Pepper Spray
Halloween
we all carried pepper spray can
in the store (like old west brook
park market convenience store) some
ladies complained, this one girl
without form shot hers into the air
constantly,
She turned to me and
concretely blonde and maybe 17
said, "It's really hot in here don't ya think?"
I realized it was and took my shirt off—
Awoke on a beach
Wake up to beach under the stars
million million stars and feels like the
ocean is black and crashing in over us
like into a sand wall (from earlier lifetime
dreams) and I'm wondering how I slept so
long and know right then that Mike isn't there,
that he fought off the sleep, I curse him
for not wasting the day--in my mind
and eye the scene is inside-and-out-endless,
"He must be back at the room"—I assure
the masses of people still sleeping beside me.
Stirring
The first sip of Guinness and
a toast to the empty
bowels of this tipping universe,
I wipe the drip from
my chin with the back of my
hand like a ritual of earthliness,
of the ugliness of stark American
realities, at my table alone,
set in the back, masked by laughter
and drunken cheer,
it's a triumphantly sad gasp
calling out to those who'd found their way
across this land that's always been,
singing boozing passing by,
living breathing loving
humbly truly simply every moment
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