Communications Are Down (a Poem-in-Dialog)

She said "you have to understand
That I only want what's best for you."
I said "I understand,
I just don't comprehend."
She said "it's easier for people to love you
When you act like other people do."
I said "it's only possible for me to love me
When I'm doing what I love."
She said "some of what you love is bad for you,"
and I said "life is bad for you.
It's just better than the alternatives."

Tie Our Stars Together (a Poem-in-Monologue)

“I'm not committed to tradition, and I believe there's no 'forever,'

But I see appeal in closeness that could tie our stars together.

Still, what we are is just our pasts. Our potential lies in dreams.

Your dreams aren't mine, and I can't bear to see them sacrificed for me.”

At least, that's what I say. The truth is that I'm alone

Because I could not bear to see me sacrifice my own.

Court Date, a Poem-in-Trialogue

“Would you please tell the court if you are or you aren't

Guilty of stealing the claimant's whole heart?”

“Your honor, it's true that this man saw me smile,

Which I do when I'm working, at home, or on trial.

He says that we met, but I just cleared his table.

I try to make ends meet, as close as I'm able.”

“See? This man leaves his heart next to napkins on trays.

If my client did take it, she's hardly to blame.”

Why I Write, Part x+239: As An Alternative to Being Busy (a Poem-in-Dialog)

“How do you keep writing in today's world,

When there are so many people to see

and so many ways to make money?

I barely have time to floss my teeth.”

“Well, I've had many false friends.

I've seen false mahogany.

They make false teeth.

But I have never, ever known

A false sense of satisfaction,

A false sense of accomplishment.

It's non-transferable and genuine."

Going Home (A Poem-in-Monologue)

“Hey buddy, do they not make gas pedals in Minnesota?

Seriously, you're just extra brake-pedaly, aren't you?

Man, I get enough of that shit in my day,

So just make your right turn, just creeeeeep through the intersection.

There we go. Now we're movin'.

Hell yeah! Turn it up! Sing that song!

And why you gots to be walkin' RIGHT where I'm tryin to drive?

Find the damn sidewalk! Don't make me use my horn on you.

You mess with the Taurus, you get the horn!

You're makin' me miss that light up there!

Ugh! Red light. Come on, green light, green light.

Fuckin' go, fuckin' go, fuckin' go, fuckin' go,

TURNTURNTURNTURNTURN

and he slides in safe at home! Just beats the garage door.

Baby, I'm so glad to see you. I missed you today.”

That Woman, a Poem-in-Monologue

“That woman makes explosions of raindrops.

The evidence is all in the eyes.

That woman will eat you alive,

Son, though her teeth will feel like velvet,”

I said to myself, and did nothing,

The intelligent thing,

Because I'm a total idiot.

Bossed Around

“The Home Despot and the Office Despot?” “That's depot.”

“See? I'm getting bossed around no matter where I go?”

Though directions from others never stop my head swelling,

At least this time someone I know did the telling.

When we're told to swim forth, fast as we can, through a sea

Of rigged games and chintzy prizes that they call “economies,”

Because you have to be a productive member of society,

I think we all know, but don't admit to what that means–

That someone told us it's best to trade everything for money

and we believed

and we can't trace the call. Who to blame, besides me?

Awkward Situation III, a "Poem-in-Dialog"

“Today she touched me in a way I don't see her touch men,

But does that mean anything? She's gen'rally the handsy kind of friend,

And I've been her friend a while. She stands closer than the past,

But it could be she gets comfortable the longer friendship lasts.

She started seeking me out alone, as alone as the crowded can be.

She talks me up if I give her the chance, but why'd she want someone like me?

I've never once guessed right on this thing, when I've been here before.

Go one way, she's uncomfortable. Go the other, she's ignored.”

“I don't know what to say, man. You make a good case either way, man.

I'm with you, dude. We've all been there before. It's an awkward situation.”

I Want You, a “Poem-in-Dialog”

“I want you to leave me.” “That's illogical. Why?”

“I'm an unpredictably logical guy.

There's no logical argument I'll just leave alone,

So leave me before I poison your home.”

“There's nothing here toxic. I like home this way.”

“I like it too, but I've liked places I didn't stay.

