It is that time
for lines
of words
to audition

in imaginary
stanzas
and couplets

these lines
and the unhappy
neurons
that hazarded them

crushed
like an off color
rebellion
if off color is still

crumbs I am
going for
granules
of forward

at the herculaneum factory
it is lunchtime
fish sandwiches
crispy to the tooth

inspectors examine
don't they
in earnest with focus
these things are serious

lights are pushing close
seeking tiny bones
nearly clear pulled free
glistening in the light

we sink our teeth in
wondering why these counters
are so white and so smooth
until our fingers answer

that it is for them
and so few care for color
oh but this contour
is all ours

we let them smile
under their nails
leaving the announcement
frustrated but ok

I have a clear place
I drove past it recently
at high speed
and I saw
myself there
driving by
I was going
really really fast
and writing
lines of poetry
at the same time

was it something
i lived
too quietly
or too loudly
that led
to this
particular streak

time marred
I am rough
to the day
sawn into
shards as if
it was mine
to do with

i've scattered
boards about
planck's
for walking again
randomly though
as thought knew
I would listen
and overthink

skull contents
lumpy
wrinkly
wet
guessing machine
imagining machine
constructing
and de-
constructing
nevermind

this wet reading
thinking itself
aloof, a critic even

ideas sloshing
around in
my made up
place
all drunk
on being

thought further
stars i move
so you can spill
out just the way
you shout

this *****
inspiration
this look it up
fenestration
with a flashlight
and a crowbar

after openings
invariably
come closings

this stops me
except for
more openings

aren't we
distracted
by now

and the needle
has been
slipped in

and that's ok
in numbness say
I found a way

we are in the cell
amorphous perhaps
a darkened patch
near others
touching some

do we swim
no, we aggregate
and flagellate
everything
close by

near enough
is all
touching
as long as I am
touching you

is all
that matters
and then
i am not
and am lost