Hellhound Bay

I'll tell you a thing
    a thing to be told
rodent like hellhound
    more fiendish more bold

one moment twere serpent
    an 'terpsichore t'other
any shape it could wear
    as sister to brother

o doubt not you cynic
    each word that I utter
never sandwich so thick
    or spread so with butter

the like never hunted
    not as hungry for prey
as savage in mien
    nor kraken nor ray

oh that bestial spawn
    from dregs o the deep
they say he were born
    without mother to weep

ferocity incarnate
    at ravening prey
parastichopus    hydromedusa
    outviciousing they

o fear ye at midnight
    o fear ye at noon
neither garlic nor crosstalk
    will ward you from harm

take heed of my warning
    bend ear    mind your act
stay clear of the saltchuck
    at walpurgisnacht


for hallowe'en mmx

true blues

Let's not sing the blues      mister
      i got 'nough hurt
spilled to lose
      no kind o moody song
kin take me that place
      where sadness don't belong
how in hell can i bear
      that caterwailin guitar
of down-n-dismal romance
      sure had my share
long time this guy larnin
      what double-dealin do
yore heartache caint cure
      wretched at night
hate mornin too

better move right along
      this feller digs the score
that blues hauling old freight
      no use t feel sore
what's gone's gone
      keep head on straight
if she's right woman
      no matter what's next
wisen up      you kin wait


laurie ashton dec mmi

sense out of sensibility

Tut     promise you     love
    never did peremptory utterance
so get left ad hoc to chance
i'd tell you first
    what occurs by slow or urgent degrees
as we dabble or plunge
    in shallows or deeps
thus rehearsed by petty daily drama met
should rule through neglect of rule

trust in faith can't offer trust
    nor constancy without equivocation

upon each mutual occasion
    foregoing what is yet to be owed
as with avowal greater gathered
    this then and now whenever
mishap by no means misled
    continuity aptly prevails
each to each engaged in together-meant

heart so beats     breath so swells
    upon matters that tacit matter

oh tis tizzy admits malice
    soothly restored for affirmative
fondest affection     tender regard     caring touch
    earthier than precepts of importunate imperative love
determination more ready to equable concern
    by mere fantastic sentiments unmoved

tis t'woosomeness
    un-put-able tongue-wise     other than ...

... companionate elucidation


sept 29th mmx

Before we were wed

Before we were wed
    how often we'd said
love lasts and no foolin'
    we've written the ruling

alas    how come    why
    you 'n i made time fly
too soon and we split:
    never mind and that's it

alas    howcome    why
    time flies to th' limit
twain t' two gone by
    before we can tame it

exposure to wind
    and exposure to weather
blows off yr headdress
    'n sprightly tail feather

epode to life (singing ,,,

oh i looked it over
    happy over
still it's over for a long long time

mcmlxxx__

to laughter insubstantial

You don't have to be ilka moor baht hat
    or doolahlitap
to dig th' infra
    simply touched
when you encounter number's outcome
    death's door
dearth of plenty     dower of none

cheer up    says sparrow
    layin' down bow-n-arrow
cue tip to review

likelihood's where we're at
    certainty - trust in bonce's sponsorship
gone for a burton

trees in breeze     mare's tails in sky
    supply verity to you and i
anticipating rain or clarity
    consulting obedience    habit's tie

on measure    we stake our lot
    crossroads of heart's dilemma
passion a-sighin an' a-sobbin
    topknot counts us out
guts in denial
    as evermore invites us in

suzerain transcendence     sacreblah
    dig the infra
doff thinking capstone
    feel how and what and is
source of up and does and wrests worth

egyptian goddess nut overarching sky
    twin of world-god geb
pictured bending from horizon to horizon
    in touching embrace poised
primitive vision    shattered as visions must
    until beyondwherewithal    manumitted from human whatness

my    oh my    unbounded unmindful at last
    singing paean as visions slip away
until what is not is not

mmix