Breathe.

like Tillamook

like bait dogs

like wartime amputees

Exhale.
 

severed by degrees

separated from purpose

tagged, monitored, and roped off

Breathe.

a democracy spelt in all CAPITALS

the population a schoolyard politick

no one will give up their spit wad scud missiles

Exhale.

(T minus 10 and counting)

their cherry bomb napalms

(hey high five!)

Breathe.

their vomiting super models

(counterfeit lunch ladies)

their Beamer standard

Exhale.

(a two-faced mirror, since the other car is a Vespa)

the poor penalized

like a voiceless world of Sneetches

Breathe.

(docter’ette of Seuss and otherwise)

lacking stars on their bellies

and fifty cents a day.

Exhale.

This year

I’ll be better

I swear to the letter

sincerest

go-getter

no fears or

regrets here

no tear, grease

or sweat here

no arrear on my

debt here

no turning

from pressure

no volunteer

> fetter <

the best me here ever

all cheer

and no fret here

–I’ll only get better–

I swear to the letter!

…

(this year)

©Karen Robiscoe

the Faces of

mYth

change

Over

time

starting

oUt

perfect

marred then by lines–

rails

&

regales

&

tall tales

&

bee ess

…

mUst

be the

Reason

They change so,

I guess.

when I play sports

golf /__ ………. o…….

or

—pool→→o → o …..

or bowling ——-O→→→ IIIIIIIIII

>>batting, catching, tossing<<

any kind of aiming thing

when I play sports like that,

I rocket alone!

I get

Birdeez,

Skunks,

and even

Turkeys, alla time–

(dog-earing Homer)

I swear.

Scouts honor.

….

I can’t ever

make the

( basket (

when people watch, though,

< the corner pocket <

that c-r-a-c-k-i-n-g connection

or tin cup, either,

(o(

and that presents a problem

>>Forever a gremmie, never a prose<<

A real problem.

I have to ask everyone behind me

to turn around

when I

T – off.

sometimes you crave

chocolate cake

death by chocolate

but can only find

a Lifesaver

(between couch cushions)

dusty buttered rum

that sucks

and you still want cake

but you eat that Lifesaver, anyway

–stomach turning.

Oz never gave the Metal Man

mettle,

but he did

find it at a souvenir stand there,

and Dorothy got a wicked

pair of vintage kicks

–made for walking–

(and her little dog, too)

but where was she even going?

(her next shin-dig)

everyone knows you only wear slippers around the house,

and the straw man,

well, the straw man. 

He was proven liar

by his very incidence

now wasn’t he…

–albeit a clever one—

while the lion

(rahr, the lion)

might have whiled away

his fearful existence in peace,

a dream away a dream away

had not that trio happened upon him and

taught him he was

afraid.

Q: Alice Little why’d

you wander,

after rabbit

falling under,

lepas lure

was it wonder

–or waistcoat watch

that led you yonder?

A: Neither, nor,

I tell you plainly,

led me forth

No, it was mainly,

–rabbit feet–

I find them dainty

besides the fact,

they’re lucky, ain’t they?

Q: And when below

you quaffed in quarts,

abandoned potions

cakes, and tortes,

growing tall

and shrinking short,

was that prudent

before Queen’s court?

A: I must agree

that judgment failed,

when aromas

nose assailed,

delightful scents

made senses bail

–excepting cakes–

they proved quite stale…

Q: and what about

Mad Hatter’s fest

–that you attended–

on your quest,

> empty-handed <

was that best,

from uninvited

party guest?

A: In retrospect

I should have skipped,

the gathering

or brought some dip,

but in defense

my ass was kicked,

from all that happened

on my trip.