Studying. All these hollowed out crowns, so lofty it’s dangerous You are vulnerable, charlatan elite.
When it’s cookie baking day And for some reason i always Have to watch Steel Magnolias Because of the women who taught me Recipes to repeat, patterns to shake Who are that strong Who are dead
When it’s a daytime fire When it’s a nap break In between the molasses and sugars
When nothing says Christmas like 19th century Massachusetts and March
When you best Watch out for all these bugs
'25 Concord promise
Exalted, Venus came to town. Under the covers in my dreams, waking me up, an inside love;
No, not you, dear, no vacancy for the past. If you must, you can watch. Can you stand it?
I used to be so grateful to give you my kiss. To make you laugh. Anyways.
Nowadays, the dinner table: ‘It’s not the mindless consumption,’ I sit and consider the grocery list.
I’m building something. Across from her, plates and cups a spectrum, honey, hearty, fresh water.
They say to leave the tree up till January. Prosperity.
When those ginger snaps carried me through— stomach bugs galore.
A band on my finger, —horns, strings, woods, drums iron copper bronze linens and lace— The dance of time marches
When elsewhere, it’s a piss era Shillery par excellence.
And then I realized, I’m on the roof. Wow, that’s bonkers, or Sorry that happened. Anyways,
Nowadays, I take my napping seriously. Bury me in the earth, my strong suit snakeskin I transform like the year back from the dead a snake in the bed again and again.
I open unto my yearning— I am in love again for the first time.
sonic bullion:
coming to you live from sonic bullion radio, WKDC, juicy poetry and tales live from the crossroads. Sit a spell, enjoy a while…
I. When I am beyond vengeance. A shine well-earned; back on my Head-in-the-clouds dancing tongue, pen, and all;
Studying the greats like Sade, Whitney, All Hail Queens Memphis & Texas & Princesses Diamond & Swamp the old-school Gemini, reincarnated
When I learned some carpentry, I have a gift chopping wood and carrying water my hearth is hot I mop with hot salt and peppermint
It’s better this way. All the waxing into balms now, all the stingers hot honey in a cute little squeezy bear, jars on jars, jars and jars. O, How I’ve made comb.
When I am the cavalry.
II. You make me hunger, study devotion, sing my heart out royally, Like Whitney or Mariah or Sade thread the needle livewire—admiring Doechii never reaching, only receiving
[nothing like your ex, the company that sells wooden hips where rhythm goes to die, a grift if I ever saw one naked, unfathomable mediocrity, protected class, a fright.
Did it scare you?, my Verse lover, my dancing lightning bolt, when she penned you down? Some cheap lore for the store What a bore. Like all that fame.
She bore the scent of rank reputation, the false reds, she claims the masters, but]
You can’t buy rhythm.
When your famously big hands belong on my hips again. I walked with you once, It only takes one dream To create eternity not reaching, receiving sharing our Lover's Cup
When I'll meet you in the kitchen, sugar.
III. when the assassin (decoy?) is a cutiepie when of *course* he's Italian folks love when we plug corruption. If the Mafia were smart, they would rebrand There's more where that came from, the scourge of boardrooms everywhere...
When, come to find out, We have the same birthday mirrored years, must be cousins somewhere of course we are, our understanding likewise
Let them think we cannot walk in silence, caro fratello Possa la tua schiena essere guarita Per abbinare il tuo passo ardente Lasciateli credere che la violenza non è la risposta quando La Violenza è La Risposta. ci amano perché capiamo Silence is useful, Those who fear silence, let them Let them fear solitude Let them forgo the walk alone through the woods. Let yourself be Loved. Shine.
IV. When you step into ferocity candles and party, Chameleon when I pop out. Cocoontime over.
Are you mad?! Darling, have some tea While I loose this truth enthroned in my bare breast
Now, eager student, eagle-eyed What have we learned?
In spite of everything to the contrary, There are a lotta smart people out there. Are you mad?! I remain inspired.
