FIVE

I was mesmerized
by the interlocking pieces
of a jigsaw puzzle
and terrified
of the soft, pink
jaws of my neighbor's dog.
That's what I saw
when I closed my eyes.

4 dates

time flies when you got too many boys
houston date
teacher date
internet date #1
internet date #2
can't pick one
maybe i just shouldn't date

Hot Date

You stole dumplings and put them down yr pants you grabbed them from that expensive place we used to go to then we bought hot white rice with your one dollar and my one dime and took them both to the Starbucks on Bergen where I bought green tea for 2.75 to ease my loiterer’s guilt. Why I feel this loiterer’s guilt I don’t know for sure but I think it has something to do with my mom and a book she read about the Judd family and how they always made the bed even in hotels. Then you worked on your computer and I read a free magazine and then we went to a movie for cheap and it made me think about Country Boy Can Survive. Why I remember all the words to a Hank Williams Jr. song I don’t know for sure but I think it has something to do with my mom and a dark sound from the car radio it’s just one of those things she loves and can’t explain why.

on tuesday

I will call your mother
and tell her that you won't listen
and that you run around
hitting chains
jumping on trampolines
taking pictures with your camera phone
just to get attention

I will ask her for help
because what can I do,
really

this (sage bush) we name

we're
in a rainstorm
squirting
out the answer.
about to
get the money.

new
words came back to me
from the
melons
of the basin:
the free canals,
the virtually still mouth,
the river burst across ancient lava -
would make giant every other

(a collaboration with Guess Stardust)

Plee

When we rely on machines
we rely on other people.
We rely on other people
when we cannot rely on ourselves.
Commodification of religion.
Commodification of death--jeez!
Someone take me camping.