Peggy

I used to work
with a shop 'til you drop
kind of woman;
she went crazy at Christmas,
spent hundreds of dollars
just on her mom,
and her kids
must have everything.

The whole year through
she floated around
from office to office
singing carols
like a jolly Mrs. Santa
eyes glistening
as if she'd just bought something
and hid it away
for Christmas.

Restless

fine hair tossed with the blue-cased pillow
       crazy scenes twisted my dreams
sweat drenched my neck
       designer sheets crumpled every angle

my body turned, a rocking barrel
       alarm clock labored through the night
phone rings too early this morning
       tired eyes peep at dawn

Naked and Ugly (Art Student Days)

shock factor
experimental

naked female mannequin
milky white       blushy cheeks
strawberry jam
spread on its body

One arm up
fingers styled--
so-o-o-o-o-o conventional

gooey and ugly
my classmate
calls it art

insanity
get it out of here
kick it       drag it
out of the room
throw it in the trash

give me a still life
landscape       portrait
paint splashes
child-like etchings
anything
except that mannequin

Daybreak

The wind whistled at the moon
      raked every star like leaves
the rain poured a million tears
      stretched a river in flowing veins
thunder cut the clouds in two
      black night closed a torn sky
the sun spoke daybreak
      trees catch the afternoon