Autumn's Body

Can She hold me responsible?

Would Autumn have me
Fell the trees before Fall breeze
And dress warmly down past the knees?

And She wonders why I huddle with damp photos to the chest
And forget my timepiece

Can She blame me?
Would Autumn be confused, if I didn't wake each morning at all?
Just sat in my trundle, thinking in tangled bundles
Of sandy shorts and tangerine swimsuits?

Autumn promises return
Of what June thieves
But oh, what wiley returns
What cruel reincarnations
Some new insufficient pink faced vision

Once when I was 22, I'm convinced I almost drowned

Once when I was 22, I'm convinced I almost drowned
Or something quite like it
At least I don't remember coming up for air

I remember trying to pull myself in from the tide by her hair
(Which the weathermen remarked
Had been changing)

I do remember suffering at the hands of many suggestions
(And preferred methods of resuscitation)
Anglo-Saxon home remedies while still under sea

I think they even managed a song or two over my still throbbing head
And pipers who applied the holy scriptures
Little naked people with harps they made from cardboard and twine

And now above, shall I wonder why this world tastes of darkest green salt?
The carnival rides all look suspicious
And everyone's face sodium shriveled when I greet them

We left ourselves as gods somewhere back in childhood

We left ourselves as gods somewhere back in childhood

Motherwhitepicketfences
Flawless friends and even more flawless arts
Shedding brownjacket defenses against the weather
The moon never dimmer than the sun
The tides never bigger than our bodies

Listen, a seraphim sweeps up from hell
Carrying fall leaves in wing

A man boasting the business pages at the street corner
Covers his right wrist and twists
A memory from his stomach
It never looked so glossy as it did today
Out of the business pages at the street corner
Tidy, wingless flies on the tongue