Neurons swaddled
each in cotton:
My brain babies.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
3 more fillings
"Hey look, another cavity!"
It was hiding
behind a tooth.
"Do we have
a *really* big wedge?"
she asked.
"It's really far under the gum!"
The drill won't fit.
They'll have to scrape.
Denstists gather.
Apparently, I have
really interesting cavities.
It was hiding
behind a tooth.
"Do we have
a *really* big wedge?"
she asked.
"It's really far under the gum!"
The drill won't fit.
They'll have to scrape.
Denstists gather.
Apparently, I have
really interesting cavities.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Thanksgiving, Reno
Sprinting through the basement,
for the bathroom -
day after Thanksgiving.
You'd think the bathroom
of a pharmacy
would be clean.
This old toilet,
choking
on my turds.
for the bathroom -
day after Thanksgiving.
You'd think the bathroom
of a pharmacy
would be clean.
This old toilet,
choking
on my turds.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Snowed in at Bozeman Airport I (Montana Taxi Driver Wisdom)
1. So, what you're saying is that Chinese and Japanese are different languages?
2.[Upon noticing that I've realized I can't get out of the cab because there are no door handles or locks in the back seat] I'll have to come around and let you out. *grumble* Recommissioned police vehicles...they do this so the convicts can't escape. It comes in handy sometimes. *wheeze*
3. Why would you want to leave Bozeman? Do you have kids or something?
4. Feel that fishtailing? I passed four wrecks on the way out to pick you up. Right up here, there'll be a wrecked jeep...see? Whoo! Feel that?
5. Maybe you should just stay here instead of heading out to the Rat Race [in Ithaca, NY]. You don't have kids, right?
2.[Upon noticing that I've realized I can't get out of the cab because there are no door handles or locks in the back seat] I'll have to come around and let you out. *grumble* Recommissioned police vehicles...they do this so the convicts can't escape. It comes in handy sometimes. *wheeze*
3. Why would you want to leave Bozeman? Do you have kids or something?
4. Feel that fishtailing? I passed four wrecks on the way out to pick you up. Right up here, there'll be a wrecked jeep...see? Whoo! Feel that?
5. Maybe you should just stay here instead of heading out to the Rat Race [in Ithaca, NY]. You don't have kids, right?
Monday, November 19, 2007
This is not a poem.
I just got a reservation at El Bulli for June.
...
Happy Thanksgiving, bandersnatchers.
...
Happy Thanksgiving, bandersnatchers.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
After reading Coleridge's "Kubla Khan"
I boarded a bus today
For Willikoochie, Georgia.
Not many people know that’s
Where Samuel’s soul sojourns.
I wanted to talk to him,
To ask advice, maybe. You
See, my writing isn’t quite
What I want it to be.
But right away, I was
Distracted. There was a girl
On the bus – not pretty, but
Still distracting. I stared.
I undressed her with my
Eyes. I thought that’s what she meant –
“Please undress me with your eyes.” –
With her cold, scornful glare.
In Willikoochie, she
Did not join me for dinner.
I ate alone, then found Sam.
He was in a bad mood.
“You look Jewish,” he said.
Of course I don’t, but we know
Each other, Sam and I. “So?”
“So, no Jews before nine.”
Sam was just in a mood.
I went back to town until nine.
When I returned, I brought Sam
Some honey-dew and milk.
We talked until ten, and
Sam pretended not to know
What it’s like, not having your
Writing be what you’d want.
Well, fine. “If you don’t want
To talk, let’s just play cards.” “Fine!”
He understood, of course. But
He can’t write anymore.
I left Sam the cards, all
Sticky with honey-dew juice.
He said I could call again
And then called me more names.
On the bus back, the same
Girl was there. But she’d put on
A front-clasp bra that my eyes
Couldn’t unfasten.
For Willikoochie, Georgia.
Not many people know that’s
Where Samuel’s soul sojourns.
I wanted to talk to him,
To ask advice, maybe. You
See, my writing isn’t quite
What I want it to be.
But right away, I was
Distracted. There was a girl
On the bus – not pretty, but
Still distracting. I stared.
I undressed her with my
Eyes. I thought that’s what she meant –
“Please undress me with your eyes.” –
With her cold, scornful glare.
