WOUNDED

I’ll walk among
the wounded
not for the pain
but the crazy
what’s left on remainder
a membership
in altered states
where I slip behind
purity gates
I’ll walk among the wounded
in a private country
no need to undo me
left behind from birth
for what that is worth
again and again
I will favor imbalance
life is so messy
like a ruffled valance
in an empty room

what do I choose
I’m a fake happily
in a real situation
and then painfully
when confronted
with creation
how do I manage
a lie over and over
I find the ones who know
when to discover
that  water flows
that water will save us
the small in the earth
the deep in the well
I won’t beg for salvation
in a roomful of friends
or strip the lead
from the lip
pull the cork from revenge
life is imbalance
what I wish for is instant
what i get is
fame naturally
it comes from a distance
like a comforting film
arrives like a blister
a gift from the sun
I’ll walk among wounded
mystery’s sister
make me laugh now
make me sinister
be my friend through all winters
bind our feet together
trample enemies forever
walk among the wounded
discern the trust
walk among us
light footed
and make no fuss

I had a doll
many dolls once
they smelled of cinnamon
and nutmeg and since
made my life
what it is
shopping and cooking
like I’d won a prize
and once I saw Sago Nut
in the face of a woman
a banana leaf skirt
so uncommon
meant forever
was never unwanted
I had a doll once
and then she was stolen
a moment in time
left me alone
a walk in a city of
brotherly love
regarded the sister
who had no power
who could not blister
I had a doll once
I thought she was stolen
I found her again
and knew I had won
what little there is
in a family feud
what waste exists
in a land of bemused
the reason is always a hidden thing
like the doll in the attic
like the bird with no wing
stay close to the hearth
that does not exist
pretend to the warmth
forgive and forget
a doll is a doll
whatever the worth
a handshake, embrace
is closer to earth

Laugh like a loon
it has its drawbacks

in a room full
of hacks
you’ll roll breathless
with mirth
in silence undeserved
be upstaged by
a petty second act
where actors care more
about their feathers
you will weather
the storm
bust a gut with chortle
no one’s immortal
nothing’s ruined by fun
laughter has drawbacks
in a room full of hacks
you can still die laughing
and so, there is that