this world is unfinished. we all know that.
the habitats of strangers are
reckless alphabets
through a small hole, i can see their
deserted backyards. a boy hurls
a prairie into space, listens to
Neil Young and
cultivates a soul of leather
puffs his chest everlastingly
…better to be mellow and
out of touch
says an old man singing songs of
sunny folk country
the zebras have wishbones and
birds scraps of metal
so, why don’t we
consummate this feeling with
little trouble?
oblivion is a sidewalk, friend; go slowly and
save yourself from kindness
the fanatical textures of
old sedans and peace trees
but nothing of tangerines, no.
nothing of umbrellas
and their frantic bottoms
The Used Life 
8 responses to “Notes on Living Poetry”
A lovely and perfect poem, L. Thank you.
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Thank you, J. I’m happy you enjoyed it.
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I love the first stanza. And “…better to be mellow and / out of touch” is just awesome. Well done!
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Thank you so much!
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“cultivates a soul of leather”…really good line…a soul fashioned with intention but to what end?
“oblivion is a sidewalk, friend; go slowly and save yourself from kindness”…fragile truth and a melancholy feel to it which we all seem to be drawn to.
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I love that you read these poems so thoughtfully and imaginatively. You always manage to give me some insight into my own work. Thank you. 🙂
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Dark but quirky and imaginative. Interesting how others get their plot ideas.
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Thank you.
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