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the feeling of obligation
rare for such a slacker as myself
precious
even when pathetic

some guy
whatever
some guy who wants me to drain him
gives me direction
asks me to come over
to Jersey City

I live here
and the longer I live here
the more it seeps into me
everything that’s supposed to be
the beliefs we can all agree on

scared of the black man?
the African man
the Orishas
how did they become scary?
(again)

Jersey
second rate
trash
body storage units
America

I often joke about
(jokes are only funny when they’re true)
I live in manhattan
because it’s an island off the coast of America
a river separates me from Anywhere, USA

the wind blowing through the PATH tunnels made me feel strange
and waiting forever for those trains
traveling to distant lands

coming up on wide empty city streets
too wide
too empty
no life, no character

crossing over
through the mall
as he suggested
odd
to be in an American mall
at night
empty
Anywhere shops all shut tight
not a person to be seen

lots of signs for restrooms on the third floor
so I took the slow elevator up
though the toilets were empty
there were Caution: Wet Floor signs
and empty mop buckets in the middle of the floor

and signs everywhere: "Circle of Respect: if you see something suspicious text ______ to…"
"crime watchers" for cock suckers

America

I took the escalators down
kept snaking through the horrible empty building
why do they leave these open?
and no one breaks shit?
amazing.

I escaped through an emergency exit in the parking garage
and ambled down Eighth as it started to rain

small parks
niceish buildings
vinyl siding
a crotch that smells of piss
and even if he’s from a royal family
why is he living in Jersey?
font have to try so hard
it’s Almost As Good

I wasn’t going to sleep there
I set out to walk through the streets
looking much more New Englandish than New York does
down diagonal Newark street
glad I was out so late anyway
to see the clouds calm down
release their grip on the moon
let her shine
shine on me
in this old city

I talked with Leo
ailing friend
too exhausted to…

and waiting for an hour at the mouth of the tunnel
the wind blowing by me
had to go to Hoboken anyway
and there got on three men
two very drunk looking irish men
old and haggard
sweet
smiling and laughing
sitting across from eachother
some distance

waiting there
the last man got on
also drunk
probably Dominican
he talked at me
I was watching Heroes
the Irish eyes smiled at me
I could not help but glance up
one too many times
and the Dominican caught my eye
got up
came over to me
I took off my headphones
he told me he loved me
son of god
Jesus
loves us
he took my hands
he kissed them
he hugged me
he kissed my face
sat next to me
held me
pulled my head, gently
to his lap
stroked my hair
told me I was loved

I asked him where he was going
like "Washington heights?"
he answered "home to my wife"
and the door opened on Christopher street

I hesitated
but felt if had enough
almost my fantasy of all strangers loving eachother
cuddling with unknowns on the train
letting this go on any longer would ruin it for sure
so I dashed out of the train
through that windy tunnel
walking down the empty streets
at 3am
not too empty
feeling more like I was in the right place
almost getting what I want
I’m suspicious of something so close
he was just drunk
the wind is just wind
I’m back where I belong
and when I got off the 1 train in my neighborhood
the moon was bright upon me
4am
the sky was clear
I stood on the corner and watched for a while
bathing
then walking up the hill home
it was easy to sleep that night
having sufficiently exhausted myself…

.iP

”
this instrument
like this world
was not perfect when I got here
my mistake
to believe it can be perfect
in the way I think it should be
you agree
like that
it could be perfect

but it never was
and with what I have
I cannot make it so
not now
not on my own

but i have made it better
which is what I can do
part of what I want
so I must be contented with that
for now
”

that’s all I can talk about
the rest I learned
the teaching
was unwordable
something about moving too fast
which is all out grounding
which has to do with insecurity
fear of father
teachers
relating in family
community
with women
mother? sister?

“the way it’s all gonna be”

.iP

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Saturn is sitting on top of Venus
Mars is sitting next to her
Mercury in on his way to run into this mess
and the moon is almost dead

can I stop this anxiety?

I’m not responsible for anyone else’s life
I can’t be
but I can be for my own
right?

