Me Again

Today
witness the glory of life
like people
who need to see
the face of death
to know the grass is green.
11-11-90

Always thought
when you grew up
your hands got big
you'd look down
see their size
realize your position in life
then I grew up
and everybody
has hands the same
the way some use them
is a shame
and no one knows
anything.
11-7-88

Starting to rhyme
I should be shot
folks who rhyme
say not a lot
though run out
of things to say
still win contests
anyway.
7-5-89

Back on campus
walking around
look at all the faces
looking at the ground
future never gets here
always but today
we forget to dance and sing
sometimes along the way.
7-1-94

Someone said
Emily was found
under the bed
in a box
her knickers on
and no dates
with which
to know her.
7-26-94

For you
I write of nothing
someone writing
just for you

just to tell you
just to show
you're someone
I should like to know

I want to say
I've been here
and taken a few breaths
laughed a little
cried a little
lived through a few deaths

so now I'll leave my name here
to fill up some more space
then say goodbye and know that I
am hidden in your face

I've said all I have needed
with nothing else to do
but let you know just as I go
I wrote this just for you.
11-15-87

Don't ask me why (at 17) I wrote my epitaph:

Don't remember what I read
don't remember what was said
these things are molding in my head
my life is o'er
the worms are fed.
9-25-89

I don't care
how old I am
how long it has been
don't leave the time behind
I'm in that strip joint
watching my mother
dance in those platforms
gluing on lashes
the rhinestone on her cheek
in well-lit dressing rooms
staying small
wide open minded
telling you my story
as you disbelieve
under echoing rhythms of disco.
2-16-95

In my truck
through glass ghetto doors
strung up with lights
strung out inside
they wear their hope
on long porches.
12-4-93

In awe
until today
thoughts came together
wu wei
simplicity
tzu jan
men fall short
from now on.
10-13-94