notes from the mount sac writers conference 27 april 12



love is a pistol loaded with three bullets
hate is a pistol loaded with six bullets
(indifference is a pistol loaded with wet bullets)
and each pistol is pointed at yourself
this is why the wise support control of guns


at dawn, we lie back to back
it is thirty paces to the next point in our relationship
and then we turn
it seems there is always turning
but this turn and this point define ourselves
the barrel turns too


face to face and eye to eye
my aim is true, yes, my aim is  true


cupid had a deringer loaded with poison darts
annie had a shotgun loaded with liberation


i also have a gun
i pull it out at the appropriate moment
(sometimes too at the inappropriate moment)
i may show it to you, let you stroke its shaft
but that is how i get into trouble
gun laws being what they are
the kick of the shot kicking the shooter


i am afraid of your gun
of the russian roulette of our meeting
of the paces i am put through for a blast
this is why i oppose the militia of love
this is why i am a pacifist


* * *


i have five words for you
and none of them is kind


you have no words for me
unless they are formed
by painted eyebrows
or the corners of your mouth


we have no problem communicating
we understand each other perfectly


* * *

you are a perfect storm
you are a tidal wave of misunderstanding
and i am looking for a tree
with which to lash my sanity


* * *


if you share your drugs with me
i may understand
your need for wearing socks to bed
and you may understand
my need to sleep alone


* * *


it doesnt add up
you and me
we are an equation that cannot be proved
a problem that cannot be solved
we each draw a different geometry
in our daily lives
and some variable among us needs to be subtracted


* * *


i am tired of thinking higher thoughts
and just want to sit on the bottom stair
and watch the lower world