within the streets that
rise so high or
steep decent is
where we stopped
for ‘sho-co-lat’
a french cafe
inside a maze of tables
sat the two of us
and warmed us both
as Swiss October
drizzled and
we smiled and smoked
our cigarette
to knowing I
would soon be gone yet
hoping I could stay
when i was just getting over
the artificial world of
america – even making love seems artificial these days –
when i was just getting over
this plastic world in which i
work and play i saw an
electric wire coming out of the ground
and up a tree it went down and
it went into the ground on the
other side it came out of the
ground at the next tree and
i thought . . .
christ,
electric trees
remember how
we used ta laugh the day away
in the comfort of a warm dive
had no cares ta worry ‘bout
no bills ta pay
we could laugh all day now
didn’t we smile a lot at bein’
up all night
we could slide on down by mornin’
yea we could
wouldn’t we smile a lot at bein’
naked on the floor
till the sun came up an’
oh, how i loved you
madly
how we did it all the time
oh, could i live again
as i roll around to meet
it with my head beneath my pillow
i am trying to forget it
always comes around again
stumbling through the clothes and blankets
scattered on the floor
i reach the kitchen
i look into the outside through the window
see the blanket that has
turned into a mountain on my lawn
i put the kettle on the stove
take out a cigarette but everybody’s gone
saturday in a.m. time
soon turns to afternoon
and i’m not ready for another
run through brew ha ha and everything
that makes the day so great
i will just relax today is what
i always say
i never do
and it’s that second cup of coffee
that puts me on my feet to start anew
and i am fascinated by the way
the dishes pile up
so fast i don’t remember eating
that much food
it was only yesterday i finally got my clothes
back to the washer for a brand new
lease on them and now the dishes need it too
and the mirror is no fantasy on saturday
reality is what is there
it looks me in the eye i am in shock
and all i do is stand and stare
if it wasn’t for the night
before the morning
wouldn’t be so bad and i
could simply rise and shine as if
it was the middle of the week
no i never learn a lesson if
i get knocked down
on a friday i’ll be back
on a saturday to turn the other cheek
it’s not your social conscience but
you’re socially inclined
at least you’re
conscious that there’s
someone else
beside yourself
you’re really rather blind however
you profess to know the
tinkerings and
all that shape the mind of man
or is it mankind
man’s humanity toward man
but to administer
the public you would emphasize
efficiency
beleaguer the traditions
human foibles not true!
you charge their ways
you say
what’s good for me
is also good for you
The duck, coming over the sheep house,
quacked twice.
“Hello, duck,” flying high
on such a day, so nice
as this.
And he flew on by
to warmer weather south.
the quiet of a sleeping house
offers no company
mends no wound
the uttered silence
of still night
says only to rest
but i am not tired
i am not at peace
and i want to cripple that silence
for i am wounded
and alone