A stranger to geography, I woke
to find the world in me. I do not know
how it sneaked in, but every mirror shows
I’ve been transformed. I think myself a joke
of God. My alloyed blood is Amazon
mixed up with Nile. Baobab forests squat
across my face, those eyebrows frame a knot:
the orphaned hills of southern Lebanon.
My English hand is swiping at the scruff
of Northern Ireland, blowing angry breath.
Divided heart, Jerusalem, courts death
while Sarajevo rumbles in my gut.
At first amused, I now fear I’ll succumb
as Abel falls to Cain ad nauseum.
Archive for the ‘Sonnets’ Category
Geographic Anatomy
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009Refuge
Monday, March 30th, 2009irony means I am free
to take up arms and murder me.
I grasp the blade to wield the sword,
my bleeding fingers all ignored.
step down hard so I will feel
the grinding motion of your heel;
destroy the serpent here within,
that wears my face, and hair, and skin.
bitten, I will fix my stare
on snake of brass impaled there
up on a pole where I can find
its brazen coils all intertwined.
Blood on the door and either side
makes just the place where I can hide.
Sonnet: March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009March mists adorn the windows of my view
I’m feeling low; a cold is hanging on
My monitor is full of things to do
Some gibberish my group depends upon
I’ve got a meeting coming up in ten
A “daily standup” — let’s communicate!
Each player will give status round and then
We’ll see if we can meet the promised date
The good news is: no layoffs yet this week
The bad news is: less people, more to do
Each struggling soul attempts to be unique
To justify their presence on the crew
Yet in the midst of all this chaff and char
I take the time to wonder how you are
The Pompous Ass
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009He struts into the room and fails to hear
the indrawn breath of some. He doesn’t feel
his pants advancing down around his rear
exposing what is better left concealed.
He thinks the grins and giggles are delights
displayed at his arrival. Apropos!
He’ll condescend, appease young appetites
with wisdom only masters can bestow.
He chalks the board, elated at the hush
that falls upon the room. He never sees
that every eye is fastened on his tush,
and on his belt descending by degrees.
The class shouts in hysterical rapport
as trousers lose their grip and hit the floor.
