The Soothing Delusions of Solitary Confinement

I met a man who suffered fear
because he mistook his work for his worth
I shared with him some wisdom I'd found
admitting that I, too, was prone to similar delusions

but he laughed at me
and shaking his head
claimed a physical intolerance of guided self-improvement

I could tell he was trying to conceal his contempt
out of consideration for my feelings
because clearly
I was the sort to succumb to self-help

and honestly, my feelings were hurt
momentarily
but I put my ego back in its place and moved on

I didn't explain, or belabor the point, that his handicap was mental,
unwillingness
and a steel trap protecting his pride
fearing change, shirking responsibility
content to be occasionally content
and postponing freedom
until his prison cell caved in on him entirely
and desperation awakened his demand for freedom

I'm familiar with the tendency
after all
having made a friend of misery for years myself

You are not a mirror.

I measured my beauty
in a neutral gray room
your heart was an island
my fingers slipped through

You're over there
I'm standing here
You keep your balance
I'll keep after truth

Peel-Off Frown

my insides an earthquake
my skin melts the moon
the whole world streaks through me
like smoke fills my room

windows scream whispers
door hinges groan
I'm waiting in starkness
all heavy of soul

blood tunnels gushing
limbs treading sound
puddles like pancakes
as sticky as frowns

Like So Many Broken Yolks

The splatter pattern
cracked a grin
Toddled sideways back at him
Pinched a nerve
Proclaimed him cured
and Spat it tattered out at him

Friendly Analogies and a Shameful Ought.

I know a guy who sees the world
through rose-colored glasses.
In quite a literal fashion.

I think the world sees me
through x-ray goggles, or an MRI scan.
Defying my right to wear skin.

I'd rather they think me impervious.
I'd rather I thought me impervious.
If only I'd been impervious
when I first seduced destruction.

I've never been shy of flying
but now the noise of machines
makes my stomach heave
and long for the ground 'neath my feet.

My meaning needs liberation
or even a weekend vacation
I'm so sick of this form, of its wanting
when what I ought to be is grateful.
Shameful.

goddamn these winters linger.

The special secret sickness

I fear my heart's come down with sadness, she said
and walked away
Nothing to do but wait, he said, as his fingers soothed the ivory

he sought the appropriate tone to mirror the weight of her affliction
imagined she'd be drifting in the notes of haunting melodies

they were strangers then and separate
and the lonely weighed so heavy
there wasn't anything to do but wait for waves to take their love away

The Jarring Words Cure

caged by glory shouting names
creak and hobble toward the rain
crackpot
bangup
starcrossed
hiccups
all parading down the drain

cram the poignant pepper puffs
headlines tell of loudmouth stuff
crazy kooks
immortal dogs
pray that preaching's not enough

snarky sounds will soothe your cool
give the quickness ample room
bleed out
scream out
let it out
speak the sticky passion pools!