On the 'Shradh'

i cannot believe that those departed are crows.

my father'd be a majestic falcon

my mother a little sparrow

my sister would be a chirping magpie

he, a mischievous raven

you'd be a rather serious stork

and i'll be the proud peacock

who thinks all the alternatives matter.

Abuse

i could show you the wing tips under my eyes

and bruises of every shape and size

i could show you scars on my arms and feet

and puckered flesh from searing heat

i could show you the stripes on my back

and files that fill a sack

full of headlines that decree

what was done to me

the violence of my house that is plain to see

but i'll show you one

a love bite on my breast

and you'll realize

how heartless he truly is.

Paired

i always place fork with spoon

vinyl record with show tune

salt and pepper in pots

line trophies together of battles well fought

i keep tea and coffee together

and animals attached to their fur

i places shoes and socks good to go

and lamps awash in their warm glow

i do not break flower from stalk

or wear high heels on a walk

i match locks and keys

and fragrance with breeze

and slippers and smoke

and mood with toke

i don't seperate right from wrong

or sorrow from song

there's no pleasure in drinking alone

or separating sex from the phone

i always butter my toast

and declare love the most

it's like your fingers and my hair

and sensing love in the air

if i can help it

i never seperate pairs

just because we can't be together

doesn't mean belonging is all that rare.

Purple

take me on a wild goose chase
i don't care, a tricky maze
i don't care, a la la loop
have me jumping through burning hoops
if i'm a sacrificial lamb that's just fine
i'm willingly lead to the altar you'll find
stop making excuses would you please
i'm saying cease and desist
and just be cool, stay right here
i won't talk love, don't fear.
(even if i'm feeling it)

Rub

bridges and switches

to burn and turn

on in a jiffy

even if it's all kind of iffy

or not really hep or cool or in

surely this isn't what you'd call a sin

so burn those boats let no one near

use your switch and watch skin sear

be indecisive, escapist or what have you

as long as you're here, even opportunistic will do.

Rub

you're off to colder climes

leaving me alone with all this rhyme

and i dwell in the moments of the past

an old tale, not forgotten fast

and now he appears in my life

his absence cuts like a knife

but asks only that we be acquainted

and i agree, willingly antiquated

our conversations are intense

old incidents are making sense

but i am afraid to take it slow

because, sometimes, he seems good to go

but you can go off and do your thing

travel the world, have those flings

because i'm in this space in my head

my heart says go, like it has always said

this acquaintance is bound to grow
see me breaking down this door

i'm stepping into this room of grey

please be there is all i pray

i'm travelling half way as i always do

wait till i get there, please won't you?

Love Song

you spoke your love into her skin
you whispered hey let's begin
let's go that place you and i
where you don't get to say goodbye
your breath warmed her very soul
and your caress made her want some more
and so you yielded you gave in
you craved this sweet sweet sin
the rain is gentle this afternoon
in bed there's a different tune
that lingers and swells and builds up high
and they are helpless and do know why
love does what lovers do
in each other, once more anew
and it keeps getting harder to leave
but time is like an old sieve
my love goodbye she says
clinging unwilling in a daze
but shut the door firmly on this day
or sure as hell, there'll be hell to pay.