J o a n T a t e —

Trash Swans 

Play between the cracks 

behind the open dam 

it is so 

so 

60 

bizarro springtime 

familiar steel of toes 

feeling yellow today 

walking on some water 

looking at the ceiling 

ceiling today is the sky 

all of this 

might melt soon 

we'll see how 

i’m feeling 

drunk on a cigarette 

the ceiling is the sky today lucky as we are 

fed by wars 

feeling sick 

or well 

inadequate next to 

Joanne Kyger 

aren't we all 

a nice hotel room in hell 

this body was 

full of potatoes 

made him cum 

11 times this morning 

at least 

i’m happy to report 

the distance 

shrinking 

quaffing 

differential geographic nostalgias

a breeze just starting 

here at least 

there 

soot-brown feathers 

sipping wasted riverweed

i do not notice toxins

neither do they 

5 of them 

and 1 alone 

for now 

thank god 

for now

Fear of the Lord 

Heat lightning 

I follow you home 

Won't stop about the sky 

What else 

Are memories for? 

I dress for the jobs I need 

The heat is almost tenable 

A wall around my body 

Let me cook 

A veggie burger and a cigarette at noon

Whole form a cocoon of moons 

Rapt for anticipatory bluets 

Concrete and rebar nightstand 

I love my life 

D asks about a mystic’s uniform 

I say Cigarettes 

Wet shoes and a one strap backpack 

Couple sets of clothes or a cheap cigar

Honesty 

Bottles of all the same pills 

Mismatched socks from the hamper 

Green and see through habit 

Stuck to your skin 

Making you look like a tunnel 

A little something 

On my chin

You almost take away 

Heat lightning

.