DEBT/LOSE FACE

What can you say to the bleating pie eyes of every woman you've ever loved?

street lamp reflections
blown glass hearts
throw stones
crack in throats

you stand up in the middle of the street.
milky light bleeds from your window on the top floor.
get inside!

Maybe you didn't love her anyway.

but today's clear black night is
not the one
to have shards of glass
stuck in your palm.

UNRIPE

it was a lost conversation.

sunk deep, buried treasure.

choking on the sweaty air

it was too dark to see in their wet eyes

and too loud to hear anything other than

the hollering in your own mind.

you know when you aren't sure if you said anything out loud?

you know how you'll never take a picture that hasn't already been taken?

it was like that.

that hollowed out lemon pucker

feeling

of it all just being smoke and mirrors.

YOU DRAW BIRDS WITH BEAKS WIDE OPEN

the butterfly bush is skeletal now.

fat blossoms gone,
sweet scent night time purple flowers missing.
we were on our bicycles
and i can't remember if i was trying to make my boyfriend jealous or not.

who knew a summer night's butterfly bush could be so ominous?

MARY OLIVER

lustrous and pink.

two-faced and hot,

playing music in the street.

he: aged and gray.

like color like sky. 

agitated he turns, all corn whiskered face to the lightning sky.

asks, "tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

THIS NIGHT IN HAIKU:3

as your door opened-

i knew that i must push through

this instant regret

THIS NIGHT IN HAIKU:2

together we sit.

spilling our feelings like paint,

we watch the trains pass

THIS NIGHT IN HAIKU:1

I apologize,

but seeing your half moon face

pulls me deep in doubt.