Ost-Berlin ~ Sunday, December 31, 2023

But there is a way, that is not to say
under the circumstances, she dances
to the sound of bells, tall and lithe, she sells

torn flags to defray the cost of hairspray
honest work for pay, never too clever
each man advances, what are the chances
real love, wishing wells, no one ever tells
ever expresses consent, no one meant

inkblots pressed ever impress to sever
symptoms from the mind, though she appears blind

ask around, how large her eyes grow, the spies

work, never to find whence they came, their kind
ask no questions, lies beneath each disguise
yet, she sees a fender dent, a coin bent

Release ~ Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Who reads poetry? The point, I can see
hovers between catharsis and stasis
on the street, I hear people walk in fear

reason makes folks flee, when style sets us free
everyone forgets the war in a bar
as we leave, we kiss goodbye, we may miss
drunken banter, clear the house of stale beer
sickness from bottom shelf drinks, lets me think

pray, we try too hard, and mimic the Bard
or, nobody cares, it won't pay the fares
everyone throws down some pitch in a stitch
to save she who dares, who survives the stares
recently, a glitch allowed me to ditch
yellow newsprint for black ink, verses stink

Never Boils ~ Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Is there politics
seeping out of everything

throbbing like a pulse
hovering as hawks
enlisting children to war
reasoning as men
each death in valor

praised to the hilt, swords held high
ordains each nation
lifts it from the stench
in order to glorify
trembling, shaking hands
if witnessed, old men
creak in their weak joints and bones
simmers, the watched pot

Idiots ~ Monday, December 25, 2023

ESTRAGON. — Les gens sont des cons.

Born into the family, an alcoholic dad, an enabler mom

left with the torturers, my brother, my cousin, and their schadenfreude

on good days, all alone, I prayed to understand their laughter and my tears

on bad days, drunken rage, a cheetah in a cage, eat your food, nom nom nom

different than all the rest, smart, bright, loving and sweet, crush the gift, crush it now

yet, I survived childhood, unlike others who died, I wish I were but no

if I entertain you, to the Devil, read on, I became an adult

gave up on all my dreams, went to school, went to work, sought out the exploiter

no one can understand why another suffers, to exploit other's fears

organized religion, people believe in myths, sacrifice as a cult

rapture, the afterlife, I believe in each kiss, tipping the sacred cow

art within poetry, decades to fabricate, but what do people know

nothing but their own lies, afraid of life and death, people are idiots

that after fifty years, thirty years of meetings, therapy and what not

asinine, donkey ears, I hear the arguments, I fly by all those nets

perhaps I lack success, I failed to kick a goal, I'm no Odysseus

ever not to return, unlike the Greek hero, I am but sold and bought

since my birth in Bombay, this life has been absurd, karma places her bets

Sold ~ Saturday, December 23, 2023

How to navigate the stupidity;
of course, people are people, but actions
work against their best intentions at times;

thus, the need to let go of memories,
of moments with newly-formed impressions;

naturally, retail is a business,
as any other beast of capital;
vengeance is not worth the effort, even
if only in the imagination;
gather all the love in the world, be kind,
act as others expect of you, move on;
the mistakes others make may seem by choice,
even though, events are arbitrary;

the world appears random, and difficult,
honestly, to live in as an adult;
even as children, nothing was easy;

still, to act as judge and jury against
the stupidity of others is wrong;
until people realize that systems
present a sense of logic and reason,
in this world, people may apologize
decidedly after the deed is done;
if no real damage occurs, then let go;
the nature of the beast is to sell goods;
yet, loving-kindness is the only good.

The Other Shore ~ Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Be as the ocean
everything as such changes

as an old mountain
suffer the motion

transitory, of the tides
how mountain ranges
erupt a fountain

of lava, as if upset
confession confides
each sentence spoken
and heard, the spell is broken
no love is lost, bet

Shikantaza ~ Wednesday, December 20, 2023

I am not homeless;

as I do not need money,
make haste, make haste, go!

now, I cannot guess,
or, assume you like to read;
tragic! how funny,

humans need to know
other people's business, but
mind if you take heed,
each for a moment;
look down, please, and tie your shoe;
each of us is spent,
so busy, the flu
shares its virus in your gut.

Shot Down ~ Sunday, December 17, 2023

In a hot minute
no one cares about your dreams

as you drown in work

held accountable
only way out is escape
through dope, drink, or drugs

maybe you awoke
in a hot minute, you see
nothing but the lies
underneath the veil
the bride needs your arm candy
end the whole charade

Resigned ~ Sunday, December 17, 2023

It was not your choice
though, it was not their choice, too

whether to be born
as without a voice
scream all you like, no one cares

not your mom, the shrew
overwrought with scorn
took no notice, laughed at tears

your cries got blank stares
over the decades
understanding the sorrow
remember your shades

corny to borrow
hashtag cool without the cheers
ordinary folk
invent the Big Book
choose recovery or yolk
egg face, a new look

Bear Claw ~ Monday, December 11, 2023

My life turned over
      though I did not know it, then
            as a little boy

yes, a three-year old
      with my first memory, thrust
            into the trauma

life with my family
      offered a creative, shy
            introverted child

in this world, react
      defensively, or respond
            to events, a toy

found by a stranger
      leads to the need to let go
            or remain attached

even though, the mind
      of a child lacks perspective
            and context, drama

transforms consciousness
      before the first memory
            a felt sense, still wild

until repression
      acts through civilization
            to destroy gestalt

realize the mind
      in all clarity, later
            transcendent, detached

now, as an old man
      it is too late to begin
            much too old to try

eclipsed by the shame
      of alcoholism, funny
            how arbitrary

decisions decide
      when and to whom one is born
            I no longer cry

over memories
      childhood misspent in error
            nothing so scary

versions of the truth
      all hidden within each lie
            it is no one's fault

even I know this
      no one chooses their birthright
            but from this we learn

remember to burn
      the candle at both ends, friends
            lest you live to yearn

Party Girl at MK-Ultra Fest, Chicago ~ Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Look Kool with Slow Owls
onstage playing EDM
offstage, you get high
kissing resin bowls

Kindred the Family Soul sings
onstage, next FM
offstage, the Wi-Fi
listens for a signal, beats

waking up to things
invisible, dark
the floor, and you in bare feet
how completely stark

Strength admits defeat
leave the coca for the streets
onstage, Raving Mad
with Privileged Entitlement

Offstage, dance until sunrise
with Grave Discontent
let expressive eyes
shine on LSD, how sad

Basecamp ~ Saturday, December 2, 2023

Saturday, asleep,
under the covers in bed,
criminal, I know;
how through dreams, I creep

around, and float like a ghost;

left, frozen, for dead,
on a mountain; show
no one my corpse; just walk past;
elevate the host,
light from light, deep blue;
yesterday, I left behind

darkness; the ague,
as fevered and blind,
yes, sick with dreams; climb down fast.