Poems

Dog knows

The dog only knows the noun.There’s the word squirrel, and she knows what that is.‘Coyote’ and she goes bananas.Bunny is known.But not ‘not a squirrel’ – she doesn’t know that.There’s no such understanding as the ‘not noun.’She responds the same to not it as it.She knows isness but not the thought of is not being.So …

Dog knows Read More »

Man the switch

If you hang around long enough, you get to do lots of things.But those things are not you.He caught a fish.He slid down a snowy mountain.He smacked a baseball over a green fence.And if you hang around longer, some of those things feel like he did them for eons.He farmed the same dirt for endless …

Man the switch Read More »

Algo

Things show up for you because of the algorithm. “These are not popular headlines,” he said. “It’s obscure stuff.” “So they just show up for you because of the algorithm?” she asked. “Yes,” he said. And the thinking goes that the algo is somewhere, controlled by a team of geniuses. But you’re the genius.You trained …

Algo Read More »

Projection

And who are the bugs that get into the house? What are the parts that explain your existence? What do you want of the self? Of this character? Writing, thinking, persuading, retreating, eliminating, picturing. Athleting, playing, sillying, procreating, responsibling, acting. Coupling, wandering, surfing, searching, seeking. Finding the same things over and over. What is found? …

Projection Read More »

Whitman the heretic

Cryptic can seem pretentious.That owl is hunting every night, but I see it only five times a year. I’m taken care of by generations of workers – as are you.I’m the product of chip manufacturers and farmers.Computers and tractors.MRIs and hammers.Sweat and blood.I am the journeywork of the stars – as are you. I’m here …

Whitman the heretic Read More »