TSM 176

~ qbit 
Brown and mottled, 
hints of green and greasy,
a dog turd on the pavement
shifts, wriggles, takes flight –

Was after all a bird, evolved
to urban perfection, camouflaged, a
gum-wad and trash 
chameleon –

Jersey side, city tow trucks 
bag abandoned cars,
their rusted fins 
like clipped wings –

A windshield's three bullet holes: me, me, I 
check my rattlesnake boots in the mirror,
my Colorado birthright, Eden 
and Genesis with fangs –

As if the whites of my eyes still hide
my mother's pearl-handled revolvers,
dangerous and cordite
as her smile –

What did you ask me last night 
at 3AM? Are our dreams
just a thin paint job
on the rust of my ambition –

You and I who crawled 
back from the sea 
and returned to land,
a reflux of salt tide –

rises in the sullen river,
lapping at the pier.

The Sunday Muse

28 thoughts on “TSM 176”

    1. Thanks Misky. Apologies I haven’t been around the Twiglets and such recently, has been hard to find time to write during the week. I will see if I can shake something loose from time to time.

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  6. Really a fascinating and strong series of images, qbit. Each one seems individual but they all feed into the inexorable conclusion, and the sense of longing for the genuine in a sea of material, delusional, dangerous crap. I especially liked the fifth, sixth and seventh stanzas, and the perfect final lines.

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  10. As the daughter of a woman with a hollow point heart, I loved the cordite line. I also really love those closing lines. Here we come, walkin down the street, inexorable as a red tide.

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  11. Pretty rough company here, Q. “three bullet holes”, during my twenties
    and single days, one of my buddies came back from Florida with a bunch
    of bullet holes in his car.
    ..

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    1. I first read that as bullet holes in his “ear”, not “car” and was mightily impressed! After those first slurps of coffee however I’m reading more clearly. Still impressed though.

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  12. “Are our dreams just a thin paint job on the rust of my ambition” There’s a novel in that one line. This took me on quite a trip. Life can be rusty and rattled for sure. Great writing!

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