Happened on the Way

Fire I threw another log upon the phoenix I bagged my feelings, tied them to a stick We strive, I think, for something that will free us. I knotted up my fortunes in a helix I lit a fuse that proved to be a wick I threw another log upon the phoenix. It's been awhile since I been to Venus It's been a mile since I heard that "click". We strive, I think, for something that will free us. We tilt on rocks that prove to be a zenith The road to the nadir is getting slick. I threw a water jar upon the phoenix. We tell our tale to all who would believe us We weave a shawl from all that made us sick. We strive, I think, for something that will free us. I've often played the note on which I'll leave this. Have some of each, you needn't take your pick. I throw a Molotov onto the phoenix We strive, we strive, for something that will free us! 755 pm, 2/6/98, Washington, DC Turn, Turn, Turn.........Turn O turn around Moses behold the oasis Mine own hands've built in the burning soul desert While your back was turning in loud supplication To God for our idols and our lamentations We walk the miles; 95 stiffens. O turn around Dagny and see the glass city I planned and built up in this cognitive wasteland Your knees all were bent in your temples of reason Your necks back in awe, ignoring the middle Where we worked for glory - our words built the story - The day is longer than the night, turn around, the night is longer than the day, bright eyes O turn it up Lordy, crank it to twelve A bolt from the blue ought to even the score Your graces in karma debt prisons have plunged me My right to righteous anger - lost evermore... Your servants who toil, who face you, who replace you... Revered, reviled, forgotten; 95 blossoms. 630 pm, 9/19/00, Washington, DC Untitled Screaming in vain at a blank wall Staring thru pain at a blank wall Singin and dancin at this wall Back myself up against, aching to fade into this wall-- Walls-- Keep me in and out 13 doors make up this house Too many walls to count Many walls make up this house This house, and I'm Clawing for life in the old house Grasping at knives in the shit house Too far and too near, in this crazy house Too tamed under fear of the big house And seven beers tone down this house And thirteen beers bring out this house The holes in this house hang me down Three thousand houses make this town Diss town -- and I'm In and outside of this big small town Taught not to decide in this small big town Born where you died here in this town, we are Born to be tied here in this town. And nine old towns put up a wall And nine cracked walls heard trumpet call For every town that cast you out Too many doors open In -- the -- mad -- house. 155 am, 12/24/95, Kingston, PA Untitled I got behind the power curve But at least I ain't behind the 8 You were not hungry so I plucked The tiny portions from your plate Our leaders kept on falling down The ladders we walked underneath You wept before you read the cards The pits I left you broke your teeth Goodbye for now, how fast I run! Before you know I caused you pain Though I fell over when I led, At least I led you through the rain. 235 pm, 7/10/3, Dalton Hwy., AK Untitled Torn off by west wind Blossoms whack my exposed throat With spring comes vengeance. 605 pm, 4/12/3, Washington, DC --From Gimmicky Chinese Character Poem Section: 烏 (Bird of paradise) I asked the bird, said, who am I? The bird turned black and shut his eye The bird turned black, would not reply 烏 (“wu”), meaning dark or black color, or a raven/crow, resembles 鳥, a general character for bird, and is an almost-homonym for 無 (not). 320 pm, 11/10/5, Work, Taipei, Taiwan 7 pm, 1/13/8, Arlington, VA