Who Knew (Sestina 5)

Collaboration with Aytch Rae


Seagulls squabble in squall of seaside rain
Reality-bit, thunder-struck, forehead marked by goose egg
Midmorning mist mingles with mighty horses mane
Shocked to collapse, unable to stand on last leg
Cresting waves wipe away tracks, wash sand rearrange each grain
Couldn't stomach the betrayal, thought he'd had her pegged.

Elementary break up after kickball pegged.
Puddles filled with paper boats he wouldn't be driven in by rain
Inside for lunch, pb and J on crustless whole grain
Kindergarten romance sealed with ring from quarter-bought egg
Playground wedding dance the Hokey Pokey, shake a leg.
Tossed gravel, playground artillery. After recess test capital of Maine.

Now grown, toys forgotten. Only a sly boy's grin remains
glories in morning, can't get enough of Peg.
wrapped in smiles and miles of legs
Cowboy hat and plastic guns, used daddy's belt pretend reins
Sunshine soaked sheets, love-scrambled like breakfast in bed eggs.
Wastes work days at a desk, genuine imitation wood grain

Led his people from war to growers of cattle and grain.
Ruled with righteous hand. Died with long whit mane.
Delirium seeps through pores, fever hot enough to fry an egg.
Plan-making to take the demons down a peg.
Prophecy proclaimed him king. Strength allowed him to reign
Mattress pinned monsters: claw-footed bed legs

Down some wine, soothed by swirling legs
No one left to stand tall. To stand against the grain.
How many years will it take to rebuild from King George's reign
Voices scream slogans. Left and Right. No middle to remain.
put uncertainty away with the booze and hang glass on its peg.
Grating waiting madness, don't chicken-count an egg.

Evil twin so bizarre. Can't believe they shared an egg.
Soul-conjoined, but at life's fork chose different legs
One a square hole, one a round peg.
Sweeping down hillsides muddied silted and grainy
Rivulets grow and rage gather and unite. Become the main
With practiced patience the desert waits for next hard rain

Walking on eggshells, a habit ingrained:
bootleg paranoia picked up from my main
man. Unpegged by tension better ease up on reins.

Sestina 4

Collaboration with Aytch Rae

He knew as he sat red faced, had no business driving in traffic
his hair cut short and combed was all salt and little pepper
thick bifocals heavy on his nose, still buildings and signs seen with a squint.
Shattered around his idling car, the lobby of a hotel.
Trembling hand searches for reverse, wide eyes stare at where the bellboy flew
brick and wood and windshield litter his lap

Yorkie in rubble flecked bow pauses mid-lap
over saucer. Vacuum purrs on high traffic
rug; bellboy no longer griping about his flu.
Chandelier's crystal tears pepper
potted plants. Fallen star scattered hotel.
Shock paints surreal landscape with a squint.

Crooked gap toothed smile and half drunk Popeye squint
He struggled to stagger through another victory lap
Another round of bloody mary's lobby of airport hotel
Kid next to him gets a why don't you go play in traffic
Spit at him, bartender mixes using too much pepper
Another meeting missed due to brown bottle flu

Vicious mammalian hissing scrabbled from the flue
head scrunched to neck he peered up through a squint.
Wife's terror-claws in his shirt, no talk could pep her
up to broom out from cabin chimney's lap
(a ratcatorbat) the sharp-tooth spitting. Damn creature traffic.
Squelch the urge to squeal and let his macho tell.

Three old friends a weekend in Vegas and the best suite in the hotel
Round after round head spinning merry-go-round the night flew
By too fast for memories to catch. Staggering through yellow cab traffic
Heavy lidded red shot eyes fuzzy tongued mirror squint
Emptying pockets more receipts than cash lipstick stain from last lap
Dance. Text message blink shit have to call Pepper.

Bare-foot and bath-robed, without pepper
spray, waiting for ass-face's hotel
departure. Despite the dark, she took another lap
around the block. Once again he flew
off the handle. Eyesight and hindsight both squinting
against the light, she ignored the glares of oncoming traffic.

Pizza Dr. Pepper and movies, those friday nights flew by
Treating his mom's place like a hotel, Mikey that squint ass nerd
Too fat to finish one lap around the track Coach G muttered go play in traffic

4/17/10

Mid afternoon sun
Splashes light across blue field
Bodies bang collide

4/16/10

Pale skin turning pink
Flesh that's been covered for months
Spring is approaching

4/15/10

Early morning sun
Brightens dew covered flowers
Yawning down driveway

4/14/10

Fuzz covered bagels
Egg carton empty in fridge
Stomach still howls

4/13/10

Clackity Clacking
Plastic roof dancing in wind
Fixing winter wear

4/12/10

Puddled rain water
Brittle leaves paper scraps twigs
Gutter choking dam

4/11/10

Dirty woolen sky
Matches dour winter mood
Wind whipping branches

4/10/10

Dual aching ears
curled up child sleeps in my lap
Heart aching for her

4/9/10

Nectarine tree blooms
Each bough ends in pale pink puffs
Morning dew glistens

4/8/10

Jaguars are big cats
They're all Freedom talks about
She's just like her mom

Freedom's Cinquain

Jaguar
Soft sneaky
Running pouncing eating
Jaguar sleeps in here
Cat

4/7/10

Frost covered windshield
Winter refusing to leave
T shirt shiver scrape

4/6/10

Wind slips under door
Dried leaves scatter the concrete
Broom leans in corner

4/5/10

Squirrel's rooftop scamper
Angrily run from tossed rocks
Bulbs need replanted

4/4/10

Spring break has broken
Early morning habits gone
Pen gets forgotten

4/3/10

Lines are the right length
Library has no Basho
The heart is missing

4/2/10

One more pint of beer
Pale bitter whistle wetter
Flags snapping in breeze

4/1/10

Foolish to expect
Spring break without falling flakes
Lawn mower stills sits