You must begin early
while it is cool and your head clear
discernment, a sharpened tine
probing the rocky darkness
for all things latent and destructive.

Be aware that the velvet sage
of the leaves belies their power
to take over every space, remember
roots burrow deep, anchoring in
fissures we don’t even know exist.

You must delve as close
to the origin as possible
or the **** you think eradicated
will bide its time, germinating
in the still secret ground

waiting for light
to penetrate the moist earth
waking the sprout
who voraciously pushes up and out
a curled blemish

in your otherwise carefully tended garden.

Where's your lady?
asked the chimpanzee
the bear looked askance

the tiger growled
zebras rolled
macaws looked in trance.

Where's she
your lady pretty
queried the lone rhino

it's not good
this solitude
roared the lion with raised eyebrow.

Did you lose your way
this November day
when the sky's blazing blue

this fair weather
you aren't together
how come asked the shrew.

Your face it shows
shouted hippos
this fine day of November

boars did grunt
scowled elephant
you're lost without her.

They were so true
alone at the zoo
emptiness surrounded me

daylight though gold
sky blue bold
I roamed unhappily.

On the floor.
Don't look down.
You're changing flames to flowers
While we drown.

Your greatest crime?
Look inside:
You've gunned down every widow;
Warfare, war bride.

Love on a spoon,
Storm in my teacup
And smiles all round -
Unjust, unsound...

It's in your eyes,
And no amount of lies
Will hide you,
You beautiful casualty.

Made her sing,
Take your name.
Not so pretty on your come down, no?
Her loss, your game.
At the door,
Don't look back.
Changing pain to power, now.
Watch the crack.

Love in a glass,
Storm in my tea cup,
And cheers all round -
Unjust, unsound...

It's in your eyes,
And no amount of lies
Will hide you,
You beautiful casualty.

It is possible to live
at a remove so mesmerizing
so glacial blue
the narrow crevasse
opening beneath
your careless toes
swallows you
grinding past - present - future
until there is no you
only time
       a tumbled moraine
                               a shrinking river.