The Desert Reclaims Its Silver
Weeds grow into trees
and words fail them
clouds darken and fill
the plastic swimming pools of their children
children of weeds
kids of the great horned casino in
Winnemucca
one time back in the 80s my dad
walked up to a house here
put a finger in a missing patch
of stucco and peeled off more
as proof of our unforgivable luxury
next morning I took
two quarters from the metal tray
of a slot machine
and the security guard took them
back
Where There Is No Grass
there is no blade
of grass
of steel
of dandelions and blood
where there is
here is
plus one letter
and here there is
no grass
asphalt to every edge
shards
from thrown-down bottles
catch the sun
Night On Earth
I chose a different road
for your last one
not the one through the
neighborhood
placid as you're not
but the one that runs
the dying golf course
and winds back home through glass
I fear my life without these shards
that I'll forget your bite
I fear my life without a dying dog
that I'll be less alive
the lawns are turning placid and
the cars are slowing down
who's going to keep that fucking
squirrel in his place
for all the money I'll save on dog
food, Miles
the nights will not
come cheap
Neighbors
The arbor is on slow collapse
the world is on its ass
and the sky is a cloudy sea
they got married under
walked past it with the dogs
the flaking paint and yelling
the flat tire begging to be new
the world is on its ass
the drip
the flood
the under
thunder
tarps stretched over the roof
in drought
catch the first drops
run with dust