Friday, October 3, 2014

sidewalks




its sunday morning and the city is frosted. a gray sky swallows exhaust smoke as people rush through; every one way, one wave. 
she stands along the cracked sidewalk. she’s holding a cigarette in one hand, a cell phone in the other.  her nose is red and she twists her hips to keep warm. she listens to the other line.
inhale.
birds perch on power lines.
exhale. 
the train barrels over the bridge above. below are cars building up, awaiting permission from colored lights. first in line sits a golden cadillac sedan. an elderly man and woman are sunk into the tan, leather seats. they are looking forward. she catches their attention.
inhale.
exhale.
twist.
they glance over her. her jeans reflect a broken tv.  metal connects her nostrils. their heads shake in sync as she locks her eyes on them. 
the light turns green.  they are distracted by her stare. but cars begin to honk and soon they aim the cadillac, heads still shaking; they turn away.
the train above finishes the cross; birds take flight into the gray sky.
the cadillac rumbles through the intersection. their heads bobble with the pot holes.
she stomps out her cigarette and watches them pass. she smiles, and puts her hands into her pockets.

him



the stale water sleeping on the counter
purple flowers racing the dungeon of pine
a bowl of stale almonds suffocating my brain
the empty soap bottle tearing my muscles

but the china cabinet with pens and paper
the soul shaper. . .
the picture of a little girl
with no frame
dry sandwiches between my teeth
always new life above the kitchen sink
the fawn peeking through your jungle

and that smile
every time that smile
like drinking cold water too fast. 
we’re the crooked cut, not the color. 

Christmas, missed



I was looking through a trunk of papers.
Trying to be organized, normal.
I found 2 Christmas cards.
They both said Dad.
I didn’t bother opening either.
Instead I used to corners of the envelopes and scraped out the dirt from under my fingernails.
All that dirt he put there,
Leaving me to scrape it out with my heart and soul.