driver

george l stein

my old honda has a bad tranny
and a psychological addiction to painkillers and lube
but whatever he survives seems to make her stronger
and weaker, and he wants to live just a little bit longer
because, they say, anything can happen, and may
and if the heart is truly like a wheel
then she wants more than anything
more than health, more than wealth
more than fresh, high-mileage pennzoil
wants someone to unlock and enter her
wants someone to wrap their fingers firmly
around her supple, stitched leather
turn the key and take her for a spin. it’s true,
sometimes life is barren, other times,
life showers one with fortune
and then sometimes it just rains.
drop the windows, harken the weather
toss the map, pump the stereo
indulge me just this once with premium ethyl, then
let’s just get this over with

just shoot

one says let’s start by you standing there, here
in the inviting doorway of an empty coffin
a prop propped on it’s little end from which
to send forth, to launch, like
apollo astronauts or cuban baseball players,
or small-town freaks seeking the anonymity
and long, sodium-vapor shadows
of the new city in glorious night

and she complies.

photographer’s move and circle
round the ingenue du jour
sharks, at the sighting of silver fins twitching
in the cold, blue-green salt-waters
eyes dart, flashes flash, think
blink, then do it all over
break the fourth wall
then start in on the fifth

at the end, yearbook smiles, everyone says their good byes,
trudges down lost counts of bruised, concrete steps
returns in their individual measure
to the too-familiar place where movement ceases
the recent events become little, lost lambs
even the nuclear burn, full exposure of a mid-day sun
fails penetration at these fathomless depths

the end

the end is not near
but other things have come to reside and linger here
there is transformation by ingestion
aggrandizement by deception. and smoke about a new revolution
around and amongst a generalized shortage and dearth
staring full-on into a setting sun, god, country, and hearth
slow down. the relationship between shadow and subject
open spaces and long-casting light, lest it fall with intent
or wherever it might, other voices, other rooms
shelter, food, soothing vapors and wild mushrooms
i’ve seen a few drawings and tattoos while stationed here
the sun won’t shine and won’t set for ever
take a slow drag, span the clouds expanse, breathe with curious intent
persist until tomorrow or so and see how it goes
rest, sleep, measure, go riding
before deciding

in flight

– george l stein

just once, to take to the sky
in flight, risk fail to try
and if I should die, well, son
everyone dies

there but for fortune

Under Heaven
george l stein

walking in the woods, cautious steps over a gouge deep in the earth
cold river, silver flashing, quick and angry
unforgiving, sideways stepping down a steep hill
to fetch an empty pail, then tumbling head-long into a storm
the dream begins with water, ends in vapor
and pricks the conscious bubble

a turn to everything, there is a season
a time and purpose, it is written
a time for gathering stones together
to greet a sinner or launch a saint in disguise
a time for turning and sowing for an uncertain harvest
then in the fall, reaping the bitter seeds of doubt

this is the time to refrain from embracing
to tear down with a purposefulness and mindful recklessness
a reduction of flesh and hope to cinders and ashes
it is written that this time will turn, as all times have turned
but perhaps, with a mercy, this will be the last
season, time, and purpose under heaven, with a casual cowardice
to turn and run away

Light casts shadow

If motion represents life
then for now, there is life
spinning in arcs and pirouettes
with both artistic and mathematical precision
Three rings and an encore
arise the question of origin
as the latter chapters are introduced
the first words, the first letter to grace the first page
the single drop of ink that foreshadows
the period that will conclude the final chapter
reason and rhyme are lost to time, obscure footnotes and credits
not even an aspiring academic will peruse
not while shows of such eccentric enthusiasm
are performed at all corners and in the empty spaces between
with no interruptions, no intermissions, such wonder
that the eyes forget to blink.
an intelligence of immeasurable magnitude and grace
could construct an opera of such scope and span
but an infinite number of Wagners sit at rapt attention
blindly striking keys and un-endingly repeating themes
where inspiration and perspiration cross into mesmerization
for wasting the dawn, no eternal reward will be given
sleep now,
clear your mind of every truth that you have born witness
while holding tightly to every thoughtful fear that you can find
and I’ll probably see you on the other side,
where I’ll be casting stones, patiently
waiting

Mirada Fuerte
– george l stein

This verse is not about love
lost love, or love’s loss
neither requited nor unrequited love
love lies lost, love lies standing, or love lies bleeding
hallmark or gibson greetings love.
Ninety-nine cent, low-end love
The circular love exchanged between night and day,
juliet’s love for romeo,
or romeo’s love of poison and drama
maslow’s third floor condo of love and belonging
kiyoaki’s love of satoko, the unattainable
Nor his hatred of the available sotoko,
No, this verse is not at all about love
first love, last love, in the name of love
rough love, brotherly love, taboo love,
looking for love or learning to love
fire’s love and desire for gasoline,
or a flame’s lust for the peace, permanence and finality of water
At long last love or love is in the air
picasso and dora maar love,
or vampiric love for plasma, silver, and the cross
This verse is not about love, so
If you came to read an ode to love
You should leave now