Fire by Day

Pokin’ me, pokin’ me,
You have awoken me
But now you must let go
Because you’re a-chokin’ me

It doesn’t feel good
To sit in your ribcage
Staring out at a world
Full of axle grease
I need a mother
Who enters the boxing ring
Thinking of pharaohs
And counting each piece

Pokin’ me, pokin’ me,
You have awoken me
But now you must let go
Because you’re a-chokin’ me

Knowing just how to
Tighten a razor blade
Mash up scrap metal
Or lasso a mouse
Makes me feel giddy
As a pedestrian
Like I could just up
And swallow a house…

Pokin’ me, pokin’ me,
You have awoken me
But now you must let go
Because you’re a-chokin’ me

Fire by day and
Pillar by moonlight
You lead me on into
Dreams of new land
I walk in circles
So tired of whistling
Thinking of paintings
I don’t understand

Pokin’ me, pokin’ me,
You have awoken me
But now you must let go
Because you’re a-chokin’ me


11 October 2006

The Croc and Mr. Puddle

Crocodile is at the window
looking in with chin on thumb
Mr. Puddle spots a rainbow
holds his hand out to the sun

artifacts adorn the bedroom
papers strewn across the floor
Crocodile has lots of headroom
but will not enter by the door

fire engine turns a corner
chasing cat and ball and frog
engine wailing like a mourner
drives into a Lincoln Log

Mr. Puddle turns to see it
breaking free from timeless trance
though he knows he cannot be it
loves the notion of romance

now the room has grown much smaller
all the toys are put away
Crocodile is smiling taller
Puddle asks the croc to stay

declining by a shrug of shoulder
reptile thanks him with a grin
human now feels so much bolder
it’s not to say what might have been
it’s not to say what might have been


24 July 2006