Driving At Night

turn to me
the sun throws its last sparks
dies a violet sky
leave this dream of sorts
dream in me
crawl from my skin
rise with the moon
you are more twists and turns
old road to something  unmarked  dark
loneliness begins here
in these trees
or close
a horse gallops from the naked moon
its sweet breath reaches me
frost and dew
stars diamond
throw blue fire
this is all that matters
this universe crowing
this road closed
me shadowless
she detouring to greener meadows
drenched in more moon



JP
10.12.09

A Place In the Blue

he leans toward shadowed hills
roll of thunder
favors them over sun filled meadows
spring flowers spreading in spring grass
bay horses run from him in a winding wind
bathe in dust buck in joy
the barn  gray with age
leans in the same wind
he doesn't say much
she much the same
sitting on a broken cottonwood
sipping cold beer
he wonders
wanders in his distance
the spring creek flows through her
a blue heron spears
she splashes  laughs at a blue sun behind blue cloud
he takes it all in
claims the moon is blue too
they speak in hesitations
a word or two
here or there
nothing more

Alone With Ghosts

the sun dust swirls burning in choking dance
through smoke  blind  you run from the death
of ghosts
the rhythm is to the drum
to the drum
to the drum
lightning strikes dry earth
sparks the tongue
the songs are a cry for the more pleasant death
black skies horizon more blackness 
drown the thunder drumming
oh yes anguish is this dance
oh yes 
blood to mud
oh yes
to smoke covered sun
alone
he is ghost
soaked in the screams
and bleeding
dusk




JP
9.23.09

Fair Haven

at the fair
neon girls squealing in sneakers run

a
ferris
wheel
circles
slowly

cups

spills

a
sugar
sun

JP
3.21.06

The Bucket

well into the well of it
to deep to hear the splash
it fills itself
sinking in the tug  rope
of unseen hands
pulling at nothing
it remains empty
a repeating emptiness
dripping faintly in the wishes
toss of a child's coin

JP
9.22.09

Libby, Montana

Sunday Prayer

no priest in this church
no sermon for the congregation
no one here to hear the preaching word
sing the hymns
kiss the cross

only a halting breeze

crush of autumn leaves

a few nervous birds

weak sun

blush of
blue cloud

you


JP
9.21.09