iTuneage - recent baker's dozen

1. "Street Waves" - The Chrome Cranks
2. "Lights Out" - Santogold
3. "Da Doo Ron Ron" - The Crystals
4. "My Defiance" - Comet Gain
5. "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" - The Korgis
6. "Green Door" - The Cramps
7. "It's Happening" - Paul Revere & The Raiders
8. "King Of The Gypsies" - Johnny Thunders
9. "Crackin' Up" - King Khan & The Shrines
10. "Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood" - Volbeat
11. "Future Foe Scenarios" - Silversun Pickups
12. "Bruises" - Chairlift
13. "Lusty Scripps" - Fugazi

8-word poem: THE OKAY UNIVERSE, YOU WIN STORY

Even in
A rigged
Game like
Pro wrestling.

* * *

Inspired by Jake Duffy.

1980s-STYLE DAY

I had a dream
it was 2010
the world was
in mourning
because it was
too late

APOLOGIES, CONCERNS

I can no longer stand
the sight of my own
blank
in the mirror
so I’m closing my ears
against the sound
and taking my incontinence
to the outhouse
I’ve heard a death rattle
once already
a cat
named Chernobyl
don’t ask
so I can handle it

WHY I AM NOT AN ACCOUNTANT

I closed the book after a short time and caught myself thinking:
He’s an important poet.

Which seems akin to saying: He’s an important forklift driver.

Unless, of course, the rolling ladder has slipped from under you
and you’re stuck on the top shelf of an Ikea in Paramus, New Jersey,

hanging on by your fingernails and the only words of comfort are
those right in front of your face:

BENNO TV Unit with Casters

In such an instance I should think there would be significant importance
to the driving of a forklift.

*   *   *

I keep trying to imagine the bug you squashed last night. I think:
silverfish, fire ant?

You stare at the wainscoting, concentrating carefully and say:
“No, no.”

8-word poem

Walking pneumonia
Stopped
My poetry
In its tracks.

8-word poem

He survived.
And it filled him
with poetry.

* * *

By MsHellion.

YOU BETTER GET OFF THAT DANCE

Consider the fruit fly and all
it variations I did why not it's
a free country so there in the
meantime when it comes to
tripe everyone gets the same
and that's only as it should be
back me up on this which for
some reason reminds me of
the guy who clearly said I have
no one's back and he was quite
pleased with himself I'm sad
to report wouldn't you be I
mean that's putting the ick in
dick in my opinion but just mine.

TO BE READ IN THE CASE OF MY ABSENCE

Allergy to women's health the
page that comes up done and
repeat until all status but uncheck
all the specialties all the editions
different you'll see a long long list
then go back through them and
submit each particular check
everything but do not touch
discussions scroll to the bottom
uncheck today's patient it is
never used after that you'll see
but this time instead of saying
ready it'll change to finished
that's how you can keep track.

SEEING SEEDS BY THE SYCAMORE TREE

I don't want to know why
anymore in fact don't need
to quick write that down in
ink right it from listing alert
the media whatever that goes
to the top of the list of things
I never thought I'd say or think
or believe and baby that's some
progress we're talking cotton
gin conveyor belt hot comb all
the real deal innovations in a
world where everything shocks
though nothing makes much
difference good and bad news.

WE GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT, I DON'T HAVE ANY INSURANCE, AND THE JUDGE MAKES ME BE YOUR BUTLER

You try coming out of the
Celtic twilight with pants
made from the felt of a pool
table - me, I'm just getting
a flashlight. I'll point it at
the sky and make my own
stars, my own moon and this
earth will turn around me
like I always suspected it
was meant to. You still have
a dream? That's a good one.
Me, I'm all dreamed out after
finally seeing real in a grainy
mirror. Real doesn't blink.

YOU CAN'T HAVE MY INCREDULITY

Sleep into this newness with me after
all I never remembered so many dreams
before or even dared to let them play in
widescreen it's a wonder they haven't
sent you running for cover or screaming
from the room what a gem willing to
stick to me how many days in a row now
and this time for real when you told me
no one's twenty anymore thank god I had
to laugh could have cried who could take
another day of that hell not me the way
you look over my shoulder I finally realize
we're exactly where we've always been
heading can you believe it please believe it.

* * *

For SLY-C.

DID YOU OPEN THE 1960s FLOODGATES? (NOT ELVIS, NOT MARILYN, NOT NOW)

Saw you in a limousine a mile
long and tinted glass like who's
in there imagine my chagrin upon
noticing your scent (jasmine)
color (shoreline gold) and touch
through corinthian leather chrome
layers of metal fiberglass nine
coats of primer paint varnish
crystal tumblers even the ice
had a brand name jesus some of
us really know how to live but
baby all of us know how to die
sooner or later see it's all coming
back to me like our first kiss.

* * *

Thank you to Matt Kenney for suggesting the first part of the title.

THE ROLAIDS NOT TAKEN

We all have something can't
be stomached that we hate
to admit even to themselves
likely the result of a trauma
suffered in childhood insult
to head injury stairway to
the stars what the difference
is i'll never know or tell if
i should find out see the thing
of it is here's a man who tells
it like it is no beating about
the head and face on the court
full dress bluer than you've
ever been and or ever will be.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION

they said the moon wasn't
long for this sorry world
all the good leaves quietly
seeing you taller dreaming
knowing which fork to use
when time shortens itself
whispers make like thunder
clapping out a rhythm best
forgotten you know it'll be
so by morning and in any
case better to be erased
than listening to the same
asides repeatedly better to
hear nothing than nothing

THAT WAS A FINE THING YOU DONE

Relax sunshine it's just
a thing it's happened
before and will occur
again more than likely
you thought you were
safe and you thought
wrong not tragic just
sad speaking of which
the moon over the river
tends to look twice as
bright and reflected
the ripples make nice
tears or is that just
sweat from bad nerves?

I SAW IT, I HEARD IT, I CAN'T STOP REMEMBERING IT

heaven knows anything
goes just doing my
sidewalk act i think
the sea is very much
pretty cleans so easy
makes wood glow the
first to conquer living
space you're glad to
have enough for another
is that heavenly don't
upset us here's to good
friends like to teach
the world so delicious
a very special glass

MOON FOR SOME WHORE

Who could say one way or the
other what lock this key goes
to no bitch on this end just
a blue blanket saltines cab
fare home you'll be back like
you have a choice it is written
in styptic pencil he who shuns
out the specter of tomorrow
sets the table for ptomaine
and no salad forks to boot if
we can walk under stars I can
dance on your grave mind the
ivy someone's been sleeping
in my head and there she is!

8-word poem

What you want:
There;
What you need:
Here.

JASPER

Pre-civil rights south looking limited
janitor wields a mean push broom
but you’ll never catch him not smiling

Even when he sports dual wrist guards
gently placing a day-glo yellow hazard sign
he wouldn’t know from malice
if he was mopping it up

He silently chuckles to himself as if
there’s an amusing story revealed
that he alone sees in the grayish water
slopping on the floor