nuzzled by mist
the coyote trots
through 6 a.m.
intersections, tongue
dangling, panting
beneath a moon
indifferent as blue
Hyundais idling
at lights aching
to flash green
as deer amble
the high school
baseball field
& a jogger stops
to take note of
her twitching calf

all these middle grade bastards
keep pushing the backwards
slide as if thwacking your head
in the stagnant pool at the end
was the coolest playground move

third grade kiss

I remember
nothing but
the taste
of orange
tic-tacs over
chocolate milk,
not even
her name

& there came among them
a great ignorance shrouding
wisdom & compassion &
& fear fell across the land
while cowards bent knees;
democracy died in darkness,
simpering in its last throes,
choking on lies & the egos
of small men wielding grudges
against a history they resent

the last thing
I want to see
is 55 year old
versions of
high school
classmates
holding me
to account
for all those
years of jerk
ass remarks
& innuendo
because I’m
fatter now
& run slower
so keep your
evite in your
mailbox you
damn graying
cock strutters
& boa fluffers

the foggy
thing wraps
tentacles
about your
feet & slithers
up to nuzzle
a knee & you
remember
the dentist
& stylist next
week & some
thing slides
around your
pelvis & you
shiver & say
not today but
do call again
sometime & for
weeks you feel
watched & forget
yet it waits