V. I deserve this.
I am a fiery vision Autocorrect: furry haha. Velvet, sure.
Quantum leaps. Get used to being seen. Can’t keep their eyes off you.
When the dream is no longer a figment. When I passed the test.
Congratulations! You’re a MASSIVE THREAT. When I haven’t even peaked yet.
Override your nice for your intuition.
When I kiss you unknown, my future encounter I release you, then you arrive And the radio says, Let’s dance. You say, I couldn’t take my eyes off of you.
when the hogwash is hogtied sewn up in this world, a fiery brick.
When I don’t know what you’re still complaining about, but, Be thankful, said Katt. Be thankful for the haters, a string of polo ponies; Let them do their job. When you work for me, honey, cords cut regardless. When you haven’t walked alone, and it shows. Do yourself a favor.
When this year stripped me bare. I am raw, thank you. Sacrificing my wounds for something greater, thank you. Triggers and sparks both medicine, thank you. When I am shameless. Thank you.
When life alone is an invitation to dream Big. Sprezzatura, moltomoltomoltomolto Grazie, and a drink. and a cookie.
When it’s a turning point.
Are they really about to…? When timing is sexual tension between me and reality. Get thee to the riverbed, you wildfire.
When you can just ask the snakes in my hair when I am ready to be perceived. When I cannot even fathom all the unkind things people do, Thank you.
Sitting pretty, entertaining my shadows.
Bulls-eye.
jukebox
when KENDRICK DROPPED & Doechii’s Tiny Desk & the Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes:
hello folks! I am honored to share this notice with you: Boudinhas nominated my poem “tricky honey” for a Pushcart Prize in 2025.
Thank you Lynn Watson and all the good people at Boudin, for your wonderful support and recognition. I am honored. It was a dream come true to submit my writing to you, and the dream goes on.
Thank you all for reading. It’s my pleasure to share my writing with you. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it spurs you on.
When it’s Christmas at Graceland and his sweat —Elvis’, that is— bygone king pours but the keys pour more rain down on me since Rapid City ‘77 nothing those spent red soda cups could hold busy holding him together with suit sequins and leather
Just like the melody, thank God It’s unchained. May we all be. rivers get lonely, too. How could that be? swim, stay next to me. Resembling eternity.
The devil takes the water, The devil makes it mine, The devil tells me, Quiet now, All will be fine... Just give me all your power.
But when it’s six years a wife and nearly two a mother, thank God The waves make clear— The fight is surrender, The devil makes you choose —dignity or else— tortion is just another dance
Spell with your hips, tongue and lips— I am in love with you.
[archival] for the curious, these diary entries (and jukebox time capsules) from the same time period in past years:
When I almost got away with it.
When it beat me up, down the barrel
for weeks. Roughed me.
When i’m coming out of the woods.
When i’m in the clear.
But. You showed me indeed
the tough going sent who going.
1. When… . . … I don’t think you like me very much at all.
2. When you used to be funny. Now your air’s grievance.
3. When you forgot the sugar for the pie.
(The risk you run,
baking without tasting.)
When I found friendly eyes
Surprise, between the boulders and the skulls.
I would have passed by, despite the roses
I so prize. Though your portrait hangs
in my house. For years I passed, loving the color.
Not recognizing you.
But you recognized me. Love is real.
The thing i’m here
to learn—my body—is
enough is enough. I am
riches aplenty before the burning obscene.
When you thought you were the terror.
When I laugh,
because you have. Never. Seen. Me.
When it’s enough of you;
your time is lean.
jukebox:
[archival] for the curious, these diary entries (and jukebox time capsules) from the same time period in past years:
‘I’m glad I’m a revelation and not a disappointment,’
When great conjunct great; When you meet me at the equinox, I’ll telephone but it won’t matter. When I can stay as long as you want, but 6 o’clock will do. When it’s just coffee, not a surrender. When I spent a love afternoon with a darling friend, in between the stoplights, and great conjunct great.
kate carsella 