The Hunt
Salty sweat trickling down the forehead,
a sunburned face smiles at the remnants of the sun
peeking between the treetops
A warm breeze brings welcome relief
from the mid-August humidity
Station wagon parked beside
the silent back road,
he examines the browning weeds
hoping for a sign of movement
A gentle rustle
A hint of scarlet
An experienced pounce
Success
Smiling with teeth
white only in contrast to the dying twilight,
the hunter gazes at his trapped prey
Pinchers rendered useless,
the crawdad cowers between powerful fingers
A careful toss through the missing back window
It scurries around its new surroundings
awaiting two dozen more soon to join
The search resumes
a sunburned face smiles at the remnants of the sun
peeking between the treetops
A warm breeze brings welcome relief
from the mid-August humidity
Station wagon parked beside
the silent back road,
he examines the browning weeds
hoping for a sign of movement
A gentle rustle
A hint of scarlet
An experienced pounce
Success
Smiling with teeth
white only in contrast to the dying twilight,
the hunter gazes at his trapped prey
Pinchers rendered useless,
the crawdad cowers between powerful fingers
A careful toss through the missing back window
It scurries around its new surroundings
awaiting two dozen more soon to join
The search resumes
Beautiful Terror
beautiful terror
great lakes
distant below
doubly invisible
midnight fog
scenic route
cursed thoroughly
eyes straining
every blink
slightly longer
refreshed, energized
dangerous lie
sleep beckons
legs neck
shoulder back
all burn
wake up
speed up
make up
lost time
how far
thirty-three
air thickens
white blanket
nighttime chill
mist rising
vision vanished
stunning clouds
deadly trap
quick prayer
how fast
only three
pray again
carry me
no shoulder
doubt, reason
no relief
unplanned end
no escape
final prayer
no hope
dim lights
coming car
no--wait
cheap motel
almost passed
turn, park
remove keys
grateful tears
prayer heard
great lakes
distant below
doubly invisible
midnight fog
scenic route
cursed thoroughly
eyes straining
every blink
slightly longer
refreshed, energized
dangerous lie
sleep beckons
legs neck
shoulder back
all burn
wake up
speed up
make up
lost time
how far
thirty-three
air thickens
white blanket
nighttime chill
mist rising
vision vanished
stunning clouds
deadly trap
quick prayer
how fast
only three
pray again
carry me
no shoulder
doubt, reason
no relief
unplanned end
no escape
final prayer
no hope
dim lights
coming car
no--wait
cheap motel
almost passed
turn, park
remove keys
grateful tears
prayer heard
Lampshade
Your love is like a lampshade
At least, that's the conclusion I've reached
I know that may sound strange
But let me explain
I guess what I really need you to know
Is that I just don't get you
It was that rose you gave me
A nice gesture, perhaps
But it was yellow
Yellow
A color for friendship
Yellow
Like a pat on the back
Yellow
After eight months?
I say that I want to be with you
You change the subject
I tell you that I want a future
You pretend you didn't hear
And yet I cling to you
Like a pebble in my shoe
Aching, irritating, agonizing
But at least I feel something
Or like that time I moved
My green desk lamp went missing
But the lampshade showed up
Not much good anymore
And yet...
It was something to hold on to
Just like your love
At least, that's the conclusion I've reached
I know that may sound strange
But let me explain
I guess what I really need you to know
Is that I just don't get you
It was that rose you gave me
A nice gesture, perhaps
But it was yellow
Yellow
A color for friendship
Yellow
Like a pat on the back
Yellow
After eight months?
I say that I want to be with you
You change the subject
I tell you that I want a future
You pretend you didn't hear
And yet I cling to you
Like a pebble in my shoe
Aching, irritating, agonizing
But at least I feel something
Or like that time I moved
My green desk lamp went missing
But the lampshade showed up
Not much good anymore
And yet...
It was something to hold on to
Just like your love
