I forget its beginning perhaps first found in The Origin of the Species or that strange story I read as a youth of the unknown naturalist–fiddler wading through that field of flowers scientifically concluding in his heart while evolution was still evolving that each creature unto itself is its own species Perhaps the same man who despaired at helping a butterfly to its death unrealized without allowing it fight out of its self–made cocoon to discover its own strength The poets may take for granted your beauty taking you for something perennially special The botanists may catalog your delicate reproducible features The sellers may know what price you command at the market by your heritage You grow beyond these interlopers your very bothersome incommodality is that prize secret hidden in your bud Your uncouth break from tradition turns intellect superstitious renders traits broken and molted The world rotates upon your axis seen afresh through your aspect With a joyful pain the world births itself anew The mysterious law of your specific genes hums a song composed in situ This is what the world is dying to see Your nature is wild, naturally
Category: Poems
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Field Work
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No. Peas will not replace
this strange desire to add capers
to my already quite exotic Indian stew
God, do I have to go over this
with myself again?
And Live
Get that which I happen to want?
There even ain’t no shame in it, for shame!
Jeez, just go to the grocery store where
they have a whole shelf of them — 2 kinds
And don’t wait for tomorrow’s regular
beautiful shopping; the desire is for them now
And shit if this ain’t the first day
of spring and bare feet
and the children out playing
and Terra out happy despite
a benign cancer near her stomach bulging
and red in her eye
and joy to hear the birds chirp along
to Flaming Lips’ Fight Test
as Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
As I still feel bad for not working
and wonder when I will give it up
like it’s inevitable
Marching past the children echoing Yoshimi’s
battle cry, their young souls
shaming my reluctance to fully embrace
my capers for all I know
Past the teenagers hanging out
fresh in courage, laughing smiles
at one another as they embrace
awkward, vulnerable, vibrant youth
I taste one
salty; almost grimmacingly bitter
How many capers? How many capers?
1, 2, 3
Fuck it. Stop counting. Keep going.
My intuition will tell me
And if I don’t just cover it with ’em
Add black pepper and a crush of bay leaf.
Add black pepper and a crush of bay leaf?
Add black pepper and a crush of bay leaf.
OK.
You will need a smidge more rice.
Really. OK.
I load up my plate up
hear my roommate in his bedroom
loitering, lounging, laughing with his fiancée
as I go out to witness the dusk of a beautiful day
and the slightest dusting of spring
tears have anointed my table
I wipe the seat and as I eat
any evidence of wet is vapors
And, no, those capers are not bitter tasting
they fit perfect, well: smashing
and, hmm, maybe not enough rice
ah, no, just just enough
I needn’t have thoughtCapers
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In her presence, her presence I have breathed A blinding beauty, a blinding beauty I have seen I gazed no thought The muted radiance burning the film attempting to capture Knowing, as my eyes held her, my mind would not catch her burned into my memory Just the pleasant burn and delicious soothing of grace in nonchalance A beauty that did not strike unwittingly burned and crumpled by invisible flame I accept and graciously with calm, pleasant passion with blissful, resigned frustration such effortless perambulation
Traces
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Thank you for the time we share and the wisdom you provide Knowing you adds something to me I couldn’t be on my own Admits opportunities I wouldn’t take alone Before I go, I take part in the superfluity I need I’m better now I is we
Tre
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What to do with a bejeweled soul? Just glimmer, glimmer, glimmer Barred from the bank, cold no thought in it no exchange value no takers Just take the rays of the sun and inflame the world in gleams And naked with the moon reflect amid its beams
Blue Jewels
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I forego tasteless economics Common chocolate I destroy cheating myself unfulfilled Savoring exquisite trifles fills my entire being with contentment as they go on triumphantly half–eaten For so long, I’ve half–heartedly snacked about when I was hankering for just a bit of the richest delicacy I want no banquet but break the bank for me Permit my plate to remain sacrosanct embracing those dear morsels that suit me
Epicure
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I laugh at myself pouring a cup of water to explain to you the river It is the flow of it Try being still feel its torrents rock your body We worry its purpose pondering an engulfing ocean just so it can delight again in the whispers of the mountains to provide pretty life–sustaining babble Go to the river and hear yourself
Fluid Talk
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Embrace me I brave my petty disgraces See me dissolve my little mazes
Flirt
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Let us love — rather than correctly — let us love well Rather than encourage loving less encourage learning how They say experience and self–control both are rather new well, ever since they burned the witch with her broom and cooked the medicine–woman in her stew Let us refrain from punishing groping in the dark and be glad we are embracing our desire for the art Let us be enraged at doing poorly and lack of practicing Let us show them how it’s done with discretionary loving
Commencement
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What privilege to be constant fool entranced by you Laughing at my gravest wisdom Brush aside diadems I must needs affix Every time expose my mereness only reward in nearness your eyesBlink
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