Haiku, Senryu & Other Shorts

Every year they make
brand-new confetti.

I finally translated
Auld Lang Syne.

It means, “girl,
kiss me,

we won’t stay shiny
forever.”

–December 31, 2017

I swear,
next year

I’m going
to do something

about all these sticks.

–December 31, 2017

It’s bright
it’s bouncy
and taken
in context
it’s easily
the saddest song
I’ve ever heard.

–December 30, 2017
With reference to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”

dishwashers–
I hand Gordon
another poem

–December 30, 2017

When I’m sad and, sadly,
doing the wrong things,

because the right things
aren’t helping,

I listen to Townes.
Townes knew how

to do the wrong thing
in the wrong bar

on the wrong night,
get halfway right,

and, still fucking sing.

–December 24, 2017

I spent an arrow,
sent it right

at you.
I sent an arrow

that didn’t know
what beauty

can bend.

–November 17, 2017

in the verbena
where she drops
her pink regrets

–November 9, 2017

in love–
a suitable place to keep
the fallen

–November 9, 2017

Make me
speak Spanish.

Not because
you do,

not because
lovers

and the moon do.
Because

you do.

–November 7, 2017

‘round numbers–
to the bottom of the hill
with one quick shove

–October 26, 2017

old circles ripple
across her kitchen table
unsweetened

–October 23, 2017

dealbreaker–
she reaches over the bbq
for the honey mustard

–October 19, 2017

I remember
what it is

I like about you.
You keep

pouring out things
that can’t

come true.

–October 19, 2017

(haiku chain)

night letters–
oil lamps light
the hollow

the hollow
of the desk drawer
cedar echoes

cedar echoes
the victrola plays
jimmie rodgers

jimmie rodgers
he’s long she’s tall
6 feet from the ground

6 feet from the ground
they begin to dam
the river

the river
roosevelt means to wire
the valley

the valley
he’ll see her
when he sees her

when he sees her
he’ll tell her
tennessee

tennessee–
no one delivers
night letters

–October 17, 2017

high notes–
the horn section
takes a break

–October 15, 2017

october trees–
first the fortune
then poverty

–October 14, 2017

folded up–
she sleeps
on her suitcase

unalarmed–
the days shorten and
there’s less to forget

— October 2, 2017

To be a bee or not
to be a bee…
Is that even
a question?

–September 20, 2017

outside the church–
from the center of a bell
they hear you ringing

–September 17, 2017

gallipoli–
to love your trench
is the trick

–September 16, 2017

content–
when the noun delivers
the adjective

–September 16, 2017

When the roof goes
fuck it…
so do the corks.

–September 7, 2017

collard greens–
overdressed for the cookout

–September 3, 2017

Wanna know what works?
Always be the white guy
in the plaid shirt

–August 28, 2017

God, baby, I can’t wait
to take you home

and get you out of
those dog ears

— August 22, 2017

If you
were a sack of flour
I’d carry you home
and bake the sweetest bread

whole continents
heavy with flowers
springtime

In the Spring,
when she does little

but hold the flowers.
That’s all she has

and all she has
to do.

–May 29, 2016