Poetry

2003-2008

Lqoau

ARRIVE
Dont mind this spit, dont mind the shine
Im reborn for the thousandth time,
it dont mean much, dont look for signs,
dont fall behind, just stay in touch,
where my flesh beats with the fevered rush
of rhyme alight like desert brush,
where I hold the fruits of life in clutch,
and taste it as it runs down my fingers.
Stay close to me, I have no fear,
I left it all to make it here,
and everything that I held dear,
I left the smoke and now Im clear,
but like a winter cold, it lingers.
Say your prayers, but do not cry,
and leave your flowers where I lie,
or stay here and well bide our time,
for it doesnt matter where I go,
my soul will never die.
Now some may laugh at these designs
that flow out like an ancient wine,
those who lose themselves in time,
yes, you who seek, but still cant find,
close your eyes, there are no secrets.
Ive felt our everlasting doom,
while trapped here in this tiny room,

those restless, burning nights of gloom,

when my skin was tightened like a tomb,
but through it all, theres no regrets.
For dont forget Ive worn those rings
like chains; those strings of pretty things,
Ive given up so many dreams
for soft and empty offerings
all the things we live without
cause we cant live without,
the cancers and candy,
the oceans of drought
But you know I will make it,
there never was a doubt,
for youre granted all the world
when youre living down and out.
And now that I have found my peace,
no earthly things compare,
I threw away near all my clothes,
and shaved off all my hair,
in the shade or in the bright sunshine
I always get a glare,
but it doesnt matter how I look,
I know my time is here.
Now Im reckless as a summers dream
and childish like a dare.
You may say that I am stepping back,
but dont say Im unprepared.
For everyone says to keep Austin weird
but Austins just scared;
wearing oversized sunglasses
to try and hide their fears,
and when their eyesights failing
they pretend like they dont care,
while their youthful cries for paradise
grow thin just like the air,
but Im a real easy walker,
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yeah, you can take me anywhere

it doesnt matter where I go,
my soul will find me there.
Dont mind this spit, dont mind the shine,
Ive come here for the thousandth time,
it dont mean much, dont stand in line,
dont wait for me to raise the dead,
or bring forth fish and loaves of bread,
for Ive stumbled far too many times,
Ive missed my step, Ive worked my grind,
Ive struggled, but Im bound to climb,
until my words all sound divine,
and when I stand here blazing,
with all my stars aligned,
dont ask where Ive been hiding,
for Ive always been alive,
yes, I may have been mistaken,
may have taken too much time,
but while my flesh was fighting
Ive been waiting to arrive.

SHE TALKS TO GOD

In the sand
she leaves two perfect prints,
she talks to God,
she just doesnt know it yet.
Her bathing suit clings
to two perfect breasts,
as she moves like God
beneath the sunset.
The secrets of life
spring forth from her lips,
like pieces of God
are held in her kiss.
Her eyes so dark
no stars can exist,
for she sees like God
across the abyss.
And I think like God,
and long to undress;
that soft, tender touch,
our bodies at rest.
Though many men pine
to feel her caress,
when I talk to God,
I tell him Im next.

TRINITY
I rose early on the seventh day,
before the morning sun had strayed,
and walked the streets until I came
unto the place where saints are made,
and sinners come to find their way
from the trials of the wilderness.
But I have nothing to confess
and I dont believe that lifes a test,
I only came so Id be blessed
by an angel wrapped in earthly form,
named for the flowers that were born
in the soft showers of a springtime storm,
beneath the canopy on a moonlit morn,
and though her petals grow with thorns,
I long to touch her perfect form,
for she is love for men whove scorned
the hope that they might be reborn.
I see her climb the granite steps,
with her boyfriend in his Sunday best,
his cotton pants are nicely pressed,
for he says the Lord expects no less
than a Rolex and a pinstripe vest,
but Rose is in a simple dress,
and soon she will be wearing less,
for once the faithful bow to pray,
well rise up and slip away,
and find a quiet place to stay
where we can hide
from those whove gathered just inside,
as God has set his best gifts aside
for those whove strayed.
I can feel the longing in her steps,
and the subtle whispers in her breath
are like prayers that only I can hear.
I answer her as I draw near
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and whisper nothings in her ear.

