Benchmarked

We spoke mostly of

love,

the lack thereof,

and

overabundance 

I think I rhymed

deed 

with heed

twice

(three times now)

Sorry bout that

Some months I never

wrote

the same poem twice,

others

lasted years 

The seasons were repeatedly

mentioned 

and every once in a while

Solstice

made an appearance

There were so many

$15 words

I didn’t use.

Believe me

I wanted to 

I spoke as plainly as

possible

even when it 

hurt.

I wish I spoke sooner

I should make a

list

of the recurring

themes,

every single flower

That would keep me

busy

for the next few 

miles

at the very least 

 

No Comparison (Similes Only)

I am ready

like a bed 

that is made

to be unmade,

pillows pristinely 

placed and plush

like poodles

at Westminster 

 

Actually

that’s a terrible analogy 

unless you believe that

no one is having more fun

than the toy poodles 

Use Your Outside Voice

Unless you 

are in

a library 

My favorite; kind.

May seems far away. It’s been  

years since I’ve felt that

fevering spring suits me 

and finding the wild

violet seeds I sowed in October 

of ‘25 flowering  

really has lit something 

inside of me

that makes me excited for 

every evening;

kneeling, calculating, being 

in the yard feels so good, right 

now I forget how 

dirty my fingernails are.

Too Rigid to Know I Am Soft

Core memories 

Time travel 

Dive bars

Patios

Lampposts 

Camel Blues

and mousse 

in no particular order