Brother

     

     

     I am dreaming of my keeper’s brother

     that our hands will fit together

     that nothing needs to be said

     he knows my story

     dreams are such stuff as we are made on

     today I am a traveler

     not remembering the way I came

     far from the one who would lead me home

     my keeper

     dark clouds have been gathering

     I didn’t see them

     my brother

     when I look behind

     three crows stare back at me

     the canny one speaks my name  

     but nothing echoes in this place

     there are statues where we used to live

     some duty’s been forgotten

     someone’s been missing too long

     what am I?

     if not my brother’s keeper

Claw

     be docile now

     each thorn blunted

     means I’m in charge

     for now

     I’m in charge of this one

  even so it’s squirmy

  unsuited to submission

  I can’t get hold of every claw

  it hisses and it still has teeth

  it hides with its wounds and snarls

  in a crawl space

  it disturbs my sleep

     I admit there’s a fierce unrest in me

     that won’t stay put

     won’t understand that you mean well

     won’t relax in your arms

     like it wants to

     though you've given so much

     and doesn’t really trust you at all

Life

a cabaret

but a dream

good 

beautiful

short

hard

a bowl of cherries

a highway

not a fairy tale

precious

worth living