River of Steel

Leaning forward Skijump Stance

          jawset faces cutting wind

                   chromeplate eyes scan grey-brown haze.

 

Out of the mountains we ooze

          in a rolling rush downhill

to coalesce in painted metal rivers

          spreading on the shrouded valley floor.

 

Roaring rapids, chrome and glass

                   spray and steam and smoke.

Eddies swirl at on-and-off ramps

Rubber ripples shining wet

          reflect the sun's weak penetration

                   of the brown-cloud glare.

A barracuda's darting dance

          flaunting lane-change pirouettes

          taunts the surly diesel rhinos

          flouts majestic ocean liners,

                   manic minnows fawning in their wakes.

 

An open lane, a gush of gas

A carom off a gravel truck

slomo flight, wheels spinning airborne

graceful leap across the chainlink

a somersault & a half twist

Flying in formation

          with a dozen spinning shards of shattered plastic

          and windshield glass spraying like rock salt soaked in red.

The river curdles, standstill spreading from the snag

          up and down the grid the grinding jam congeals.

Engines whirring idle, gnashing teeth, hot tar and radios.

 

The smoke begins to rise

          and reeks of hair and gasoline and rubber soot

                   and I'll be late again and likely lose my parking spot.

 

Turns Left

A tear of joy

a tear of heart

the tares of life

when leavers part

the part you knead

your needs depart

a life of leaves

and branches.

 

The branches fork

spread from a crotch

the dogwood bark

but bark peels off

peals of the thunder

nervous cough

the coffin creaks

and listens.

 

The creeks a flood

the flowers float

too light to fall

two lightnings bolt

lithe wood is rent

the rent comes due

the dew comes.

 

To do, to die

the die is cast

cast out the doubt

decide at last

the side of right

the right to wrong

the left won.