One of her dime-a-dozen lovers probably beat her. That’s why she split. Who knows. Took her car, a beat-up old Chevy, and headed north pass Malibu. Maliboo? That’s right. Somewheres up there she’s got herself a hideaway of some sort. Used to go on and on about it— big cherimoya sun […]
Read more "ROSA’S MISSING"After the demand is over, the heart returns. The heart is a devoted slave. It flickers true like a devotional candle that casts a shadow, monumental, on the walls of St. Saviour. The heart will always return. Each beat of the heart presses, presses on each page of the book till it flips […]
Read more "THE SOUND OF BLOOD GETTING THROUGH AGAIN"That look ahead is winding down slowly as what I thought was faith I find is hope. Last night I heard a lizard scream— no bigger than a minute-hand— caught in a web of dust. Only I could have set it free. I did what I had to do. Today, now, […]
Read more "ACCUMULATING THE PRESENT"In the year of nectar: rich neck kisses. Soothing songs we played, didn’t we? And you said it was possible to never really die. God, but the sun was warm that year, the juice sweet, the loving fair. We didn’t need encores then, did we? And you said it was impossible to ever […]
Read more "SOME SUMMER"No. Do not touch me. Let me be. Let me go on as your rhinestone window lady. When the Santa Anas blow and your hammock tangles in the trees, I’ll still be here at my window, sweetmeats in taffeta. As I raise the black nightshade, my eyes will search the pandemonium— for you, […]
Read more "END OF LENT"The dirt was all that moved there: it was the only thing that changed. It was dust filtering through bent screens, a brown light, grainy— drifting and staying, soft as a hot blessing. It was packed hard, roads of rouge, cracked ruddy old. Rain bullet-holed it, turning the worn paths upside down spilling blood-heavy into […]
Read more "SATURDAY NIGHT"The grainy meowing yowl of fated fighting cats on a wet gray day— it makes the clouds curl, the whole sky sour and curdle. This is the desert’s December. This and St. Augustine, newly gold in paint, blessing the parking lot (just like a saint). It’s just like a saint to care […]
Read more "EVERYTHING FLEW BUT THE FINCH"I need no more time To divine These dull seasons. Reasons Are unreasonable excuses To me. Seems like Traveling time Has arrived: I found a five In my Old coat pocket. The door? I’ll lock it. The garden can go To seed; The seeds Can remain beads In their […]
Read more "CLOUDLESS"This is nowhere near, no— This is nothing like the place Where flowers spill… Or people, Like ourselves, Might take chances. This is a long way off From days That need water so desperately; From the beautiful women With their knotted hair Burnt black by centuries. Their ears were looped with gold. […]
Read more "BENEATH THE SHATTERING SUN"Fortunata Fortunata In rainwater daylight— Dolphins drilling the sea, He came from the cannery With shrimp like severed fingers Bluish-black, gangrene. He brought them in a pot, All daylight in a wash— The shrimp a mound of shrimp, The streets not streets at all But muddy paths of rock That led nowhere, […]
Read more "CAMINO DE LOS LEONES (Road of the Lions)"