not thirsty today

i ain't thinkin'
bout much
but tangle bush
and bramble weed

flys on my legs
wasps on my nose
leaves
blasting yellows
and burnished deep reds

tupelo

yellow dogs
babies wide eyed
french toast railing about butter
picture frame empty
sun bearing down

been given another day

there is an end

i had it all mapped out
philosophy
problems
solutions
in the end
it has been about beer and pussy

ranch

the dog
open road rolling
dirt
blooming high plains flowers
brush
horizon
barbed wire picket fence stretched ahead
like eyes lashes
against a cornflower blue sky

brite clouds in small bunches
hid the afternoon sun
edges lit up

we turned back
complex family barbecue
i ate too much

hours before we would leave
i should have stayed home

the walk was worth it

one morning

sitting by the water
mist tumbles
over the foreground of water
the backdrop is
new spring trees
billowing fresh green

close to the water's surface
fly small black birds
maybe a flock of a hundred
tiny wings spotted white
they flew inches from the surface

never did they dive in
or touch the lake

below the fog they darted
a mating ritual?

i walked away
watching some more
we were solitary
on this cool june morning
my dog "scotch," and i
and this bevy of dark black birdies

come don quixote

so the day moves on
no incredible happenings
a bit of wind
a bit of rain
sparrows litter the concrete
at this patio cafe
my dog eats some ice
cold coffee satisfies
a long walk ahead
tree lined streets
squirrels
pigeons
small children
people doing lawn and garden chores
america stands still
feel no pain
come don quixote
tilt a few windmills

actively pursue happiness

upper class life
venerable image prayer
perfect about change
no tricks
they are told
just the events wished to convey
real life leads as an ass
a different kind of escape
urinating witches
rescue spirals down
fragile too
magical potions
actively pursue happiness
golden into bed
being eaten kind of hurt (hulking legs
deliverance hope
a rose in search of a rose
clever surprise thwarted
beatings act out irony
never fly down
entrance
or to exit

-gishi bian
-robert payne