Last updated on November 14, 2023
words by barbara doduk
2.
and
the empty years shifted gears
through the wasted youth
of stuffed bunnies
and losing teeth
roller-skating accidental wipe-out
fearful mother in her other life
green carpet grassed the TV days
baby-sitter blinked its big blue eye
over the livingroom hangout
and
more recluse
leaving behind
the windows open shut
closed the glass house
stoned holes
rocks shattered
blooming woman
young nubile limbs too long
lasting more on winter clouds
Christmas wrapping
tinfoil
and
interested boys
grabbing
reaching
for unattainable flowers
mourning the dead
living ghost
drifting in the shadow figures
black and cold
father confusing
far away big house
swimming in the dirty waters
tent up on the beach
bordering on the cigarette pack butts
my ashtrayed dreams
and
smoking fires
flame-less waste
on the water boat float
endless morning dew
grass blade heavy
fresh
summer sunrises
hanging out
midnight convenience store
stale beer
canned memory
over fruit loops
dripping ice cream
red wine
vomiting friend
the bus driver smiled
and the way wasn’t a set path out before us
and
more came went
and on to the new dawn
romance fantasy
of sleepless nights
long hallucinations
smoking weed
movie house alley
laughter bittersweet sympathy
beaten down
side splitting
best friend sharing
those Bill & Ted giggles
and
the day came in
rushing moment
silly girl lost the bloom
pedals fade
morgue body
on the limp lame tamed sky
words piled on top of all the world
shoulder weight
drowning deep
in the wonder youth of the me inside
and
innocence lost
drifting on the water waves
fishes bubbled
words on empty lip mouths
holding silent questions
without the less plus minus two
the end never justified the mean
and the gun
loaded the cannon
shot me out
and so there began the journey,