Thank You

It took four hours in the sand
before we came across the owl
        wrapped in banana leaves, breathing
        with vigor- his eyes were wider than before

We called to him again
this time he shot up
screeching

The horses stopped and we got off
collapsing around the bird

He was tied at the waist
to a lopsided rock

Whoever came through here
left a note

---

COME AGAIN?

WE CRACKED THE TEACUP IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE
RIPPED UP THE PEACOAT IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE
KEEP WARM BY LIGHTING HIM ON FIRE, HE KEEPS WARM
BY RUNNING AWAY, WE LIFTED THE LID UP IN CASE YOU DIDN’T
KNOW, WE RAN THE BILL UP IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE
CHASED THE RIVER TILL IT RAN OUT OF A TUBE, WE SMASHED
THE FLOW DOWN IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW AND BRACED OUR
LEGS UP IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE LIVED IN NEW YORK
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE BROUGHT OUR KIDS UP IN CASE
YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE PUMPED THEIR BRAINS UP IN CASE YOU
DIDN’T KNOW, WE POPULATIONED IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT
SHOULD BE A WORD IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WHAT COLLAR
THIS JOB WAS IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HOUR THE ARM
FELL IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW HOW FLOODED THE MINE GOT
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE PULLED ALL OUR FRIENDS OUT
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE ARE ALL BREAD KNOW, IN CASE
YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WE’D RATHER BE BREAD THOUGH IN CASE
YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT POSTURE TO TAKE ON IN CASE YOU
DIDN’T KNOW

---

The Man Who Can’t Forget

Bebop– I’d like to take an ice pick and crack open every melon I came upon and call down all the dayflies so they can get their equality now in ripe chunks, then I’d can them and twist that jar down so only housewives on their second husband could let them out, because that’s the only cruelty.

Stylophone– At some point you are willing to lie without shame and look around the room with punch hungry glances, what we need now is a true cynic to punish for letting the gas roll down the stairwell, at some point you will reflect on a symbol until your scour grows, your mantra of substitution will contain your tent post brain

Resveratrol– in my sunken brow with animal hand, wash my cheek again, wash my membrane lines apart

Stroszek– because I wear tap shoes when they want to torch me, because I’m a good dancer and that’s all that matters as long as I have my witness, because the last few hours of my life will pass very quickly

38 : 36 - there is murder again. not a thought goes away

---

Q-Tips
I don’t worry about sleeping on the rug
all the rubbing alcohol in my ears made
me hunt for little burns in my scalp
until I found the right one, I think

My relations are scattered
because I’ve been curling my back
nights. It gets very warm. I stay
with my back to the radiator

Someone’s chasing me around
but I can’t find them, and no words
that I’ve written will be read more
than this lined paper stapled to my hand

It read, swiftly.

---

Maple Syrup

This machine feeds fascists
It’s all to do with entropy
If everyone just fell over and let the ants
have them, we’d have the structure to ourselves.

And, of course, I’d live in Belgium
And carry sparkling water
In my pink tie and wood shoes
Running over rats between
my rousing painting sessions
What better time to be a painter?