Not here, she says, and leads me down the hall.
My fathers house has many rooms, she says,
and we can use them all.
So I sweep her off her feet
and I take her to an empty suite
where the offerings are kept.
I lift her on an empty desk,
and slide my hands inside her dress,
press up her legs and let them rest
above the softness of her flesh,
and caress her panties where theyre wet
before I pull them to her feet
and draw my fingers to her heat,
the edges of our bodies meet
like pieces that become complete.
Her body trembles at my touch,
my steady, soft, forgiving touch,
and so I leave my tender touch,
but stop before it gets too much,
and using the table as my crutch,
I clutch her sides and enter in,
she feels me throbbing from within,
a glowing spot beneath her skin
returning where the world begins,
like paradise has come again,
as we move without a touch of sin.

DYNAMITE
The buildings held from where we stood,
the future seemed alright,
but you never really understood
how the darkness could burn so bright,
until I touched the secrets of your soul
against the dead of night,
and those moments we keep stored away
unfolded like our finest whites.
And we were live like dynamite,
two time-bombs ready to ignite,
you always said one day wed shine
as we burst into some grand design,
but those moments where we touch the light
burn quick, you better hold on tight.
In the sanctity of strangers,
our faith was like a mirror,
and our breath was swept across the stars
like the days when God was near,
but still our innocence was fragile,
and skies were crystal clear,
I knew that soon wed drift away-I never thought wed disappear.
The skylines rambled free too long,
its time we paid the price,
lets strip and lay our bodies down
like we were one with Christ,
they say that we have made mistakes,
its true, but dont think twice,
we could have slept away our youth,
but loves the greatest sacrifice.
And we were live like dynamite,
two time-bombs ready to ignite,
you always said one day wed shine,
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as we burst into some grand design,

but those moments where we touch the light
burn quick, you better hold on tight.
Every comfort has its consequence,
those soft dreams were all just lies,
and the conflict seemed unavoidable
like Mona Lisas eyes,
but I knew that we had lost too much
when you stopped me with your sigh,
and said wed never be forgiven,
no matter how hard we try.
Yet we were live like dynamite,
two time-bombs ready to ignite,
you always said one day wed shine
as we burst into some grand design,
but those moments where we touch the light
burn quick, you better hold on tight.
Weve reached the end, but do not cry,
through all weve seen how could we try?
The fires still blazing in our eyes,
and the paper moon is rising high,
so you should stay, but do not ask me why
the stars sing praises for the sky,
for in their flames we live our lives,
and in the smoke we die.
The match is lit, the plans been made,
come, do not be afraid,
if theres anything you wish to say,
then turn and look toward yesterday,
be mindful, but do not run away,
and when the fuse runs out, get down and pray.

MY LATEST ENDORSEMENT
I long for the day when poets
will be replaced by machines;
assembly line sentences
sputtered out and sold,
painless and paper-freepoems that have no need for me.
For skies are smudged,
the clouds look bleak,
and all the thoughts I try to speak
are puddles lost beneath the ink,
come, we dont have time to think,
each word is just another link
fastened to their metal feet.
I await the day that I am outdated
by automated poetic technique,
once feelings fade and fingers creak,
and soon I will be obsolete,
just look at what fills the streets,
when crowds disperse its still concrete,
and no matter how vague this seems
its kept alive by gasoline,
we once survived on bitter greens
in simpler times than we have seen,
but these memories are bittersweet,
and eternity seems incomplete,
we win once we admit defeat.
I long for the day that they sell,
bottles of new poem smell
to mask my moldy metaphors
and wash my wasted wordsall the awkward thoughts youve never heard.
I want my love poems finely misted,
syllables scented sensually
with chemicals that smell like the sea,
and move as smooth as Vaseline,
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until theres nothing real left in me

except that which comes out beautifully.
Perfection can only be found
pounded into pavement,
forget the ground weve saved,
process it and praise it.
Words only survive on sidewalks
and raised beside city blocks,
not this talk that spits forth in tangents,
when even rock has chipped away
well still have the fragments,
so shed your tears and then repent,
soon all poems will be about cement.

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AWAKE
Dawn falls upon my lawn,
my selective memory,
yes the words are gone
but still they live with me,
asleep within a yawn
someday Ill set them free,
for within me sleeps a song
and I wont let it be,
and though it might be wrong
the verb and noun agree
that when the lights turn on
theyll be my canopy.
The sentences are long
and yet they follow me,
the moments once belonged
but now they stifle me,
Im weak but words are strong,
and they wont let me be.
Dawn falls upon my lawn,
the night is all I see.

