conversations

deep cramps of stress
inside, outside
neck, intestines
woven through bone

from new people, new rooms
talk talk talk

such careful effort it takes
to thrive in a human ecosystem

but the leaves require no invitation to their celebration

a spider does not require you to say,
"hello, where are you from?"
just lands right in your space
it knows you are from right here
right now
trying to breathe peaceably

the wind does not care if you are on time
unlike tidy human schedules
where tardiness is a demerit
where you cannot gust in and out as you please

I am not required to speak at all
or to adjust myself
but to be present
under a canopy of easy green

prayer

I.
dear jesus
these people are shuffling around
receiving pious marks
i don't know how you put up with church people
God
i don't want any of that
i'm closing my eyes
which appears to be the cool thing to do when you pray
but because i want this to go through
i want heat in my hands
i want to hold the joints
of my new friend
who was so kind
and is sitting next to me now
(it's so nice to have friends)
and why does she have to have chronic pain
i see you in her
you're the fire
God, be the fire

II.
dear jesus
you know how guitar music reminds me of you
and now i want to ask you into my heart again
even though i haven't done that in a while
and i don't think i believe that exactly anymore
it seems a little grotesque
please jesus
open the doors, or the eyes, or something of my heart
just do what you do
to wash away my sins
to wash away my knowledge of nietzsche
to strip away these inherited doubts
please lord jesus
let me close my eyes
and not remember that there's a suffering world
that makes thoughts of you difficult
jesus can we go back to when it was about the music?
this music is so good
it has to come from you
when i hear the beat of the drum
i know it's from you
let that be enough
less words, more music
let that be enough

III.
amen, lord God
fire of my eyes
and it was so

lavish (praise God all ye creatures)

oh, thank God
for the small, sweet crack
of tender salmon
resurrected

for the eyes of exuberance
watching me from across the table

rejoice!
over flames of firelight
(romantics, romancing)

the night marinated in wine
draped in curtains
across alleyways

here (oh here, right now)
let us pour out -- all
from fingertips to lips

dance in delight, dear mouth
the effervescence of flavors
eyes closed
prepared for any prayer
that might be heard