Bernstein-Meyer Experimental Poem #53

Will you ask? Will I have to? What would I

say? Is he coming over? What if he notices

me? What if he doesn't? What if I'm stupid?

What if he is? What if the sun fell from the

sky and we died? What if it did? Where did

that come from? What will I have for

breakfast? Why do kids make you sick?

What will I do with my life? What if there is

nothing to do? What have I wasted this time

on? What if I am conniving? What if I'm as

naïve as everyone thinks? Can you be both

conniving and naïve? Should I be more like

her? Or has she tried to be more like me?

Why is he still with her? Why are they both

cheating on each other? Why do I care when

I know he doesn't? How do I know he

doesn't? Why does he get hurt when I

ignore him? Does that mean he still cares?

What he just wants to be friends? Can I

survive loving him if we're friends? How do I

stop loving him? Should I just go find

someone else? Who would I go find? How

would I talk to them if I did find them?

Buddha

Shaped by our thoughts

we become

When the mind is pure

leaves.

Whitman

In the door-yard

fronting an old farm-house,
near the white-wash’d palings,

 Stands the lilac bush,
tall-growing,
with heart-shaped leaves of rich green

With many a pointed blossom,
rising, delicate,
with the perfume strong I love

 With every leaf a miracle
and from this bush
in the door-yard,

With delicate-color’d blossoms,
and heart-shaped leaves of rich green
A sprig, with its flower, I break.

Trash Bags

The pumpkin faces

were filled leaves whose
stems poked out until,
as the wetness set in
and they mouldered,
the stumpy lengths
shredded the bag
and the leaves spread across
the freshly raked lawn.

Burroughs

How beautifully

leaves grow old.

How full
of light
and color
are their last days.

Insult #4

It's not like you

want to be
with anyone
anyway.

You fuck up
every relationship
that has potential.

Tuesdays

Why do I prefer

this weekly torture
to sitting by myself at home?