When it’s her time./ when the first check is here&deposited in savings,/ When it’s her time./ when the pin drops through the camera lens,/ When it’s her time./ when it’s jockey in the mail,/ When it’s her time./ when I just want to listen to Nina Simone./ When It Is Her Time.
when it’s an ice storm,/ no power for longer than you can stand,/ when the verse is a nest, it must be/ to confess./ when i got a line out;/ bloodsworth and Proserpina./
It is her time./ It is her time./ It is her time.
when i remember my own tipping point.
when you chalk yours up to
a generation’s desolation and clawing for
something resembling
control. weight. A carrying.
You are underneath, darling, now what
can i do to help? Have a cookie.
Have two.
Get mad. Madder even. Loose the still.
I became a derelict
—that’s fine, i accept—
by not keeping their ship
afloat. I surrender, you’re asunder.
Oh I must be so powerful.
Even now, I swim the same
sea—yet vast, yet oracle;
skim the surf
while at bottom,
the sands, the deep, and theirs eat
the planks, the convoluted halls,
the mezzanine. A clinic
of leisurely reign.
In so deep you have to remind yourself the water is moving.
Saw this poem coming from a
mile away.
Had me in its sights.
That guitar—neck snapped right
at the base.
Heavy gauge strings now
heavy gauge coils.
I broke it. I snapped.
Here you go, have it
back.
Oh, this feels good—a sink
into the warm bath.
You did bargain for this
whether you
know it or not.
An elegy; I best be on
my way.
broke meter
Maestro of form so above
it all, neglected yours.
Pithy thing.
Don’t take that tone with me.
Watch what I
do with it.
When it’s time for
The Grandest Scale.
You woke me up, dammit.
The runway. I’m on it
like a bonnet.
You betcha.
Okie doke.
Here lies.
Wrap it up, man. Wrap. It. Up!
when the pointlessly joyous day FINALLY arrives.
when it’s been so dark.
when you recognize other ways you’ve been abusive.
when you are brave and cauterize the wound.
when it’s time to party!!!!
and do I have it in me?
when the swan bled.
Fought first. Fought again.
Then bled quietly away.
When I’ve been burning all year.
Hello gentle readers—
A bit of news: I had the honor of submitting a poetry manuscript to Driftwood Press’ Adrift Chapbook Contest this year, guest judged by thee Carl Phillips. Carl Phillips wrote one of my all-time favorite poems, The Swain’s Invitation; the idea that he might read some of my poetry, when I have long and lovingly read his, thrilled me to the bones.
I placed as a Top 10 finalist. I am so grateful for this opportunity and to have been read. Thank you, Driftwood Press.
Congratulations to the contest winner, Derek Annis, to my fellow finalists, and to all my fellow poets who entered.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
With lots of love,
–K
Sometimes you gotta cry, baby.
I know. I know. It’s okay. I understand. You go on and cry. We all gotta cry sometimes. I love you.
We’re almost there.
We’re almost home.
When you are suspicious, and yet, …it is catchy. Damn it!
But that doesn’t relieve the tension of my mistrust. What is your deal?
… oh, hell. it’s not similarity, is it???
When he watches the movie for the first time,
and says, what. a. Psycho.
When your murky undulations epiphany—I don’t have to
say it like it’ll start a fight. cuz it won’t. he wants it, too.
(Your soft has a nestle here. You built it. Well. And he cheered all the while.)
In fact, he’s hungry for it.
That beautiful twinkling hunger he has
with the devouring undertow.
When unraveling keeps popping up.
this week: for what it’s worth & tomorrow 2
when you need an emergency meeting of the midday society
and tooth 7 is coming in
and i shall know the glories of those sock sneakers Balenciaga
—you mark my words;
who knew?
when pruning and weeding in the morning
—sunsplash soothed—
i didn’t realize that my favorite morning glories
are invasive! … Do I mind? I do mind their throttle
of the others.
I give the purple blooms and snaking vines a talking-to
as I tend my garden.
We can’t be doing this, my love. You know that.
When it’s all moving so dreadfully
slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
treading water for a month
makes you remember calm and hoping it’s true
—the trust of unfolding—
and then you remember the hold Orpheus had on you then.
Itinerary, Inbox, Insomnia
get a hold of yourself. 🙂 / 😐
Increased core strength and she’ll stand.
In weeks, she’ll grip words, too.
Instead of that cold, drafty tower of talons,
House of Gucci again for me.
For they know best gratuitousness.
When you look up from your work and confide to her,
this working is not working.
When one story is about moon drops.
When inspiration sparkling at the periphery—a hummingbird
cake. Toasted pecans are a must;
a can of crushed pineapple
with the juices. WITH. Do Not Drain.
when you’re blue, instead.
when you should take a nap.
Mooncats, when the compass rose
meets the revolution. will no one
say it outright?
They’re there, roadkill
I’m here killing streets
I’m The Hottest.
When The Devil lurks
and the universe repeats itself: bend us to you
We await.
Also, RENAISSANCE,
of course, of course, of course
on repeat of course, of course, of course
because, once again, disco,
Disco never died.
when she is one for whom we
write love letters long after she’s gone.
when you learn about foremilk and hindmilk.
when late-stage capitalism threatens to keep you
from home.
when the bleeding lingers.
when the deep is her sleep.
when i remembered the power of my own voice
bardic bullion 