Leave me before I do something to disappoint us both.

Leave me now, while you can still look back with hope.”

Why I Write, Part x+55: A Muse Ain't Gonna Last (A Poem-in-Dialog)

"A muse ain't gonna last you a couple of years
If you burn up the engine and grind up the gears,
Compare her to Earhart and Lady Godiva.
In short, sir, you write like a maniac driver."

"Why play it safe?  It's just money and words.
If I burn up the road, I'll make time headed towards
Metaphors.  I don't need to ask the muse's permission.
She won't care if I burn rubber or drop the transmission."

"I suppose it's your mind, and you don't have to ask,
But when you empty the tank, readers take you to task.
A fast write means repairs.  It's harder to edit.
Besides, it's the journey and not where you're headed."

"Well why do you think I write fast?  There's a reason
What some write in two years I will write in a season.
The more I write, the more I'll think, the more I'll know;
Moving fast, I can see more behind my eye-window.
A journey to learn and see means to do
Whatever I can, damn the muses I go through."

Mixed Signals Land, a Poem-In-Dialog

"Should I take her to eat or to dance
or to tennis mixed singles, man?
'Cause it turns out this lady
Is the queen of Mixed Signals Land."

"Did she touch you, or her hair?
Did she ask if you're free?
This whole thing would work better
If you had more than three ideas."

"She stares at me, then looks away,
But doesn't play with her hair.
She told me she thinks that I'm a smart guy,
Out of two left, she picks a near chair."

"Well, I'd say she hasn't quite figured it out,
But that isn't a thing that girls do.
I think it's quite clear that she knew right away
That she's second-choice partial to you."

"I thought so, and asked her to do
Something friendly.  It didn't go so great.
She said it sounded sort of alright,
But the time would conflict with a date."

"Why did you bother asking?
You know fine and well it's too late
Unless she's young and mobile,
and you're desperately willing to wait."

Crying Clown (A "poem-in-dialog")

"How could she do that?  I hate her!  I'll get her!
I'll make her rue the day she left, and then forget her."

"Why don't you write that on a page;
Let fire seal that letter.
If she can't see how bad you're hurt,
Wouldn't that be better?"

"Be half a man and take this lying down?
Be king of wimps, with two horns for a crown?
Be nothing but a tear-stained, crying clown?
Forget all that, I'm taking her ass down."

"What gives, man?  Are you playing?"

"Have you listened to a word I'm saying?

I've tried so hard to tell.
Guess I'll have to yell now!
I'm hunting with my hounds of hell,
Out of patience, out for blood now."

"You can't move forward stuck on her.
You can only lose, then.
Your hounds, the beast called anger,
They stay because you feed them."

Clean Out Your Ears (A "Poem in Dialog")

"I didn't ask you over to sit on the ground.
Let's turn on the console, kill time, mess around.
And some music!  I like the old stuff the best.
Something classic that passed Chronos' long test."

"Playstation?  That's worse than just lame.
Nobody who's anyone plays video games.
As for music, you should clean out your ears.
That sound has been out for the last fifty years."

"Look, I can turn the music down if you pout,
Or just crank it up 'til you get the hell out.
So what if you think that my hobby's a waste?
It's like your music; in fashion, but a matter of taste."

I don't care a bit if you judge me.
Feel free to criticize the choices I make.
Just pick my real accomplishments,
Or my real, important mistakes.

Aphrodite and the Author-Surrogate (A poem-in-dialog)

"You notice her, in the skirt and tights!"
"That's right."
"And you couldn't help but notice
That she's looking back at you."
"That's true."
"You should go ask her just what that's about."
"Disgust, without a doubt."
"Don't be so quick, with patience, your verse and hers could rhyme."
"Sounds like a waste of time..."
"How can you dismiss a goddess
And her realm as for the birds..."
"And a waste of words."
"Every man needs a partner, a companion, someone."
"Are you done?"
"Her soft soul might forgive a caveman like you,"
"So you're not through."
"Your foul beard and shaggy hair, a face with space missing."
"Some men ain't made for kissin."
"Is your heart so devoid of feeling?  Are
You harder than being a teenager?"
"I'd wager."