Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

so hot
three miles
to the border and back
before breakfast
even the mosquitos
disinterested
even the dog
pants alongside me
too hot
to run...
back home
even in this "cool" of the morning
my clothes soaked
I try to strip
t-shirt sticks to my back
briefs to my legs
socks to my feet
even naked
so hot
cold washcloth
the only relief
and then
only for a while...
so hot...
hot

heat and humidity
long days of light -
summer or winter?

as we head out
Dog and I
my neighbors are driving to work
a trek I have not made
in nearly 4 years
and that thought
makes me smile...
...for I am again 15
summer 1965
Westmoreland N.H.
farm country
riding my bike to Jonny's house
where Alan joins us
to pound nails in the barn
making a room of our own
then down to Huvvey's
for a cooling swim
among the ledges...
endless days
with nothing to do
but everything

lazy me today
hunkered down in roving notions
from A to shinning Z
they swirl like a whirling dervish
with leaves caught in my head
and pictures of the river I see
in every thought that makes any sense
more days in the woods are best for me
days in the city with bills ad high grass
are bad for my health, and
my life is far from terrible.... my friend
thought he had the flu, now he's
paralyzed from the belly button down
they never isolated the pathogen just have these theories
that's how fast it can turn, wireman knows
one day your cruising the strip
next day life has seemingly changed forever
so let's all jam the best we can
jam like it's a the last waltz
sing sweet joy with our collective voice

Last dance
Last chance for romance
Bending
Forever sending
Vibes
Jibes
Ducking n diving
Straight on through

last chance
what to do -
leap or sashay

sashay
say sasha
sasha say
leap or weep
not a peep
sweet sleep
nocturnal peep
steep
reap
rap
ram
jam
jammmmmmmmmmm
mmmm......

mmmm ohmmm
syllables slip able
through the abyss

slip n slide
sleep abide
sleepers wake
this morning sun and shadow on the window blinds
birch shaking and sun passing over the slats
if it was a movie I'd watch that bit over and over

static. replay
voices. replay
disbelief. replay
back to sounds of sunrise

squeeze the joy
wring out...ring out
something is there
so subtle at times
beauty never beats you
over the head
it begs you to look
see
love is the same
it never screams
it coaxes you to notice
file away
those moments
in successive order
your pdf without a name
your collection of mementos
from the beaches of time
well worn sea shells
filled with delicious jam
it's the jam my peeps
and it's everywhere you turn
be vigilant
grab a sliver of blueberry pie
take a bite
pass it on

syllables, syllabus
climb aboard the silly bus
room for all
free for all
foofooraw
words heard
herds of words
the bird is the word
AAAND...
It's time to play -
Free Association Football!
so let's jam it up
lather those scones
with butter and jam
a jambalaya tea
jammin slammin crammin
dammitall, a rockin rammin
jammin jam
blubbery jam
for you and me!

hey even before coffee
the jam bubbles and froths
pause to enjoy
a slurp, a tickle
then off to espresso

it ain't easy
balancing on the edge of a dream
teetering 'tween what's "real"
it's real crazy, it's real clear
the spring onion undresses itself
in the middle of winter
and I'm waving my arms
not to fall too hard, just
a little, 'cause a good knock
is what we all need when our feet
won't move, and our arms can't flap
enough to fly higher than before
and the jam is on the top shelf
and my hummingbird fantasy
is merely my coyote joke
and the wind is blowing like the devil
and the LA Angels are mediocre
what does it all mean ?.....we need
to go there despite the nonsense
a wannabe poet philosopher
standing on a beach ball...standing on
the edge of a dream, it ain't easy
sometime but well worth the risk

it ain't easy
says you and ziggy stardust
it ain't easy to get to heaven
when you're going down
coyote was the original joker
him and spider, rabbit sometimes
back in dreamtime
hold on to your pants and your bottle
and your woman and your house and
maybe your skin around those guys
they're sure good tippers, though
the slippery edge is the place to be
make sure you have your own ride home