the poems on this page:

  < there again >
  < jesus from el salvador >
  < the field >

  < today, i'm bringing about world peace >
  < time to rest >
  < one blank stone >





        < there again >
    
    i'm there again
    and i was doing so well 
    you wrote in your letter
    but it can change fast 
    and today
    monday
    going against type
    was better than
    sunday
    when the bodies of the dead
    were lying around 
    with their notes 
    carefully worded 
    hand lettered
    they had pinned to themselves
    not wanting us 
    to misread
    to mistake them 
    for an accident
       at least this once
       let me make something to remember
       after years of peanut butter sandwiches
    read one
       goodbye i didn't want to hurt you
       but i've failed there too
    another
       don't let them know
       you won't get the insurance
    another
       i hope you're satisfied
    bitter 
    too much
    i can't read any more
    but that was yesterday
    and now it's monday
    
          - - -
    



         < jesus from el salvador >
    
    jesus from el salvador is cleaning buildings 
    and tonight 
    he's in my office
    vacuuming and emptying the waste baskets
    and he's making money 
    and paying taxes
    and because of the federal debt 
    his payroll deduction this friday
    is just now going to pay
    for the training 
    of the police
    that tortured 
    and killed
    his wife 
    and two children
    
                  - - -
     
    


        < the field >
    
    the dead 
    will never come to greet us
    so we go to them
    go 
    to this field 
    filled with the frozen dead
    as cold in summer 
    as in winter
    and touch their granite monument 
    and name the few 
    who can be named
    the granite's cold
    and i am cold 
    and for now 
    i'm sad
    but never long enough
    if it was all of us
    it would be 
    never long enough
    
        - - -



    
     < today, i'm bringing about world peace >
    
    This morning i was thinking about world peace
    while masturbating in the shower and all that 
    righteous energy felt so good i hurt myself
    but it's only a little tear and though it did
    bleed a lot it was a small price to pay for
    bringing about world peace.
    
    After that i went to the grocery store and got 
    one of those giant bottles of cheap wine and 
    after a few glasses i can feel it happening 
    i'm bringing about world peace.
    
                       - - -





    < time to rest >
    
    the twilight
    your song
    and slow 
    the night starts
    like the day 
    slow
    and it is time to rest
    no need watching
    anymore 
    the passing day
    its fingers
    pick your face away
    and there 
    is no need to pretend
    it's better to forget
    as this night 
    covers the day 
    as the next 
    will cover it
    and the rhythm 
    of your song
    in the twilight
    listening to your song
    against the bank
    and the river
    silver
    
       - - -
    



     < one blank stone >
 
    picking up a stone
    walking on a road
    i want to cry
    and i'm seven 
    and scared
    of my first day of school
    tomorrow

    in the morning
    the smell of a new lunch box
    as my mom 
    stuffs it with sandwiches

    i'm her first
    and we both 
    don't know 
    what to expect
 
         - - -
              
  

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