
a mi mama
8/9/08 Finding a Place in this World
I think of the young men on horses
in the park after the parade
with sticks in their hands,
playful and powerful warriors
jumping and tromping in circles
while ancestors watched from the big tree
a moment of so much beauty
placed ironically after
a very long and ugly past,
everyone finding a place in this world
in the park after the parade
with sticks in their hands,
playful and powerful warriors
jumping and tromping in circles
while ancestors watched from the big tree
a moment of so much beauty
placed ironically after
a very long and ugly past,
everyone finding a place in this world
8/8/08 Crying
The floor is crying for a mop.
The walls are crying for paint.
The cat is crying for any scrap of affection.
The garden is crying for water.
Cookie is crying out of desperation,
and Ama is crying out of habit.
It seems like everybody is crying.
The walls are crying for paint.
The cat is crying for any scrap of affection.
The garden is crying for water.
Cookie is crying out of desperation,
and Ama is crying out of habit.
It seems like everybody is crying.
8/7/08 Wild Greens
Cash for the nettles
and Jill throws in
a free sample of purslane.
It is a pleasure
to be part of
the food underground.
and Jill throws in
a free sample of purslane.
It is a pleasure
to be part of
the food underground.
8/6/08 Nothing
Right now I am in the process of doing
some massive life simplification,
with the hope that I might end up happy.
I need nothing.
Desperately.
some massive life simplification,
with the hope that I might end up happy.
I need nothing.
Desperately.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
8/5/08 Indian Time
outside the Prairie Dog Cafe
Main Street McLaughlin
South Dakota
she told us indians use central time
white people use mountain time here
business hours depend on the owner
a kind reminder
that although time is subjective
racial division isn't
Main Street McLaughlin
South Dakota
she told us indians use central time
white people use mountain time here
business hours depend on the owner
a kind reminder
that although time is subjective
racial division isn't
8/4/08 Words
Eric wants to write songs and asked me
if I had any words.
Do I have any words? Ha.
Do I have any words.
Oh, Eric. I have so many words.
Silly boy.
Best to explain, however, that the words I have
are dull, albeit plentiful.
if I had any words.
Do I have any words? Ha.
Do I have any words.
Oh, Eric. I have so many words.
Silly boy.
Best to explain, however, that the words I have
are dull, albeit plentiful.
Monday, August 4, 2008
8/3/08 Southport Cobb Salad
Breaded chicken lay upon a bed of romaine lettuce,
avocado, roma tomatoes, egg, chopped chives,
bacon crumbles, and Blue Cheese.
The mood was tense.
avocado, roma tomatoes, egg, chopped chives,
bacon crumbles, and Blue Cheese.
The mood was tense.
8/2/08 Tornado Warning
I'm glad there's a tornado warning
because, you know what, when stuff comes down
from the sky like that it's a good thing
and a tornado is a really good sign, it's lucky.
I'm actually really lucky, I should buy some pull tabs
but I ain't got no pockets.
because, you know what, when stuff comes down
from the sky like that it's a good thing
and a tornado is a really good sign, it's lucky.
I'm actually really lucky, I should buy some pull tabs
but I ain't got no pockets.
8/1/08 F Bomb
Remind me if I ever forget
where I was when the record
for the loudest F bomb ever dropped
by a bride at a wedding reception
was shattered.
where I was when the record
for the loudest F bomb ever dropped
by a bride at a wedding reception
was shattered.
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