too much
too little
or too late

laughter or
tears
or immaculate
unconcern

haters
lovers

armies running through the streets of pain
waving wine bottles
bayonetting and fucking everyone

or an old guy in a cheap quiet room
with a photograph of Marilyn Monroe.

there is a loneliness in this world so great
that you can see it in the slow movements of
a clock's hands.

there is a loneliness in this world so great
that you can see it in the blinking neon
in Vegas, Santa Monica, Venice
SAN DIEGO

people are tired

mutilated either by love or no
love.

we are afraid..
we think that hatred
signifies
strength.
that punishment is
love.

what we need are
fewer police
more good teachers

we forget the terror of one person
aching in one room
alone
unkissed
untouched
cut off
watering a plan alone
without a cell phone that would never
ring
anyway.

dogs piss upon rose bushes
the killer beheads the child like taking a bite
out of an ice cream cone

the ocean comes in and goes out
in and out
in the thrall of that senseless moon.