Surrender

I sense the need for strategy, a battle plan, or at very least,
                                    a change.
The inner man is
centering
while appetite of
                                         flesh, unsated
                                                               draws lines.
                       So, I study plot and step,
                                                   a map of curious sorts.
Heat creeps in, elated, breaking
                                    breach of peace
                                         and pursuant, she circles round my frail human variance,
                                                                               exposing weakened will.

To keep within,
                                                  hold fast
to
letting go.
War is a theme, but there are many ways to fight, and
               the true hero, though he
                 evades not danger,
waits for call.
    I crouch and listen.
and when signal sounds,
               shift course,
weave through enemy land.
    Armed at last with quietude, I am unafraid.
                                                  I find victory
                                     
                                       in surrender.

The Mag
Poetry Jam
 

What's Missing

I am writing you in code,
drafting
     memories, sharp
to prompt
yours.

Exploiting.

 My
                   movement,
immovable like
that cafe
                         that
moved and changed -
like we did.


Picture me still,
found broken in two -or
                         three.
A
part is still
yours. Touch my flesh -
                      my
                      makeup.
I am waiting. Stand over
    me, see
what's missing, how hard
             I work to
coexist.

Compare
    me
not
    to daylight droplets,
sticky
and rapacious, though I
am
but to
forsaken fog, though I
      am
    stayed.

Pressure upon
violaceous
pressure...surtout,
put me back together so
I may feel.

 Have I
 mentioned
 my prior splendor- or
                          do you
remember?  Can you
see
still
where I am more
complete
 or are you blinded by
the lack?  Then we both
                   have lost.
Yet, in the mathematics,
            there's a waiver,
                     so now,
loosening vainglory, I
tell a story of long ago
      and of love, revealing.

Imagine wings
              widened, over-
ripe
or a design woven
like a homemade
covering,
tucked
away for years.

 I am
 waking to the
deep
down rage of
youth and tasting all I
never knew.

The Mag

           

Layers of Whole

Maybe you tried
                  to make your way to me,
 but
                  the road was slanted.

Maybe I was haunted,
 the sky
                  striped in grey warning,
scenery, shaming.
                                                                           Maybe, I'm Remorse you can't
                                                                                                                      restore.
                                                                                                                      Record says,
                                                                                                                                  straight twisted
like a strudel.  Who am I to vie or even wonder
                       when
you're changing daily?
It was a nice performance,
but you
           can't deny,
I'm empty now, abandoned, unsteady as Abele but filling out fast.  Do
                        you recognize me, overgrown, scored in shadows?  With
                                                                                                                               the
slight
switch and the twitch in my gait?  The
  whole convoluted scheme, male by design, a low,
        long song
sounding war,
 but I'm cat-like sly,
purring, plotting,
calculating miles, while you mime care -
face painted
blank as white.
              What did you think?  You could
                                                       camp outside my door till you were
                                                                                                          ready?
Well, I'm in
            my prime - it's time for you to worry it
                               through.
 It flows
                                                  flying and hard now, so come in
                                                                              where it's warm, there's
                                                                                                 a footpath
                                                                                                   for you to follow, or steal away at
night, revenge the prize and
     highest price you'll pay.
Man is the reason and woman the rhyme and you
                                   wormed in and I roamed out.  If you could see me now,
                                                in my purple overcoat, bangles of bracelets, fitting in where
                                                 I didn't want
                                                          to -
it would be good for your head.  I can't make out your difference but your signature
                                                                                                                  scrawl gave away and
slandered how I handle
 my name.  Hung on your handwriting, who's gonna cave?  Soon, I'm
moving, the clouds absorbing sense and the air
       is bland.  We're at the wrap up now.  I am swollen, weighty, and departing.  Find me with your flame.

The Mag
Poetry Jam

Let's Leave

Life is too short to work so hard,
         so, let's kiss instead.
Make it a marvel.  Reveal
                 to me your secrets through your embrace. Weave a freckled flower through my hair.

Let's get lost in a diner, dance
               on a table, make
                            everybody look,
make everybody
talk.

Let's
               spend all our money up,
stay too long,
laugh too loud,
cause I don't
want
      to miss this.

Pardon my mess;
I'll forgive what you forgot.  Let's be
                          young and love the world today.
                                                                  Throw away
                                                                                    your list of sins and loss.  File them under the who-cares-anyway tab, and
let's find meaning in this moment, not worrying
                   about what's closing in;
search profundity in the seduction of a jukebox.

Your shape and my color, let's blend and spin and mix and match.
Get right out
               of the core of things, decode
by undressing our hearts, play house and nice for now.

Please, take off early.  Let's
                                   leave
now.

Carry On Tuesdays
The Mag