Teacher

‘Stand on the floor’ he said
‘take a chance.
‘Don’t be a bore’ he said
‘sing, dance.’

‘Stand on the stage’ she said
‘gyrating!
‘Disco’s the rage,’ she said
‘dance, sing.’

‘Losing my zest.’ I said
‘No fandango.
‘Duets are best’ I said
‘takes two to tango.’

One Word

Only let it form within our breath once more,
in this moment, waiting for a tiny urge
startling that moment when we form a bubble

and long before the winter rain begins to fall;
before our little sphere floats and spins,
traveling out beyond an open door

and we stand hanging like a stupid doll,
game over, missed the chance to win.
Only let it form within my breath once more.

Morning whimsy

Loud, I hear radio music,
scoff an old muffin cooked yesterday;
breakfast’s an early endeavor
fighting the dream-state I’m feeling.

Why get up early this morning?
5 am’s early for tigers
chasing a contract, the dollar,
seeking to, somehow, do business.

Milton, old seer, knew better
than to question the start of a morning.
Blind as a mole, he dictated
verse – on and on – like a gearbox
driven by forces inside him
singing his song every day.

Three

According to Gurdjieff
(sufi dervish teacher)
inertia needs a third force;
a kind of shock or wobble.

Dare.

Pushing any gyroscope
spins it into a new place,
(a mile or millimeter’s)
turn, from here, to there.