haiku
cold hands shake with chills
goose bumps errupt on her spine
bath water far too cold
flickering yellow flame
illumination in dark
i can't see my toes
soft touch of long fur
mewing, hunting eyes of black
cricket run to safety
keep running, honey,
the fat killer is chasing you
AH! you lost your shoe
tall glass wet with ice
lips drink juice that is sweet and cool
back of tongue bitter taste
~ ~ ~
extended metaphor
Shame and guilt
are frameworks of off-white hallways,
painted fresh every six months, peeling paint and abused drywall.
The narrow stretch fills with florescent light.
The light is sterile and illuminating.
There is no place to hide and everything stands out against the pale white walls.
Sounds echo like whispered regrets,
bouncing off each wall and never returning.
Eyes of those passing through glance blankly at the wall
and no other connection is made.
The walls are solitary and blank.
~ ~ ~
"dancing skinny girl"
Dancing elephants encircle her waist.
She's dancing round his,
stepping away and back and pulling him again.
Her breath in tune with his expressions
to the boy besdie him.
There's no sound she hears except her voice singing.
He's ignoring her singing;
she always makes noise.
She's shimmied her way into football games and
parties without him.
Blue, yellow, gray.
Embracing elephants grasping tails while twirling round her waist.
He stands aside and they drift distant
she spins away into the side room
and the door seals behind her.
~ ~ ~
Hector"
The wind gusts
and sands moves over her toes.
The cream cloth drapes over her shoulder
and drags on the ground below;
picking up grains of sand in its translucent thread.
Her arms cradle olive branches as
she walks to the altar.
Dropping her offerings into the golden bowl,
a small tear rolls down her pronounced countenance
She hauls up a broken sword
his blood still stains the blade.