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SAMANTHA OF THE STARS

You hung like a diamond watchyou wasted little time,
and stretched yourself across the stars,
your path arranged like signs,
your body like a fairy tale
you let your legend shine,
and ever since I learned to read
I dreamed that you were mine.
For I was the kid in class
with the everlasting eyes;
my lashes wet like kerosene
and a lighter at my side,
lost in teenage poetry,
I never thought to try,
yet every night I stole away
to stare out on the sky.
For many speak of destiny
but never see just why
their horoscopes and magazines
wont save them from their lives.
Those who sleep their days away,
and when the end comes, cry,
those who work to fill their plates,
yet eat with no delight.
Yes, those who think our lavish dance
is the shuffling of some feet,
those who stop to point and laugh
as we fumble for the beat,
but when we find our song at last,
it never sounds so sweet,
and though their eyes cant recognize
me as I walk the streets,
Ive fallen from the very place
I saw you shine for me,
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Ive crossed the world a thousand times

and now my paths complete;
Ive turned my darkness into day,
and tomorrow we shall meet.

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CANADA
This war of love is dangeroustheres prisoners, and many die,
and bombs with little angel wings
are falling from the sky.
Ive seen young men swept away
while their mothers watched and cried,
it seemed it had to be this way;
that they were born to die,
for its a lonely road all on your own,
and a tough call to defy,
and theres soldiers just beyond my door
that are calling me outside.
But I dont want to go,
I can stay here alone.
Ill find some way to spend my time
and everything will be fine.
And I hear its pretty nice up north,
and though the weathers cold,
Im told theres lots of space to dream,
and to walk as I grow old.
The path ahead is full of pain,
each outcome holds a crime,
but for now I must go steal away,
I cannot fall behind.
This war of love is dangeroustheres prisoners, and many die,
and now theyve sealed off all the borders,
I havent got much time.
My freedom seems so far away
from this bedroom where I lie,
but maybe you could stay with me
until its safe to try.

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LOCUSTS
I dont mind the summer heat,
the sting of sweat is at our feet,
and light tastes sweet against our lips,
as if the sky had left its kiss,
and though our bodies long for rest,
the sun drips down upon our breast,
as limbs sway gently with the breeze,
and locusts sing within our leaves,
for all the things we see are born
in the shadows of our changing form.
My shoulders rise so they can stand,
when locusts fly Ill take your hand,
my arms will drop to let them land,
and when they stop Ill understand,
at summers end they quickly die,
and though we bend we cant be tied.
I dont mind the winter chill,
the animals are lying still,
and hands that clawed the ice have set,
where drops that slowly thawed once met.
Ive sat beneath the barren trees,
Ive seen them wither with disease,
when they wept I kept their leaves,
and with my breath Ive helped them breathe.
Those whod grieve have left the room,
and did not see the petals bloom,
upon the oaks as spring made way,
and all our death turned into day,
and though it may be setting soon,
theres space beneath the silent moon,
and earth unfolds from where we lay,
Im here if you decide to stay.

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I BELIEVE IN LOVE AGAIN

I believe in love again,
it caught me by surprise,
all the dreams came rushing back
when I looked into her eyes,
the polar caps are melting down,
the populations rise,
they say that we are doomed for death,
I dont believe their lies.
Im in love with the world again,
though its heading for decay ,
and Im thankful for the tragedies
that led me on my way,
and Im thankful for the miracles
that washed the pain away,
though everythings not settled yet
I love whats here today.
I have found a friend again,
I cant believe shes true,
for Ive looked upon so many eyes
that I could see right through,
if life were just a game of chance
whatever would we do?
I love this very universe
for bringing me to you.
I love the human histories
trapped inside my mind,
I love the way they come to me
in majesty and rhyme,
Ive made it far, Im not done yet,
theres something I must find,
yes, I believe in love again,
but now is not the time.

