Planning the big day
at a gallery in the sky.
Celebrating a bond so dear,
even the bride
will run out of tears.
Joinery
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Adieu
Heading down the road
but not too far away
come wish me well
on my second to last day
It has been a pleasure
to say the least
It’s been real
taming the SAIC beast
Let’s toast to the past
and begin anew
Thursday, after five
$3 beers all night
Hope to see you
at the Silversmith
on Wabash Avenue
to raise a glass with gratitude
Dearest colleagues near and far:
I’ll be at the bar.
Ferguson
Protest in 7 cities
Chicago NYC Philadelphia
DC Seattle Oakland
Riots in two, reported
hashtag our streets
hashtag no peace
Helicopters still hovering here
No fly zone there
Armed with stolen swisher sweets
Six upward shots moving towards the face
Fewer in the knees may have sufficed
How do they train them?
Shoot to kill
“Is justice for everyone except us?”
Be Heard
Be the Change
[Insert new slogan here]
Words words words
Aggregate, aggravate
Fan the flame
Media blitz
Click bait
Attention eyeballs: look, listen
Buy buy buy
Black Friday
Lie lie lie
Thaw
I sit out on my balcony
in the sun.
Finally.
Fuck, that was a long winter.
I forget.
We forget.
We are surrounded by water.
Lake to the east.
River to the west.
Jail Bird
Up on the roof,
orange and white suits.
A breath of fresh air
few minutes a day.
Then the whistle blows
and they return to decay.
Sickness
I’ve got the sickness
I’ve got the sickness
I’ve got the sickness
I’ve got the sickness
and it’s taken over me.
<repeat>
Twenty Lines High
Sound of snow
twenty floors high
the chill, so brisk
sweeps.
Be still
listen
silent city below.
Rumbling train,
slower today.
Cloaked shadows
eyes squinted
heads tilted
braced for impact.
25°F
Feels ten less
shuffling uptown
and down
across the street
despite the storm
and alongside.
Night Shift
In the daylight
all is fresh and clear
life’s a breeze.
Once darkness falls
I struggle
to keep
an inner beast away
sipping slowly
racing thoughts at bay.
Night is here, my dear,
to awaken
just like the brightness of the day.
Afternoon Encouter
Gorgeous orange
against the damp, pre-autumn trees
fluffy long tail
sleek disposition
I’ll say you winked at me
when I opened the screen door
and you scampered away.
You’re as quick as they say.
Until next time, Mr. Fox.
Built for This
Crisp morning sun
rising over the meadow’s haze
highlighting silken strings strewn lightly
zigzagging across the wooden pavilion
built for mornings like this.
Pressure of Presence 