New Poems (posted April 17, 2000)

Monster

I stay my body
breathe
calm down after the venting
and being affirmed.
I try to embrace the quiet
enjoy the sunset
love the lilt
of George Winston's piano.

But the thought creepsin
like a bad guest
whose on target joke
kills the party.
And though I have no reason
to be
afraid,

I imagine the dark has nothing but hungry
monsters.

Untitled

December.  Nothing
but wind and children screaming.
Brown trees shake and laugh.
From my car I watch their trunks
struggle to keep them in place.

Orange

In this fruit
are the firm and soft
           of your breasts,
the messy wet and sweet
of kissing as we make love,
the brightness of your face
warmed by tea.

I can smell Christmas
in the peel, so I'm delighted
in the same way you are
sexy in or out
            of clothes,
so I cast nothing aside.

I hold this little world up
and feel
            your head
as it rests in the spot
between my shoulder and chest.
You are always tilted towards me.

That's why -- surrounded
by strangers -- I'm holding
             this orange
under my nose
as I drive home
                        drunk on the sun
                                   and
             weaving under raindrops.

Anger Monkey

The hockey game is between periods
and my daughter is looking for a movie
to inflict upon us all.
I'm still stewing in the car
over the bad service and insolent cashier
at the restaurant.
I'm trying to let it all go
but the kids screaming their joyous curses
and the memory of smirks
by people who glory in goofing off,
their failure my burden,
these bring it all back.
All to my chimp's back.