A Short Poem for a Long Day

Sometimes the sun
rises and stays
so long that
when it leaves
its a shock
reverberant as
a thunderclap.
A surge of yellow
a wash of red
then black and
the stars
and the moon
on your face
and I cannot breathe
in the midst of the
heavy, unbearable
beauty of the bar
closing
and last call
and already I feel,
deep in my ribcage,
the globe rotating
and the axis groaning,
a coin spun into
the well of gravity and
the swinging kinetic
charge of sunrise
burning and al-
ready on the other
horizon.

Conversations About Failure

Only if we don't try,
or perhaps try for the wrong thing
when we try too hard,
ingenuously,
or become too
complacent,
assume too much,
feel entitled
due to age
or hours invested.
When we lose sight of the goal
or we leave the blinders on,
or fall off the wagon.
Doors can close, but so can
windows,
unless you find yourself in a high-rise
with windows that neither open nor close
but then there's usually a fire escape.
We can't change others or
their perceptions
only our own actions
though my mother will tell you
people never change
your DNA
is written on your forehead
in each blond/brown/red/black/albinic
hair.
Work only for yourself
but don't forget those
who've helped along the way,
beat your own path
but clearly state all influences
in your footnotes,
preferably in MLA format
though CMS is acceptable.
Invest in the community
but stay independent.
Don't rely on others for
what you can very well do for yourself.
Love and family are the most important
things
but don't become needy.
Those that love you
always have your best interests at heart
and a sympathetic ear
but don't over burden them
with your troubles
and watch your back.
A fool and his money and all those
half remembered parables.
Stiff upper lip
and pull yourself up by your bootstraps
and if at first it doesn't work
out as expected, try, try, try

or try something else.

Freeing Moths

Attraction
To brightness
A trap
Irresistible.

the actual existence of mice

A thief of the everyday,
I move stealthy
plunder a tune to change my day.
No one is safe

I'll steal whole
minutes from your day.

Hoard patches of sunlight
and bogart this cup of coffee
because I am addicted to warmth,
to satiation

and I'll abduct your hand,
with no regard
for consequence

and no thought for
tomorrow or
your own safety,
in order to fill
my own.

Day Without Words

Sometimes the birds are enough.

We Dead Reckon on Rainy Days