Author: shawn

uninspired each and every hug

uninspired

each and every hug breaks that thin membrane further
bedeviled by the screeching aeros
once the cavalcade of despair and memory ends
is it just a redefinition we’re looking for?
how many slow breaks of day await?
how many episodes of gleaming sorrow?

why, the old sage grins, eat your cereal
keep your strength up for the slow day ahead
put some meat on those bones

pushing, the spoon stretches these lips wide
too wide–the cereal’s not going down
milk drools down this chin,
pools inside the hollow of the neck
this is said: my spoon is too big

a general gang of laughter is heard
echoing in the belly of the stairwell
it should have been said: the belly of the stairwhale
what other brave words should have been said?
what bitter prophecies must pass these lips?
these words are too wide to pass the lips

before i get started, the

before i get started, the audience
twitching and snorting, nudged
smelling of day old stains–
i wish they’d settle down
collapse their unfolding limbs
enrage their desires into a simple quiescence–
your nihilistic lingerings prevent me
though i wish it were not so
keep me from speaking to the assembled
now i notice the frayed unravelling
the damped and sputtering thoughts
while Horatio shines his lamplit upon me
graying sweat slides away
i’m beached on the lectern
gasping, the mummers getting louder
picture my parchment skin, backlit
the ghoul-light of the projected
daguerrotype saps the color from the hall
holding my hand, just so, fingers sprayed
thin hair on chin, waggling so
feel that lower lip quiver and dance
deep moan rising from deep in the belly
damnable electrics project the flaw
hear it echo, bouncing on the walls