Tanka Girl

curling all the Qs
minding the peas and carrots
raising the split ends
so one may find his own truth
amid the clash of this world

disconnect my mind
from the underground cable
put my feet outside
let my body follow them
force my eyes to see the world

mitt on his fingers
he leans against the chain link
shouting to the stands
he wonders why his feet sweat
and if he will catch her eye

eyes chilled icicle
because I refuse to sleep
Rest is the wicked
and I will not give him fame
though I yawn and roll back tired

you cannot escape
husbands and wives will divide
the lord is master
and your sin will be punished
stand tall to embrace your flag

the dog at the cookies
and I angry with him yelled
I grabbed at his scruff
and dragged him to the counter
where he curled tight and I screamed

I forgot his name
but he used to be real sweet
the way his teeth crossed
and how his lips would snap shut
when he doubted his word choice

the wood fire snaps
fizzle of coal descends slow
lands beside your foot
and you worry about fire
as something you can't control

Orfeo's guitar
string broken, the sun won't rise
propped against a tree
no one will touch it, or play
fearing power of the sun

hours on the clock
just watch the hands revolving
confining your life
greenbacks paid for admission
the final viewing starts now

leaves are turning red
put a log in the fire
tea is growing cold
put the kettle on the stove
keep your comfort organized

it feels like dried glue
the way superglue adheres
that numb skin feeling
when you realize you're sick
and will be sick for the week

my love has a cold
he's wrapped himself in blankets
bleary invalid
head crushed between the pillows
a self imposed confinement

an online purchase
another box at the door
hustle it inside
feel the weight of decision
with no one to see the buy

I've lined the book shelf
descending order, tall, small
flower adhesive
discarded contact paper
with titles dead and alive

his age is twenty
and he brags of all he's seen
I blush to think it
we know so much when we're young
experience is relative

crystal liaison
celebrity of awards
savage garage rock
solid chemical process
and the meaning of lameness

my love tries to quit
but he smoked for twenty years
his face is older
as though nicotine gave youth
as though quitting invites death

the way he spikes up
looks like the devil's poison
he prowls the party
critical of the others
entitled to press his suit

orange beard shaped to point
egomaniacal jerk
stubborn with his words
redacted in his quoting
scavenger of attention

Tanka girl will be out of town. Tanka to resume 10/11.

the geese count seconds
the sky is dark at midnight
hear their wings beating
not quite unison
not quite south for the winter

hours devoted
the dress splits in the middle
teenage desire
the basement playmate clip-out
damp crinkled from handling

nose like a dreidle
molded plastic streaming jets
computer melt down
the things we works so hard for
obsession of luxury

you can read her face
the downward tilt of her chin
iris under lid
crumpled corners of her mouth
a discarded expression

lips slack to the floor
another drunken evening
brown bottle life style
two fingers make two lips speak
until all the words are gone

you curl your feathers
when you sleep in the light
dreams flex your muscles
I want to pull the blankets
to cover your naked toes