Going Back
How will it go this time?
Can she make the sickness go away-
the gut-wrenching, lonely, pitted, abscessed pain?
The toxic cloud that stifles me is not invisible anymore.
Will she help me get some air,
or will I cough,
ceaseless this time?
How will it be?
Again probed, poked, watched
ever so closely.
Fine specimen, indeed,
me with my colossal sack of rocks.
Legs could give way any minute now.
Are you paying attention, doc?
Do you really care about me,
all of us?
Or the plastic that's waiting
for the end of the hour?
How will it be?
WHEN FISH SWIM ON THE CEILING
White ribbons of light flow, aching blues
Some meek, some with thunderous might
Downward spiral bound on bended knee
Whispering ego, wrong is right
Darkness born of blinding flashes
Black storms of melancholy
Dig the pit, which will not empty
Drink to dry the master's folly
Ambitions peak when clouds leak
Silence mutes the sounds of promise
Senses imprisoned by electric snow
Free the pain of ignorance and bliss
Cessation has landed without a start
You can not stop the ebb of fright
Slumber screams at the thoughts in your sight
No way to omit those fears you're feeling
Bert
THE ENVIRON MENTAL POLICE
you know it's against the law to drive a car
i don't care if you were using methane gas from your own septic tank
you thought that because it was Fetlar in the Shetlands you wouldn't be caught
you know the penalty - mandatory execution
on your bike to the Tower of London enter through traitors' gate
no more painful than going to the dentist
you should be ashamed of yourself citizen number 2084 AD
you know very well the hole in the ozone layer covers everywhere in the world
except for the British Isles
only the strenuous efforts of the police to catch environmental terrorists have kept it that way
what's that you are muttering under your breath
you remember the good old days when you could drive a car
the green Trebants with a mandatory four passengers
mandatory execution for driving alone
well they were far too lenient in those days
something else citizen 2084 AD i notice you did not attend mass on Sunday
reverend constable pugh gave a wonderful sermon on 101 uses for a used tea bag
you know the penalty mandatory execution for you your entire family
including third cousins twice removed legitimate and illegitimate
so that's citizens 2000 AD to 2084 AD all to report to the Tower of London
i did hope by coming here citizen i would find some law-abiding humans left
unfortunately the entire human population of mainland Scotland England Wales and Ireland
had to report for mandatory execution
leaving no one for the RUC environmental robotic police to police
how sad I did hear the President of the USA blasted off for another planet
but the NYPD terminators have sent a nuclear missile after them for using rocket fuel
now it's no use trying to shoot me sir I'm made of titanium
good afternoon.
The Second Angel of Death
A tear - just one
A tear, just one, trickled down,
And down and round and down.
She didn't sob or scream or weep
Nor bite the floor in a heap.
She stood still,
Her and her tear, and slowly collapsed
In unknown fear.
The strands of hair which once were so fine,
Now flowed loose and free and bare,
Lips twitched, and finally let out a cry - a sigh
Her rounded body seemed much more potent,
Torn by love and hope and despair.
Love cuts deep.
Life to life,
Man to woman and to wife.
Razor cuts deeper and wide
Scar to scar,
Side to side
There are sharks in the world
They are after me
I must dive lower to escape, or get out of the water
I don't know how to get out
So I dive
lower
and lower
I miss the ocean.
I am Real
Flesh and bone,
blood and tears,
I was shaped by hands
that hurt and held,
I was made by sounds
of hope and fear.
A small spark
growing into flame,
fanned by the winds
of a building rage
that brought and empty shell
to life.
I am real, I am here
though the mind's eye
may not see the truth,
is she really what she seems?
a reluctant defender
under frangible skin.
family
warm days with clear blue skies - children playing with big bright eyes - birds are singing and flying about- the heat lays upon us and leaves no doubt- summer brings us together for family and friends- time for vacation before it all ends- remembering camping when i was a boy- teaching my children the things i've learned- hoping they'll remember when it's there turn- their kids a playing with beautiful eyes- hope there enjoying the clear blue sky-
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