1995

R & R

Raven and the razor
sullen roommates of my life
Razor with a fork and
Raven with a knife
If I don't bring home carrion
to brighten their repast...
Razor gets me first.
Raven gets me last.

Dialysis Part I

Take what I feel, take it
Out of my heart
Put it together
Pull it apart
Swallow the poisons
Put the feeling back clean
Or at least let me know
That you know what I mean.

Dialysis Haiku

I apologize
It isn't really your job
They are my problems.

Dialysis Disclaimer

There are no guarantees
Efficacy may be affected
By the patient's
Inability
Or unwillingness
To follow package instructions.
Interactions may be serious
Please read the enclosed
Leaflet.

Orange

I feel I feel
Like an orange peel
Crushed out my soul
In a cut glass bowl.

I feel I feel
Like a locked-up door
That doesn't know
What it's locked up for.

I feel I feel
Like a single shoe
With the buckle broken
And the sole worn through.

I feel I feel
Like the wasted rain
On the face of the ocean
That cures no pain.

I feel I feel
Like everything
Except the woman who
Wore that ring...

It doesn't help to know why...

It doesn't help to know why
The memory makes me weak
If the reality doesn't touch me
When the reality touches me.

It doesn't help to pry it apart
To prod at the writhing creature
And ask it why it doesn't work
Why it doesn't hold the shell tight anymore.