Are you where you are right now?

Quantum mechanics, in coveralls smelling of grease,
say it is possible to be in two places at once.

They would know; no one ever answers the phone
when I call about my car. Later: “Hey, man, I’ve been here
all day.” Of course, the questions is: where is here?

Roy explains: the secret to being in two places at once
is being poorly coupled to the environment,
which he certainly is.
How many times have I heard him say
“Man, I just don’t feel coupled today.”

Each of us must choose where he wants to be.
Two places at once? No problem, but choose wisely
so you are there to answer the phone when I call.

March, 2010

Art appreciation 101

is it possible that Donald Trump
and Rod Blagojevich are really
the same person?

could there be
another toupee
at large as bad as that one
ready to pounce
on unsuspecting children?
or can there be
two personalities roaming around the universe
so abrasive or outrageous?

but I’m stating the obvious
like: people who prefer buffets
tend to buy a Thomas Kinkade more often
than a Picasso

October, 2009

Bazaar
Arrival

the line of vans advances
to surrender contents:
boxes, cartons, hope
it moves
and stops
and moves
and stops
all smiles:  “hello, nice day”
“you’re here again”
“good luck”
“please hold the door”
“now which way?”

Space

tables
some draped and ready
most just anchored by the sign
proclaiming future tenants;
find the space
and sigh

Discrepancy
I think that table’s mine…
you’ve built your pyramid
I’ll just find another site;
no ray in this dark quarter
I’ll move to section three
if that one fails to show

Arrange

all planned ahead
each item has it’s space,
the diagram left at home
holds the key;
now improvise
and hope it brings the crowd;
the cords won’t reach
so strike the slides,
too much for this event
no doubt

A Customer
an early sale
an omen for the day?

Lull
 #1
a short parade
balloons held tight aloft
move swiftly past
and disappear;
we are spectators
with our creations
fixed, unmoving

Flurry

did someone raise a gate?
the flood approaches;
a steady stream 
of change,
desire, analysis,
bartered terms,
declined reluctantly;
lyrics waxed
returns to look;
the purchase wrung and wrapped

Lull #2
the crest is past
now time to think
a nap may nudge the clock

Conversations
“her kids have flu”
“we sold the truck
and bought another bike”
“the house was new
but needed work;
we tore it down and got
the mobile home”
“my daughter thinks
this job is dumb”
“just two more hours now”
“the market isn’t good this year”

The Close

the last transaction
melts away
a memory;
time slows
and slows
and slows

Dismantle

the sudden rush to pack
spreads through the hall,
as if a silent bell had rung;
the entry weight has lessened
slightly
not as much as hoped,
the change is tallied
and like perfect shots in sports
suggests a future win

Departure
the line of vans advances
to collect spare elements,
residuum of hope,
it moves
and stops
and moves and stops,
wan smiles:  “next time?”

December, 2009

Birds

the birds are flying south, my friend reports
and 
Facebook brings the scene

a soundtrack by Charlie Parker
or Jim McGuinn would be appropriate
(he’s Roger now I know but everyone
has changed his name
at least once; it’s hard to keep up…
like recalling all your passwords)

a movie on TCM shows Burt in Alcatraz
and birds still flying south

October, 2009

Checking out and checking up

The cover of the monthly magazine
displayed at the counter
along with gum and candy
breath mints and tape
has a photo of someone of whom I’ve never heard
but I’m now privy to intimate details
of her marriage, divorce, children and
most important
the secrets of her diet and health

Each month brings a new celebrity
who had been just an ordinary person
the month before
well, ordinary is a word
that may not apply exactly to these
fungible beings

Upon what does fame these days rest?
not intellect, of course,
though there are those
who show a blaze in unexpected ways;
not good deeds done out of sight
of camera crews, discovered reluctantly
and owned the same;
not gentle souls that teach
our hidden thoughts to sing

Fame’s the same as yesterday
in Wilde(r) days when
truth was only told in merriment
and gossip was the currency of choice

December, 2009


Liquid time

Observation/image 1
the invention of liquid time was merely the beginning
Observation/image 2
in the beginning was the invention of liquid
Observation/image 3
the invention of the beginning was liquid
Observation/image 4
liquid time
liquid time
liquid time
liquid time
liquid time
Observation/image 5
merely the liquid of beginning time
Observation/image 6
liquid beginning
merely time
merely time
merely time