balloballoballo

[balloballoballo]

As-Suwayda Bumble bee 

Hidden within the sweltering 

heat of the middle east,

warm air was rising in waves 

from the melted concrete highway.

I sat no foot on that ground. 

Like fire, the blistering tar 

sat distantly, winding 

behind my dark shades and

tailing through the endless

dessert fog. 

His sleeves hit just below 

the elbow’s crux.

Lifted, right hand riding 

the bucking wheel,

with his other propped up 

by the side of the window.

The black gloved hand

loosely playing with the 

roaring humvee beast. 

With the same beige tan 

faded gray, red and blue ink 

pooled blurry next to 

bright white hairs.

I wonder when he got it.

What was it exactly? Forearm only 

but continued behind the 

navy shirt, too hard, to see 

in the sun. I never 

saw it before.

I almost spoke in the 

shotgun seat as

shotgun man. With

trapped heat in the cargo  

more than the wobbling 

suntanned metal friend 

on the inside of each thigh.

But that steeling face 

was distant and gone. 

[balloballoballo]

joy to the world 

Flaky dust that floats and hovers 

sinks slowly onto hills 

Gently cover winter Daisies, 

which, carelessly it ills

Each one is a nameless ghost 

weak and shallow, come

To find a place back on the earth

on pine trees to be hung

Crowded among millions, never 

a moment more alone 

Than peeking through the hot

warm windows

of chimney dusted homes  

Each pale soul that's come now knows

in biting windy wrath 

Time has come to lay and die 

a second, colder, death

[balloballoballo]

A bend in the Cage

Risky.

I watch what he shows me, every

sight and moment. I take 

and make it 

mine

Eluded, lucid, gone until the night 

he escapes my mind

I’m that nightmare in the shadows 

of his bed, come to me 

I watch him crawl

through sheets ablaze, 

too hot

His body’s core is troubled

At the centre of the sun I’m

blanche again by blessed fire. 

Amiss at most; my moth.

White in the dead of winter, there’s a

lonely heat caught in my throat.

Set it loose,

those thoughts 

on my lap tonight.

I’m no good. You like the risk, 

he says.

Don’t run too far in a sitting chase 

I promise you 

I’m faster.

[balloballoballo]

Rabbit

His face lit red in the candle like 

Ceiling light outside my door 

two steps above him, were shuffling feet on 

the stoney sill 

a person I will never know stood colored 

by the shadows of the doors brick arch 

dipping under darkness into light, veiled 

red through rosie glass  

I gave up on grief and fear 

forever at that doorstep