Thursday, April 23, 2009

sestina edit

i do not like waiting to gather speed
patience requires that my attitude turns
over like a coin, facing away from a focused direction  
as i slowly break my concentration to feel
myself settle into a steady cruise-control
toward a destination i sometimes pretend to call home

every time i leave said home
the time i spend away tends to speed
and swirl into a small concentrated pocket of an out of control
instant. i think, where am i now? and as the world turns
i find myself signaling left and right but can only feel
left alone without rights or reasons, without direction

this is when i know i have to ask for directions
otherwise i worry i wont find my way home
darkness, my hands navigating the walls to feel
for a light switch, no luck, my heart rate speeds
my palms sweat and then suddenly the light turns
on, my luck turns over, and once again i am in control

the coin toss can be a measure of control
or a signal that i lack direction
but i understand how to slow down before making turns
and i try to leave footprints to follow back home
so what usually varies is my speed
and if, how, or what i will feel

so i clench the steering wheel, it feels
firm beneath my grip and i am in control
i press the pedal, increasing my speed
and i slap the lever, using my directional
signal the second left, the brown and white house
upon completing that familiar turn

just how many times have i made that turn
but this time, the different sensations i feel
convince me that this is no longer home
the carpets, kitchen counters, remote controls
it all hits me at a dangerous speed

i turn my back on what was home to finally feel
as if i am in control of my direction 
and the speed at which i travel to my destinations.

sestina

i do not like waiting to gather speed
patience requires that my attitude turns
over like a coin, facing away from a focused direction  
as i slowly break my concentration to feel
myself settle into a steady cruise-control
toward a destination i sometimes pretend to call home

every time i leave said home
the time i spend away tends to speed
and swirl into a small concentrated pocket of an out of control
instant. i think, where am i now? and as the world turns
i find myself signaling left and right but can only feel
left alone without rights or reasons, without direction

this is when i know i have to ask for directions
otherwise i worry i wont find my way home
darkness, my hands navigating the walls to feel
for a light switch, no luck, my heart rate speeds
my palms sweat and then suddenly the light turns
on, my luck turns over, and once again i am in control

the coin toss can be a measure of control
or a signal that i lack direction
but i understand how to slow down before making turns
and i try to leave footprints to follow back home
so what usually varies is my speed
and if, how, or what i will feel

and if you can understand just how i feel
because we drive each other crazy for control
in this relationship we cant seem to agree on a speed
or even a direction
could we settle, together, in a home
what remains after the leaves fall and the seasons turn

now i believe it is your turn
to explain to me just how you feel
because i cant make your home my home
and i cant determine what is real, control
the cruise, take direction
because we are barreling toward nowhere at an impressively dangerous speed.

or maybe there will be time to turn around, face home
and feel at ease, realizing we can always travel
in control, with direction at a steady speed.
 

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

ew, that gum was gross

i was going to write a villanelle
or perhaps a sonnet
and as i got lazier i thought about writing a haiku
or just a lonely couplet
and then,
i thought
fuck it
i am ill
senioritis stole my brain cells
and all i want to do
is 
abso
fucking
lutely
nothing
and i almost dont even feel guilty about it.