tilt and the game is over

an ounce of smoke is fifty joints
each one lasts four hours
a quart of mescal, tequila or rum
four shots a clip, four hours of numb

a pack of four dogs along the Han shore
would like a meal every four hours
happy dogs roaming free
four friends sniffing, tail wagging

AC/DC pinball machine
not as satisfying to happy dogs
drinking, smoking, listening to music
tilt and the game is over

drinking and smoking and talking our day
book of stories and facts lack
only as good as a shared bowl of snacks
friends in the pack and trusted witnesses

it's better to rust
tilt and the game is over
enemies tilt, phoney friends tilt
uppity relatives tilt and they're over

true love never tilts
you never can tilt your children
(though they may tilt you)
so goes the pinball life

but the jukebox plays songs
when the song is over
the jukebox plays another song
with a memory of favorites forever
the music goes on forever

it'll jostle and shake you
and slap your side
finess you caress you
take a ride
it'll play you and lay you
and feel your pride
but like a sex movie
the feeling's on the other side

what is wanted is union
all on one side, reunion of union
the opposite of tilt
unions never tilt
(though bosses try to tilt them)
friends and unions never tilt

alone with your bottle?
your smoke and your pinball machine?
snacking alone?
playing games with yourself?
you tilt

go to sleep?
pass out?
TILT

until the whole penny drops
that if you shake too hard...
don't shake it too hard.
let it end naturally.
game over.

to Kyoto/Osaka

i wrote sister an e-mail
what will she think?
give us the weather report?
offer assistance?
ask where we are staying?
offer to pick us up?
invite us to dinner?
tell us 'that's nice?'
tell us she's busy, 'too bad.'?
or she'll be out of town, 'too bad.'?
give us suggestions where to go?
take the chance to show hospitality?
repay us the debt she may have?
or let us repay the debt we may have?
think we're trying to mooch off of her?
use Kazuya as an excuse?
see an opportunity to make amends?
ask us to bring her something from Taiwan?
tell us some places to visit?
see it as a chance to visit us in Taiwan
and be just like a brother and sister
doing their most
it's only right to tell her
we'll be eating in her neighborhood
with no avoidance
with no hard feelings

3-24-13

"I'm tired," she said, before we made love

"i'm tired," she said before we made love
"i can't breathe," she said when i kissed her lips
'"the house is dirty" is the first thing she said
when she dusted the broom in my head
she's going to the bank for mortgage money
i'll be the company she says will be bored
so post a payment i did instead
and why didn't i do it while she was gone
"you don't have to wait for me," she said
and later again she said it again
i didn't have to wait for her
i see how true that is

not waiting for you not waiting for me
wait till she opens the bedroom door
caress her after she straighens her bra
wait no more for her response
wait for the money for condo to buy
the money i knew i'd be giving away
it doesn't add up, can't figure it out
a figure of speech but pointless to shout
more than a chauffer when in doubt
play her fool but  joking not
she maybe weak but me be choking
on pits that feel in mouth like rocks

3-20-13

When You Are Gone

when you are gone

all i can do is fill the hours

keep myself busy

until you are with me again

when we are together

it's better to do something alone

and it's better together

when we are alone

 

3-13-13



This Is Not Your City

this is not your city

no city ever is

you can't take power

or be part of it

but you owe it nothing

you're free to leave

make a new place of your own

 

find someone who'll love you

start a new civilization

be each others' witnesses

get along

then make a country

where good folk will be welcome

give away the city

no city ever is

 

3-13-13



Six Places To Eat, But No Kitchen

many places to eat

but nowhere to cook

come to our new home

and take a look

 

 living room's for six-packs

 have a cool drink from the rack

 fix yourself a TV dinner

in the evening it's such a winner

 a coffee table pastry snack

can handle a munchie attack

 

sit up straight now on the chair

for formal dinners, none compares

sit around the dining table

Fred and Ethel, even Mabel

come on by for dinner/lunch

a dining room is  great for brunch

 

pillow talk on hard wood floor

for coffee, tea or leg-room more

lotus-sitting Japan style

low-hung table soft and mild

 may be fair for breakfast there

 pajamas worn or underwear

 

patio picnic at sundown

barbeque with lean beef ground

umbrella palm trees cool and shady

grill shrimp and schrooms for my lady

reggae music, party lights

shih-kabobbing into night

 

then  take a dip in the jaccuzi

the tiki bar will make us woozy

enclosed patio's pelting raindrops

margaritas until the pain drops

guacamolenachos salsa prize

juke box samba, very wise

 

wake up eary for the call

time to sit and write it all

sit with office internet

 morning coffee a sure bet

breakfast danish or warm toast

dripping butter garlic roast

 

 we've got to have a modern kitchen

then i'll stop my stupid bitchin'

for cold ice-cream or red-hot soup

you need a place where you can scoop

 chop and bake it so delicious

for chilling wine and washing dishes

 

3-10-13

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tamed and Untamed

untamed the iww

they didn't encourage me

they remained untamed

 

untamed FDR high school

they didn't encourage me

they remained untamed

 

untamed the Bread & Roses club

they weren't strong enough

they remained untamed

these roots flutter in the breeze

unnourished in me

 

Brooklyn was untamed by Bloomberg

and the whole business untamed me

so i let it go

until Sandy brought me back

 

i never untame my friends

they are all still tamed

though far away

they know why i am here

 

my children and i tame each other

they must be adults

cry and sigh and tame their own

i can't tame them more than i have

and will untame them never

 

my phoenix flower waits for me

she keeps me all together

because she tamed my heart

 i see her with my heart

 

3-9-13