FAIR CONTROL My psych understood I was after “fair control,” Understand my pain will never get better. Not ever, only intensity changes. Broken up prose like this might get to be a poem but now I am waiting for four pm and my next flight of meds.I’m in wine valley, though no more for me
... read more.Poems
POWER OUTTAGE
Yesterday was tough, my first words something to the effect. “I’m signing out. I’m out of service as of now!” Then the internet went down. Similar to Linus who goes out and it is raining and he says the usual “Rain rain go away, come again another day!” The rain stops, all of it, he
... read more.MANIFESTOS
BREATHE Breathe. Deeply, hold it for three beats, exhale. Repeat. Three times. Breathing we all learned in choir, and when I was taking trumpet lessons, I was told how to stand properly and draw my breath from my balls. He was a Canadian Forces band leader. Our Mennonite choir director had more acceptable words for
... read more.BELIEVE IN HUMANS EVEN IF IT’S HARDER
A SUCCESSFUL ATHEIST You have a Mennonite sounding last name. How is it possible to believe in nothing after every hymn you’ve sung verses you have memorised, your father’s sermons; Bible stories you have heard religious paintings you have seen and seated yourself at St. Augustine’s desk + under Menno’s hat. (Thanks Murray Toews) History says anything
... read more.SHOOTING HIS CUFFS
WATCH he has seen others do it for over a year or more do it turn their well-turned cuffs and close their hands over the buttons cufflinks, hear that hard not-to-hear hand-cuffs as you now see his partner across the table raise her brows asking if she can, no, may help him he drops
... read more.HOLDING ON
READING A BOOK When I think I’m dying buying a new book is a commitment, only half-hearted since I downloaded it instantly for my e-reader and not for my own library shelf waiting for a diagnosis waiting for a prognosis sounds like (tug your ear) punch in the proboscis bury me not with any Bibles
... read more.DEAD OR ALIVE
‘The moment you tell someone you are sick, an element of doubt enters the conversation.” Source? KEEP THE RECORD STRAIGHT Nowhere does it say, “He almost died.” Let me fill that in for you.”I nearly died.”Ask anyone in ICU at 4 in the morning on Pandosy Street, and hour privileged by poets most famously by
... read more.WHERE IS
THIS IS WHERE All I want is to disappear suck the disappointments I have made down the vortex never to desire never to want never to make give me pain give me shame give me suffering cry cry cry I have towels to wipe my cringing face It’s dark in this hole but I must
... read more.SEE Oh let’s see
RACK IT UP Let’s see let’s see there is nothing to see I think we might have one in your size Wait a minute two different poems Focus what you look at but there is nothing boss Nothing to see well then let’s get serious Your feet to the fire, ah yes, FOOT to the
... read more.CRYING BLUES
Wrote this at least 20 years ago. Still happens. One of my depression symptoms that can be accommodated by presenting my reading as a pre-recorded video. One thing has changed though, I’m talking about it and have created LOOK show with the help of more than 12 artists, opening April 29th in Winnipeg, funded by
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