NaPoWriMo - day twenty three

 once i had several lovers.     i had several lovers once.
     when one was at work      i thought that truth
   i would be with another.     would prevent a wound.
      i first wrote “wound”.      by truth i meant "truth".
     when one was at work      the truth is we wound
   i would wound another.      without a thought.

i had several lovers once.      once i  had several lovers.
          i thought that truth       when one was at work
  would prevent a wound.      i would be with another
  by truth i meant “truth”.      i first wrote "wound".
     the truth is we wound      when one was at work
           without a thought.      i would wound another.

#NaPoWriMo - day twenty two

30% of people think reading regularly makes them better than others.
30% of people can flare their nostrils.
30% of people have two jobs.
30% of people don’t use bar soap.
30% of people will love you.
30% of people think most people can be trusted.
30% of people eat candy nearly every day.
30% of people believe they will live to a hundred.
30% of people have experienced some form of abuse.
30% of people lie about how much they give to charities.
30% of people are highly sensitive.
30% of people are overweight.
30% of people have snooped through someone’s desk.
30% of people are nervous to go out alone.
30% of people will decline to attend a wedding.
30% of people have dated a roommate.
30% of people will hate you.
30% of people have never been to a drive-in theatre.
30% of people will be replaced by AI.
30% of people have never built a snowman.
30% of people do not want to have children.
30% of people distrust science.
30% of people say they don’t know how to make friends.
30% of people leave something behind on vacation.
30% of people admit to running a red light.
30% of people don’t know how to drive.
30% of people don’t believe in God.
30% of people say they have never felt more alone.
30% of people think they’re great at small talk.
30% of people won’t cut and paste this.

#NaPoWriMo - day twenty one

I miss Prince.
I never saw him play live,
though friends and family have.
I admit to no small amount of jealousy.
I missed him here in Edmonton.
I would have loved
to see him play: Purple Rain, of course,
Controversy, The Cross, Kiss,
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker,
Starfish and Coffee…
but I really would have loved
to play basketball with him.
Something more personal,
intimate, human than a concert.
Pick and roll, fast break,
orchestrate. Defend, attack.
Set a screen. High five.
With or without heels.
 
And then pancakes.
Lots of pancakes.

#NaPoWriMo - day twenty

Dear Ms. Smith. Miss Smith? Mrs. Smith?
I only know you as poet, Patricia.
I’m reading The Intentions of Thunder
and I’m pummelled. Pummelled.
 
I’m drawn in by the language while
also distanced from it. I discover
how white I am. And Canadian.
I’m trying to hear the chorus.
 
How can a poem be so deeply rooted.
How does the voice move around
from body to body. Poetic forms
structure the narrative. Declare:
 
How poetry is always a witness.
What are we looking for. What
are you looking at. Are you looking.
How can you bear it. How long.

#NaPoWriMo - day nineteen

And has the weather finally turned?
At what point do we pull out
the spring jackets and summer shoes?
When do we pack up winter coats,
heavy boots, mittens and scarves?
 
I do not trust the vicissitudes
of wind and sun and cloud
any more than I trust fashion.
 
I can dress in layers but
there is always too much too wear,
and what changes if you drive your car
or take public transit or ride your bike?
Then how big a bag, backpack or satchel?
 
The morning is bright and sunny
(though chilly), the afternoon windy,
and the evening humid and warm.
 
“For everything there is a season”
and I’m done trying to reason it out.
Everything keeps changing –
wait five minutes they say –
but I’ve been waiting for years.