Three quick seconds

Even if your mind is right now
a spoiled head of lettuce

your heart can split wide open
with bright light of love.

My mouth and fingers can resist
to run and grab your ear

but my eyes can no longer hide
how amazing a creature you are.

The one I love so much has let
me play tents while homeless

where all those wailing ghosts
could never touch us.

Quietly, I'll slip into your bed
at night while you're dreaming

and without making a sound
I'll steal your heart's anguish.

I know you see these words
and feel them plant their seeds

if you sing to them a beautiful
song they will dance for you

and tickle your sides for no more
than three quick seconds.

Divided

I would
meet in Owl City
at 3:01, A.M.
all the time.
Hear
yes yes yes.
Dancing down the
isles of $4 pears
and fresh oj
after a saki bomb.

Then comes another
hard lesson in math.
How I hate division-
it's cruel and useless
when I prefer to add
one plus one
and a half.

I must go,
though I can remain
silent-
he can not
or won't.
So a break from both
seems impossible.

And he's the one
who really loves
me.

Winter

Seems like only days after
I got my lifetime pass
the zoo closed on me.
No warning-
left wondering if
the doors will open
for me again.
It's colder than
fifteen below
when you're shut out
from the place you love.
The pipes freeze-
furnace breaks down.
I stand at the gate
holding the bars
as my hands crack.
The yellow bear reminds me
Things are as they are
while he gorges honey.
I see a boy skipping
to meet his love
as I skipped to you
and the bear's voice
becomes too faint;
he chases the elephants now
but he is slow
and his roar is weaker
than even my own.
Who knew the zoo
was such a dangerous place.

A dance to you

I hear you whisper
of all the places
so beautiful
and so dangerous
for you and I to go-
then you smile.

That smile makes me
dance a dance to you
named for you
for I am unafraid
to be the fool
that hurts your stomach.

You know how it will go
in the end
to worry is a waste.
Yet I too am afraid
of the dark.

The strength of a woman.

Her curtain call came.
She was a daughter,
friend, angel,
savior...

You-
brave, strong, heroic,
glowing, kind,
beautiful-
our George and Izzy
rolled into one.

But this is not
Prime-time TV-
and we are without
your smile on-demand.

We should all hope
to fight half as hard
to go on without you
as you did to remain
among us.

For my Grandfather

She was so much
younger than him
beautiful, fair.
He walked proud,
without ego,
he protected her.

She said yes to him
after only a few weeks
because she knew.
He would always adore
her smile, kindness,
and he knew too.

She became his everything
after 5 short months,
in angelic white.
He would say it
was the best day
of his life.

So she kissed him
as his lips turned
cold and breathless.
He fell asleep there
beside his angel
for the last time.

My Grandmother was
so young then,
and slept alone since.
His name now reborn,
may his passion
burn bright again.

Playing Penguins

Today I carried a bed
for another white jacket
but I wanted a dirty fork
and a shady glass of juice
I would test for you.
Maybe then I would be asked
to play penguins too.

It's such a burning feeling,
seeing Lucifer frozen.
Makes me wanna learn
to tie my shoes again.
Eat Teddy Grams,
drink Juicy Juice,
listen to two bowls of soup.

Who cares
about the card game?
Clearly she didn't.
Even the innocent know
when you're not really
happy to play penguins.
When you choose Euker.

Only I saw the boo boo
on her knee
that she said burned.
I have none that show
but some you can kiss-
make better, just
let me play too, please.