Archives of "Open Mike" for March, 1996

THE GUILD

What flows through my veins

are psychiatric wards

so weird the moon wanes

Stagnant pools burble

their lifeless water

a crested warbler

babbles and babbles

Voodoo pins and pills

these people are crazed

yelling "Jesus Christ"

my pallor pales

A crack fills with silver gold

and indigo diffused light

I'm stuck with this lot

we form a guild

--*--

IF THIS IS KANSAS

I tried to tell her
I adored her kitchen

its shiny surfaces,
that perfect oven.

Yet felt so shy, I
talked about her ass,

a slight mistake but
important. Intimacy

is so much easier
with strangers. I feel

raw, like silk, or
the wind. I may never

learn to cook.

B.K. Williams Bpoet @aol.com.

--*--

arly

Some with rain,

Some with wind,

The thunders come.

Lightening rivetes night

As three-dimensional

Plates of darkness

That mirror there

The mountain's line

Along the sky.

Closer, the leafless tree,

And at foot,

The rising etherial jingle

Of peepers,

Wanton with first

Desire, trembling

Before the deluge.

Then spring began.

--*--

Alone, in the lonely twilight of my room, I close my eyes and think of you...

Together once more... Within this world alone together just you and I...

No more covering emotions, No more runaway dreams...

We experience the dreams and visions that laid dormont deep within our souls..

Passions fueled by desires, we lock in full embrace...

Emotions demand a complete surrender...

--*--

Eric von Daniken's Coat

by Hugh Waterhouse

Today

picking the pocket

of an old grey coat

from a jumble sale

I found the starting handle

of a flying saucer

with instructions

cunningly disguised

as notes for changing cartridges

in fountain pens

tomorrow

I publish

--*--

How can I explain how I feel?

With all that you give me?

Your touch,

Your words,

Just you.

Deep down,

Far past all worries, fears, and happiness,

Down deep,

Where our love grows stronger,

Everyday that I witness,

The beauty created upon your face.

The strength that you give me is uncomparible,

To no other,

But myself.

You,

Me,

Together,

Strength

Love,

Forever.

--*--

I walk,as pastel figures slowly glide.I walk as vacumn loves,pass me by.I walk I cannot a hand to mine.How small Iam,a poet cries,he writes another useless rhyme.

--*--

Elephant Burial

The old bull elephant

lumbers through the brush

his tusks gleaming in the sun

bleached bones

of another elephant

lie strewn in the dry grass

he glides his trunk over the remains

feeling for identity

gathering a few branches

the old elephant covers his friend

it is a time

of deep sorrow

--*--

Far enough

far enough to see the light

wish I wasn't there

hope is for the weaker minds

I just don't seem to care

follow the path until you fall

don't ask me to believe

leave alone the empty cask

of what we will decieve

in all the blunder

i lassow fate

a distant closeness

between love and... wait!

I WILL GO HOME

--*--

Fog

Phantom ship creeps through waters

hushed in mist. Foghorns question

the darkness.

by Ginny Van Loan

--*--

FUTURE

no

one

can

wait

'til

the

future,

but

guess

what,

you

are

there

Lane84

--*--

Haunted by yesterday you sad child

Broken and ferocious

Once beaten some learn God

Open 'er here he said

Perhaps one lie would sacrifice it

Steel and perfume makes you growl

Picture every voice

Squirm down and go stiff as saltgrass

Would trust ever clean your fever?

.....................www-k3

--*--

Still Life

Searching through smudged leaves

of recollection

Raking out the mottled images

of your passing

Wishing one green pear

Untouched

Among the shriveled fruit

of our words.

(c) 1994 HDRhoads

--*--

y thanks to you for giving space

So to contain our heart born lines

And with our poet brother's grace

Our poerty is now defined.

And I do find this well and good

That we should share our art this way

For can this art be understood

By just the common man today?

One gripe I bring this wordy feast

So being the longwinded sort

Give a score + 8 lines at least

For the old french forms that I exhort! (please...)

PMS

To such elequence I bow
the rules are changed -- now

--*--

Haunted by yesterday you sad child

Broken and ferocious

Once beaten some learn God

Open 'er here he said

Perhaps one lie would sacrifice it

Steel and perfume makes you growl

Picture every voice

Squirm down and go stiff as saltgrass

Would trust ever clean your fever?

Mark Monroe @ MarkusCT

--*--

I glance into the darkness, lacking sight,

wondering what lies out there for me on such a cold and silent night;

It must be something which lies nearby, like the hand in front of my face,

there is nothing more clear which should indicate my necessity to look

inside of me than not seeing the hand in front of my face.

--*--

Salt, sweet and bitter;
it is bitter when it's own,
sweet when of the sea

William Ernest McAlpine

--*--

RAINBOW WORLD

by Mark Sturdevant

NO BIGOTRY IN RAINBOWS

THE COLORS LIVE AS ONE

NO JEALOUSY IN BLUE AND GREEN

NO HATRED RED OR YELLOW

THE COLORS BLEND TO CHANGE THEIR WORLD

A LESSON WE SHOULD LEARN

WITH ALL THE SHADES IN BROTHERHOOD

WE'LL PAINT A RAINBOW

--*--