The Billy Goat Gruff Opened His Mouth and Swallowed The Troll Whole.

Lonely words falling

from left

to right

D

O

W

N

the page

only to land atop each other

in a mess that will never make sense.

Let an Image be an Image.

All you need is love.

But love is the last thing you need.

Do you want to go out?

yes

maybe

no.

All you need is chocolate.

If you're selfless, you'll give me some.

Okay, love.

Alternative Energy

I have always been made of coal.

I just pressed hard enough

to make my edges shine bright enough

to distract his eyes

and her eyes

from what is underneath

the thin, shiny exterior.

It makes them forget that

underneath

all I am is a material that burns

in uncontrollable, underground fires.

Burning for decades.

Oh, You Should Have Heard Them.

El Aire

Stark naked, a soul bearing all

stands, trembling, in the cold sliver of

a winter's moon.

Freed from its breathing shell,

from behind the heavy, weak beat

beat, beating bars -

escaping in final, long exhales

while the winter's moon vainly tries

to clothe the naked,

to feed the hungry soul with its luminescence.

Stark naked, a soul bearing all

stands, starving, in the cold sliver of

a winter's moon.

Fading slowly into night,

a soul discovers that moonlight is food for fireflies -

and while life is short

death is shorter.

The Juggling Comes to an End Now

Where are You From?

I am from grey carpet
white walls
and black furniture.
Airports and changing time zones,
passports and checked bags,
a family of nomads is where I'm from.

I am from BDU's
and MRE's
and TDY's
and OPSEC
and the DoDEA.

I am from "Yes sir"
and "No running in the house"
and "Don't hit your sister"
and "Happiness is a choice"
and "Have you seen my hamster?"

I am from footpaths to
ship rides to
covered wagons
to a new Dodge Nitro.
England, Denmark, Pacheco, Blanding,
Stuttgart, Wurzberg, Zama, San Angelo,
San Pedro, Sagamihara, Syracuse,
Logan,
Minneapolis is where I'm from.

I am from enchiladas, taco salad
Spaghetti, sloppy joes, ice cream
and sandwiches
Hold the gluten, please.

I am from daddy daughter dates
and perpetual nick names:
Ray, Don, Ron, Jon, Nikki.
I am from long walks across great plains
and longer walks across dangerous deserts.
Pioneers
Soldiers
Unwavering Mothers and Wives
A family of Heroes
That's where I'm from.