jonberger

She said, "You’re not tall enough
for me."
and I said,
"What?
I can’t hear you
from way up there!"

After that
she loved me
for a little while.

If I were to scream right now
you would not hear it
because of
current issues
between time of send
and arrival.

The cat
that I currently sit for
looking out the window
is wholly uninterested in me.

If this does not speak
for the current state
of catkind
I don’t know what does
but then
I really don’t know
what does.

The Band
is a good band
that I know too little about
which is just about
as generic a thought
as you can get.

I owe you this book.
It was meant to be a gift
but I’ve had it here for two years
or more
and it feels
like a load
that must be lifted
from me
to you
before I can be free again.

It’s not a big book
so the weight won’t be much
for you to carry.

Please
when can you help me
and take
this heavy literacy
from my shoulders
and put it
before your eyes?

From a bay awaythe girl once of my dreams calls
seeking my attention.
I cannot say
why I ignore her.

Nothing better
occupies my time
and surely
knowing if my dreams
have changed
or if reality has
should be worth a few moments’ investigation
but it seems I have none to spare.

I do not understand my behavior
when this occurs
forty years ago.

I understand it
little better
today.

Flux, plus constant grey
plus you don’t know what to say
plus you cannot make the unease go away
plus all you wanna do every single day is disobey
plus that incessant feeling you are somehow someone’s prey.

You’re grabbing at strings
loose, tied to nothing
just desperately hoping
for something to hold on to.

You are grabbing at things
but you don’t know what
and you don’t know where
and you barely care
you just need something
to hold your weight
for just a moment.

If you get the chance to breathe
you can feel the dis-ease
and you can let it flow free.
It can find an escape valve through you.

Then you’ll maybe get to move
get into Ciccone’s groove
and find the life you can improve.
That’s the best you can do. It’s true.

You’re still grabbing at strings
just tied to nothing
simply constantly praying
there’s someone to hold on to.

At a certain point
when you can simply taste the error in the air
see the red and yellow tints all around you
you can just call it a day
and do nothing
or lean into the curve
and produce some fantastic failure
that will be one for the ages
or three for the cages
or five for the plagues
or seven for the plaques.

If you’re gonna fall
fall faster, harder,
more painfully.
Get it over with
in some spectacular fashion.

Control the error.
Revel in it.

Look kid, I know you’re all messed up
over the fact that you’re not getting the prize for the Ram-Way this year
but you just haven’t earned it yet.
It takes a while to get in the groove
for these kind of things
and you’re not there.
Not now, at least.

When you’re older, maybe.
When you know a few more syllables.
For now, though,
you gotta keep doing the rounds
working the perimeter
making your points.
You’re a kid, kid.

You’ll be ready later.
Maybe.

In communication,
at least one person needs to be listening.
I do not see
why that person needs to be me.

I have spent a lifetime
failing to hear
what others make effort to say.
My right ear is mostly decorative anyway.

I am built not to understand others.
How could I suddenly grow
the ability to pay attention
to those about me?

Am I expected now
to learn new things?
Answer me!