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CARNAVAL
We moved in such a simple way,
the night was soft like masquerade,
and love was just a drunken game
we played while distant couples made
promises to share their lives,
and spend their nights in worn disguise,
but we have left those plans behind,
for who knows where the morning lies
when our bodies drift out like the sea,
and each song is an eternity,
when through the darkness I can only see
whatever lies in front of me.
And like a crashing wave you came,
and stopped me from my spin,
your eyes were light like pantomime,
your body hushed against my skin,
your kisses sweet like caramel
your venom felt within,
like a workers strike it started up,
and like a bonfire ends,
the local floors will close their doors
but love will burn again.
I wore my glasses through the night,
and left them where you lay,
for a longing eyes not hard to find,
theres new ones everyday,
when you thought it was your part to try
and say wed never change,
I showed you how they reached my heart
right through the longest vein.
Theres a chance wed never sleep apart
if I had caught your name,
and though I may have asked you once
I could not lay the blame,
theres so much lost in circumstance,
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the futures hard to claim,

and if we ever met again,
it would not feel the same.

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L WORDS
for Bob Dylan

It all started when I heard your voice

come crashing through the air,
and a spirit swelled inside my heart
that I could hardly bear,
for at first your words came through so sharp
I almost shed a tear,
and you sang my secrets out so loud
I feared they all would hear,
its a wild and reckless world weve built,
not everythings so clear,
but when the haunted streets grew dark
you stayed there without fear.
And in the silence of your summer dreams
nothing can sound wrong,
the pauses ring like poetry,
and every word belongs,
I can feel the wonder coming through,
I know it wont be long,
the worlds been stuck here waiting,
and its time I found my song.

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AVALANCHE
I know that I have stayed too long
when night falls, and nothings done.
The rumbling sounds of sleep are strong,
as I wait here for the storm to come,
but soon the lonesome clouds will shake,
and the skies will tear from where theyve hung,
the massive walls of ice will break,
and earth will fall back where its from,
and Ill be forced to recreate
just how it felt when we were young;
as the landscape wandered wild and free,
and we flourished like a desert weed,
for many men have lived off luck,
but this time all weve got is trust,
and I wonder if that will be enough,
or when the snow comes will it bury us?

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PILLOW TALK
Im slowly slipping into exhaustion,
words too heavy for the page
and now Ive lost them,
verbs too violent for the night
when I came across them,
nerves too feeble for the fight,
and I must take caution.
It takes a rigid mind to still the page,
when giving up is all the rage,
and it takes the name of some crusade
just to make it through the day.
But Ive fought on, and done my best,
and now Im lulled by thoughts of rest,
no, I dont care if Im the best,
just let me fail if lifes a test,
for its too late to make things right,
and I dont need to see the light,
yes, let me sink into the night
if theres nothing more to write.
The words are gone but feelings stay,
sometimes I wish theyd go away,
for every night I bow to pray,
and hope that it will be okay.
But will I see the light of day,
with dreams so far from where I lay,
and nothing but a tired sigh,
as my life keeps passing by?
But Ill hold on to them until they die,
and tomorrow I wont waste my time.
Ill seize my light and let it shine,
Ill meet the day, Ill start the climb,
but will I have another try
or is this incomplete?
For weeks Ive paced
these empty streets
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and now Im beat.

The sentiments sound sweet,
as I lay here in soft defeat,
no I dont care what happens next,
just let me go to sleep.

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THE TERMINAL
Cut these curses from my flesh,
this sickness from my skin,
everything that dies within,
whether its love or hope or mortal sin,
the preacher says it lies within,
and I cant take another step
surrounded by this living death
that circulates with every breath,
and takes until theres nothing left.
No dreaming as I lie awake,
the hours burn, my body aches,
I toss and turn until day breaks,
its hopeless, there is no escape.
I feel no shame in losing time,
I gave up waiting for a sign,
its not a badge, its not a crime,
I just fell a bit behind.
The angels linger where I lay,
theres nothing standing in the way,
our time is but a brief delay,
and Im just stuck here waiting
for them to carry me away.

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ILL BE YOUR SLEEP

Close your eyes my little child,
theres nothing here to see,
and set aside the tired lies
our waking minds perceive,
outside the streets are dark and wild,
the criminals run free,
but laying in this little world
theres only you and me.
Stay until the morning comes,
think nothing of retreat,
and if you stay awake all night
I will be your sleep.
The mysteries are hidden
deep beneath your satin sheets,
lay your head and find them,
before the nights complete.
Tomorrows still a world away,
let it meet you there,
forget what happened yesterday,
we dont have to care,
easy like an ocean wave,
the dream is ours to share
now close your eyes my little child,
for all is safe and fair.

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