In Willikoochie, she
Did not join me for dinner.
I ate alone, then found Sam.
He was in a bad mood.
“You look Jewish,” he said.
Of course I don’t, but we know
Each other, Sam and I. “So?”
“So, no Jews before nine.”
Sam was just in a mood.
I went back to town until nine.
When I returned, I brought Sam
Some honey-dew and milk.
We talked until ten, and
Sam pretended not to know
What it’s like, not having your
Writing be what you’d want.
Well, fine. “If you don’t want
To talk, let’s just play cards.” “Fine!”
He understood, of course. But
He can’t write anymore.
I left Sam the cards, all
Sticky with honey-dew juice.
He said I could call again
And then called me more names.
On the bus back, the same
Girl was there. But she’d put on
A front-clasp bra that my eyes
Couldn’t unfasten.
21 Instant Messages to Paul Muldoon: 4 (Hey Lady, You Got the Love I Need.)
Dance, dance - but your pal
won't blind his soul with clay. Tough
break, my golem gal.
won't blind his soul with clay. Tough
break, my golem gal.
Some shit about splooging your identity on the world or something like that
Sometimes a thing's so inside you -
when it's taken away, it's like
a big fucking hole in your world
- like a chunk ripped out.
(Once I parked in K-town,
and somebody jacked my
side view mirrors. For two days,
it was like they'd reached in and ripped out chunks of my eyeballs.)
First you keep reaching
for that piece of your soul
and it's not there and it's like
somebody put a brick wall in your brain.
It makes me understand stroke victims
and unwilling amputees.
It doesn't stop freaking you out
that your left hand arm isn't there anymore
or whatever.
And then you get used it it and you develop
this new life,
and it starts to get very satisfying
as your work your way around your obstruction
and develop new habits and routines
and ways of conducting your ass around town
and it starts to get really interesting and finally
you don't feel like there's shit missing anymore,
you like your new self, and your new life,
your new soul-balance,
and then when somebody offers that piece back,
which you've still been telling yourself that you want back,
suddenly, you're a little nauseous, and you're like,
"Holy shit, I don't think I want it back anymore."
Anyway, what I'm saying is that
they finally called and said my
laptop's done and I can
have it back anytime now.
when it's taken away, it's like
a big fucking hole in your world
- like a chunk ripped out.
(Once I parked in K-town,
and somebody jacked my
side view mirrors. For two days,
it was like they'd reached in and ripped out chunks of my eyeballs.)
First you keep reaching
for that piece of your soul
and it's not there and it's like
somebody put a brick wall in your brain.
It makes me understand stroke victims
and unwilling amputees.
It doesn't stop freaking you out
that your left hand arm isn't there anymore
or whatever.
And then you get used it it and you develop
this new life,
and it starts to get very satisfying
as your work your way around your obstruction
and develop new habits and routines
and ways of conducting your ass around town
and it starts to get really interesting and finally
you don't feel like there's shit missing anymore,
you like your new self, and your new life,
your new soul-balance,
and then when somebody offers that piece back,
which you've still been telling yourself that you want back,
suddenly, you're a little nauseous, and you're like,
"Holy shit, I don't think I want it back anymore."
Anyway, what I'm saying is that
they finally called and said my
laptop's done and I can
have it back anytime now.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
21 Instant Messages to Paul Muldoon: 3 (Fantasizing about how great an island getaway would be right now.)
Rum in D'yer Mak'er
while I'm humming along to
Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker."
while I'm humming along to
Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker."
I haven't Sarah's scruples.
Wha-? What’s that?
In the kitchen … Ach!
That’s the rat poison.
I thought we were done with that.
Well, let’s see what’s up. Not that
I ever caught the rodents at meal time
With any regularity, you understand,
But let’s try to see what’s up.
Oh, good lord! You’re not
A rodent, but a roach. And
You seem pretty comfortable
In my kitchen this late at night.
Well, I’m sorry Mr. Roach, but
If I can hear you walking
From the other room, if you’re
Going to be moving around
My rat poison because it’s in
Your way, well then, you’re
A little too big for your breeches.
Not tomorrow, but tonight, you
Mr. Roach, are going on
The Avermectin B1 diet.
