Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
My Dog is not Stupid
My dog is not stupid
or crazy
or retarded.
My dog is anxious.
She barks at people that
she doesn’t see
everyday.
People who smell different
each time she encounters them
are confusing.
But then,
if she knows you, she will
be sweet.
It doesn’t help to yell,
or hiss,
or call her rude names.
And it hurts my feelings.
Because I am anxious too.
I have been for thirty years.
I’ve learned not to bark.
Mostly.
But I’ve had thirty years to learn.
My dog is not yet two.
I’m sorry my dog barks at you.
But she’s my best friend.
So be nice.
Please.
What you say to her
tells me what you
don’t
say to me.
Think about it.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
An Artist & Photographer
Six clocks are ticking audibly.
The pendulum clock has struck
two
and one
and three
and one
and four
and one
and five.
I can hear the the falsetto honk of my cat
snoring.
* * *
I remember when he drove me up to the door.
The windshield was impressionistic with dog snot.
Eyes, hair, lips, hands.
The scent of him.
yes, yes, yes,
No.
Don’t even ask.
Not ever.
Don’t slam the car door and
lump back to my place.
I’m old enough to be his mother, almost…
Go read a book…
Go inside.
Throw the swag on the heap.
The tidy, organized heap.
Just boughten, already forgotten.
Ali Baba could live here…
Walk the dog,
feed the fish,
tend the plants,
pet the cat.
Paddle my feet in the digital stream.
“Nice contrast, and the light is so warm.”
“You’re so lucky to see with your eyes.”
“That’s so funny!”
The cats with cute captions.
The demands for responsible action.
“You can make a difference!”
* * *
The clocks are ticking.
Little Nazi insects – step, step.
Step,step.
Press slightly damp whorls and loops
Against the hollow in my throat and wrist.
My pulse is keeping step with one of
the insects.
I can feel it through my no-two-alike fingerprints.
Heartbeat.
Strong.
Steady.
The illusion of health.
The pendulum clock strikes one
and six
and one.
It’ll be light soon.
Don’t think about the dead rats.
Buried three feet from where my head lies now.
Murdered.
Buried.
Portraits fashioned of their little, broken bodies.
Prayers said for them.
Might as well get up.
Go check the traps.
If I’m lucky they will be empty.
If I’m lucky,
I will have failed.