on watching children
learn about barn owls
(particularly, dissecting owl pellets, school is great)

owls
eat their
prey

in pieces
but
wholly

how
one does that
and gets a small skull

out
the other end

with a face
as serious
as theirs

i don't know

must be all the feathers
i lack

open

and
closed


fence

and
gate


mote

and
bridge


let

let me

in

let

let me

out

a dependable pendulum

self interest
is sometimes
when anger tainted
to be contrary

and thus self fulling
in your own betrayal

This
is all

this here
is all there

this here now
is all there is

this here and now
is all there is today

this here and for now
is all there is for today

this here and now is for you
and is all there is for today

these lines
have grown

these lines have
grown too long

these lines have grown
very uselessly too long

the
smacking

the tongue
smacking shallow

the tongue slow
smacking the lips

good
night

good night
long night

this here
is all

this
is

blow

10
nine
8
seven

running
out of
excuses
and double checks

6
five
4
three

the tarmac
is rubbery more
than the three am temperature predicts
watching the signals

2

wathing the signals

1

commited
in for the ride
here we go

to death
do us
blow apart

say

i can say it
all right
and still find no ears

I can find ears
and still find no brain

i can say it
and find ears
and brain
but have the world
overtake the importance

by the world
I mean out of control
events and spells
that reduce our higher needs
to empty stomachs

to protection
of young
and last dollars

space
house
street
or chair

don't touch
no don't touch

for one I'll feel comforted
when your intentions are wholly unclear
yes still

and two
I sill want
to be
stronger
than you'll humor me

words fall
in tongues
familiar
yet meaningless

I look
for a sunset
to mark a new
beginning

this needs
reset

but where
is the random seed
for if my thoughts alone
lend the foundation
to the next beginning
we'll full circle again

I am nearing
the day
when a mirror
is a curse

and running
is a noble pursuit

no
I am there

it is time
time
for us all
to make
the making we want

the time
the time
is
now

and comes
and goes
like a nap
well intentioned
but distracting

good

I am sorry
but this is no good

I was sincere
when we started
but now this
this is clearly not my problem

and bigger than
what kept me in bed all last saturday

I think
sadly
that you are on
your own
free to tailspin

free

I have neither
the lift
nor weight
in my presence
to pull you out
nor stabilize the flight

what fancy colors
in which you live
I love it really
but not enough

positive

boots
for floorboards
turned to mud

I am getting out
even if the swim
is through quick sand

when I leave
at the end
of the day
I am taking my life back

for my family and
my daughters
and the bits of myself
that I still have