I’m going to the store.
I’ll be back within the hour.
Well, they said these were for
The big roaches, but the holes
In these things are the size of my pinky.
And you’re more like
Three pinkies together.
How’s that gonna work?
Come out, come out Mr. Roach.
Doesn’t this smell good? Yum, yum.
That’s right. Eat up.
Oh, and I just got you new treats.
But fine, try to eat the old stuff.
That’s fine too. I’m not hurt.
You sure eat loud. Goodness.
Is this going to keep me up too?
Try to keep it down.
I’m sleeping over there –
See my pillows on the floor –
Just ten feet away.
Shh.
It’s late.
In the kitchen … Ach!
That’s the rat poison.
I thought we were done with that.
Well, let’s see what’s up. Not that
I ever caught the rodents at meal time
With any regularity, you understand,
But let’s try to see what’s up.
Oh, good lord! You’re not
A rodent, but a roach. And
You seem pretty comfortable
In my kitchen this late at night.
Well, I’m sorry Mr. Roach, but
If I can hear you walking
From the other room, if you’re
Going to be moving around
My rat poison because it’s in
Your way, well then, you’re
A little too big for your breeches.
Not tomorrow, but tonight, you
Mr. Roach, are going on
The Avermectin B1 diet.
I’m going to the store.
I’ll be back within the hour.
Well, they said these were for
The big roaches, but the holes
In these things are the size of my pinky.
And you’re more like
Three pinkies together.
How’s that gonna work?
Come out, come out Mr. Roach.
Doesn’t this smell good? Yum, yum.
That’s right. Eat up.
Oh, and I just got you new treats.
But fine, try to eat the old stuff.
That’s fine too. I’m not hurt.
You sure eat loud. Goodness.
Is this going to keep me up too?
Try to keep it down.
I’m sleeping over there –
See my pillows on the floor –
Just ten feet away.
Shh.
It’s late.
Friday, November 16, 2007
21 Instant Messages to Paul Muldoon: 1
Ink from a pen drops
clear through my glass of water.
Then the bleeding stops.
clear through my glass of water.
Then the bleeding stops.
On Van Gogh's "Mulberry Tree"
This is the one that must be perceived orally.
A friend years ago told me about this friend of hers
who got thrown out of a museum for licking a painting.
And yeah, we can't have them all digested by art
freak saliva, I'm not saying let him lick it -
but I love him and I can't get down with anyone
who doesn't feel bolder for his dignity.
I wouldn't do it and anyway The Mulberry Tree
is covered with glass, but I can only see it
with the tip of my tongue, from the muddy yellow blob
tinged with blue at the center, to the lightning tentacle
branches and the flat scrapes of cerulean
that make up the sky in the upper right corner.
A friend years ago told me about this friend of hers
who got thrown out of a museum for licking a painting.
And yeah, we can't have them all digested by art
freak saliva, I'm not saying let him lick it -
but I love him and I can't get down with anyone
who doesn't feel bolder for his dignity.
I wouldn't do it and anyway The Mulberry Tree
is covered with glass, but I can only see it
with the tip of my tongue, from the muddy yellow blob
tinged with blue at the center, to the lightning tentacle
branches and the flat scrapes of cerulean
that make up the sky in the upper right corner.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
On Cagnacci's "Martha Rebuking Mary Magdalene for her Vanity"
It's unnatural not to desire
those silk shoes, indigo blue
and so delicate they're translucent,
laced with gold, with toes
like swans' bills. Who looks at this painting
and wants the moral lesson
the naked disciple's receiving?
You should see how those shoes match her dress
(put off on the floor, presumably
confiscated by that stupid angel).
Knowledge of the Serpent
Said Adam to Eve, "So.... like Eden?"
(the first ever too cheesy lead-in)
"Oh Adam, you coot,
take a bite of my fruit;
and then we shall get down to breedin'."
(the first ever too cheesy lead-in)
"Oh Adam, you coot,
take a bite of my fruit;
and then we shall get down to breedin'."
At the dentist's
Six cavities to fill;
boy, I really
love my iPod!
I have a symphony
and a drill
in my head.
boy, I really
love my iPod!
I have a symphony
and a drill
in my head.
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