She talks like someone with nothing to lose,And at two-fifteen an hour an ego-bruiseAin’t the worst she’s faced. A double-shot of Patrón and an orange sliceLater and her 15 are up; time to make nice:A second shift awaits next door. A lifetime of put-ons and fake smilesWizened her to men and their wiles,And gave her…
Curtain’s Calling
Dim concert halls, hiking trails, the car left in park.Sweaty palms, leather seats, fiery secrets in the dark.Hot showers, steamy windows—shadows shifting positions,Sweat dripping, breath hitching, surrender in submission. A fistful of hair; a mouthful of deep hungerInching toward throbbing crescendos.Let the symphony linger before leaving the stageTo purge the last note, to spit out…
Dregs
The rain falls unhurried.The chill lingers, persistent.A morning for coffee,Cold pizza, zero plans. Talk with me, big and small.Of cosmic crumbs, devilish details.Until we reach the dregs,And continue still.
Nonplussed
Shimmering waters—A slow, relentless ascent,The snail gives no thought.
Parched Dominion
Thirsting on the brink, stallions stall by the water,Led by instinct and driven by fear.The vipers hum and hiss and steerThese beasts of burden to certain slaughter.
Will She Remember?
When she wants someone to slap her ass and pull her hair,She’ll miss me.When the void aches and she needs it pumped and filled,She’ll miss me. But when the rain drums lonely against the glass,Will she remember?Or when she lies alone with no hand to hold but her own, Will she remember? When choking herself…
Apricot
Toss out the fruit before it spoils.Give the flies no chances.We made sweet indulgences with them,But now they get no second chances. Heave the fruit into your compost heap.With luck, you can amend your soilAnd create something even more beautifulWhen you‘re ready to uncoil. Toss out the fruit before it spoils.What you had was certainly…
Ghosts in the Gloom
First, I thought it was just jitters,The pace too breakneck,Our horses too swift. Then, I believed your burdened soulWas simply too spent,Justifying the downshift. Next came the holidays, heavyWith obligations aplenty,And a tenuous rekindled gift. What followed was foggy. Unclear.A gloomy, shadowed sky and noBridge to span this rift.
Guanyin, Full of Grace
The graceful GuanyinGuides the compassionate waves—Her mercy flowing.