This has to start
with a line [or a
thought] – enough
to lift from this
un-stepped path +
get me on [my tea
cools too fast] –
poke keys hard as
if that matters –
I am an artist of
word-reputation +
fail to play well
in my poem halves

I used that word – us –
in conversation about a
near act – or something
of that ilk – a short +
easy to say declaration
about us – our-ness now
a shared secret that’ll
one day be known by all
those others – no guess
at who is – + this – us

‘Felled Sycamore Gap stump has ‘encouraging’ growth’ in insta
headline + I found my metaphor
[without cut-edge o’ blades of
online falsehoods in a post] –
We’ll find truth in concentric
rings [by count of such things
on what sits of a felled tree]
+ know how much was sawn at by
two drunks one night – year on
year – from that amputation is
‘encouraging growth’ – from it
will be a re-set [that profile
lopped] – encouraged hikers’ll
gawp at leaf-shoots in Britain

I will watch a Coen Brothers
movie without knowing Will’s
motivations [they will start
with an actor + a moral] – I
will watch in awe – there in
scenes raw philosophy – pull
from Sullivan’s Travels – an
art in comedic film – Homer
too – three bluegrass voices
explored genre conventions –
[see we have no rodeo clown]

Almost weightless before
filled with a pot-poured
brew – under-sized for a
mug drinker – pinch that
handle without your snap
of bone china – salivate
in anticipation of a sip
across that gold rim – A
saucer [spills-ready] is
held below – you’ll look
at a hand-painted flower
on that pot – art of tea
by a long-dead dabber of
cups – service continues