was never is, and is never was
accustomed to doing what the other does
is always went left, and was went right
at times in the hallway they'd say goodnight

well, they got to talking one day
it seems that was always comes when is goes away
so the only difference between the two
is that one already did what the other will do

since was, was once is and is will be was
they both do something that the other does
now when is sees was and was sees is
they kiss, because is, is hers and was is his

is and was knows will, but will hasn't met them yet

I’d rather sleep when it’s sunny
And wake when it rains
I’d rather trade all my new clothes
For the ones already stained
I’d rather watch people from a distance
Than get in their way
And I’d rather be the one leaving
So all others could stay

Take air from my lungs
And give flight to the birds
Take sight from my eyes
And leave me with words
Take dreams from my heart
Contentment to bleed
But leave all of your nightmares
They are safer with me

The phone rings.
I answer.
"How are things?"
"I've cancer."

"God, mom, I—"
"It's OK."
"Will you die?"
"Soon, they say."

I'm silent.
My words fail.
Cigarette:
in- / exhale.

"So take care."
(My voice shakes.)
"Hang in there."
(My heart breaks.)

I'm silent.
My words fail.
Cigarette:
in- / exhale.

Just done with the calm of ice,
Lake waters, frigid,
Wind-lashed,
Writhe in fury,
White manes frothing.

Crouching on the shoreline,
I catch angled crashes,
Waves smashing rock,
******* shore lines,
Immortalize water's pulling shift
Wood and shells and moss,
Rearing high and slammed
Against the boundaries.

Ageless elements waging war:
Wind, water, and land,
Disrupting, tangling peace,
Superciliously ignoring
My transient observation
Of the winds of spring.