The lake

As the ripples emanate from my fingertips,
the fragrant stars waver,
as my thoughts.
Mists over the calm water darkness rise.
I lean farther to sift them through my fingers.
My limbs ache for the cool liquid to surround
but I still obey, ease toes in- legs dangling.
Safe from the infinite current.
Sailing away on this firmly anchored dock.
It is only the water moving by naked calves-
I know.
Yet I'm traveling- some direction infinitely now.
Down? Sinking as my shell floats unaware?
Drowning must resemble this thumping urge
of helplessness.
My surroundings no different than the pounding
warm, red liquid in my temples.
My surroundings are clotting suddenly
and I give in...
July 8, 1997

Summer Plans

I'm naked in my bed
again
incense filling the room
odor
sweet night perfume floats
away
tomorrow to finish packing the blue
milkcrates
bring the ripped tu-tu and leave sweet
dreams
tomorrow is the end of before
life
from the stage to the auditorium
balcony
shower with the friends I'm leaving
behind
locker room to cabin
bunk
one week and they will all be
here
June 8, 1997

All in the April Evening

Your face over the flames
I recall your smile- brown skin
round face
Procrastination for fear
as disappointment mounts and you
leave.
but i wait
for you? for myself?
for us.
you, the stranger in the picture
brush away my tears
along with your fears
pull me near, my head on your shoulder
stars above, waves below
our hearts between.
you came seeking a stranger and
found me.
lips and bodies warm in the chilled
night breeze
longing to linger forever pondering
the kaleidoscope depths of
your eyes.
April 30, 1997

Leave me alone.

No one, nowhere-
that's how I've been left
no belief, without fail
and two to four to six falls away
escape the same as life or death
I don't care, you don't matter
I won't, and you come home
soon I stop, but you go on
far and away and distant, but closer
I feel nothing, although I'm being crushed
ringing disturbs the flow rushing by
silence, hopeful- needing freedom sense
the thickness around growing more dense...
perpetual strengthened, clock ticking lengthened
I want to jump, but the ground falls away
The clouds are swirling through ramped stomping
stars falling burn the night sky with acid tainted worth!
I stop.
I watch, and burn as the sky, black bright stain
Never gone, never empty gesture
I don't believe...
Away, go away.
Jan. 23, 1997

Dreams

the cold steel slides down my back
i cringe slowly away to wait for attack
he grips my arm to pull me near
i feel the sweat from my temples run down
to pull away is my death-thought fear
my chest pounds out of my ribs
Jan. 1997