NEEDLING

(bad poem # 1)

Growing up…
`
next to prairie dogs
living underground.

I, Us, We?
making our nest
over
ground
staring –
they : the prairie dogs
starred at us
and we starred at them

neither with or back to
or from which or I don’t know
as an agreement
of common interest
not
common commodity needs

(maybe but probably
neither or either or whatever or
you know it isn’t I knew
what was looked – seen, watched
observed, discombobulated,marked with a question mark –
at… )

I… grew up…

– mutual misunderstanding –

with prairie dogs.

(What about you?

What’s your excuse?)



(bad poem # 2)

What I need
– one thing only –
oh lord! Where do I start?
What – say only one thing –
do I gotta say
to begin my confession?

I – there’s no two way around it –
... you make me drool
at night

frosting
(slurping along floors
slithering lizard-like fearing
my tale
might get pulled off)
at your potential nakedness.

What I need
do I gotta make it so black on white?

for my teeth

(what am I saying?)

dig deep

(is that a sin?)

well it’s just a thought

for your undressing
to the rhythm of big boats
blowing their fog horns

– ooohhh –

morning dew fogs you down
and I feel dis-
-quietly alone
in my bed this morning listening

– fog horns blowing –

I am them the fog horns
blowing as loud as I can

for your breasts in my mouth…

(Portland, Maine 2003)