Saturn is a big dark bully
but Fuck You Dad
no, Fuck YOU Dad
I’m tired of not living my dreams

I mean
I know
I have
you have
they have

are we all tired?
what about you?
seems all the men I’ve loved stop short
we’re paralyzed
shaking like leaves on the surface of the river
sweeping under
mingling with decay

my body is melting
mixed in with syrup
corn
cream
gummi bears
my arms are goop
and I can’t seem to make my finger do much
I want to sing
but mostly grunt

I’m a fucking God
how’d I turn into such a troll

weight
when does the wind blow?
33 weeks before death and eternal life
again again

October 13th
how do I grow backwards
to move forward?
or trace back my steps
out of this cul-de-sac
the edge of the cliff
I always said i jumped off in desperation
and learned how to fly
but I didn’t
I just fell asleep there
on the ground
I’m still there
sleeping
dreaming
"I am the most free man there ever was, I never stopped escaping"

I stood on the edge
and let the wind blow through me
scattered my leaves to the wind
wild topiary
branches
or less..

I keep talking about the economics of live
to myself
this
all
disjointed
declarations
like hidden poems
blocking communication

hungry for sugar!

I can’t be concerned for them right now
not now
them not living their dreams
is their deal
me
I gotta
I gotta try and fail
I gotta try and fly

I gotta

what else would I do?

.iP

what does that mean?
when I see his name
my heart aches
because he’s someone who can take my shit
tells me to shut up
says all I want is to be annihilated
and he will teach me

and I yearn…

but I don’t think that’s really love
I think it’s just the familiar taste of my wound
my fall-back kink

and even if I ever got it
for real
and all
it wouldn’t really help
how could it?
I have to take the next breath anyway
me
I have to keep my heart beating
mine

for myself
I yearn…

.iP

you know
when the elevator door opens
and you expect a bloody dead body in there
falling out
or blocking the buttons…
just something else to deal with

.iP

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I poured out the kombucha yesterday
made a strong black currant bottle
a strong chyavanprash
and a strong honey one
plus one bottle of raw

this morning I made brownies for the first time in my life
a pinch of cinnamon
a pinch of cardamom
a pinch of nutmeg
(much larger quantities really)
and green coconut oil cut with butter
candied ginger and walnuts

baked it in my cast iron skillet
really yummy

now we’re on our way to Spa Castle

it’s not as hard as I thought it’d be

.iP

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because I told my friend I was stealing his pashmina
and put it on in the cold subway car
and noticed its beautiful quality
then realized a family of Indians were staring at me as if I were a saint
I took off my headphones to hear them
asked the girl to take my picture
jumped off at Jay street
but realized I could get Lemons if I stayed on til west 4th
so jumped back on
to wait after shopping

because I wanted to get some Chyavanprash for Leo
and this would be the best time
I got off at 2nd ave
with a feeling of propriety
and walked the streets with a powerful feeling of nostalgia
now closed out of this
which I never fit well anyway
I walked to the indian grocery on 1st near 6th and wandered

because I took a few drags

because I’ve been such a drag lately
and wish I could just lighten up

because my best friend is dying of liver cancer and there’s nothing I can do

because i had more than a glass of wine at dinner
though I’d fasted all day
I wanted to show there was no hard feelings by staying to eat with them
even though I really wanted to rush home after teaching yoga
he paid me for both days today
usually just one
so I had an extra $100 in my wallet
which was buried under the three cloths my friend who always forgets things left at their house
I promised to fetch them for him
two sarongs and a pashmina

because I was jealous of my friend having a day full of loving
where I spent the night feeling put out
traveling too far
not sleeping enough
to have sex with someone I’ve closed my heart to
because I feel he abused me
because I loved the sex I had with him
and denied me steadily until I became dispassionate with him
and closed my heart
bit took his bait anyway and put myself out
then gave a massage the next day
feeling drained and fed upon
by a guy who said I presented myself as positive
but was just as negative and depressive as he was
but there I was
another $120 in my wallet

because I tried to be nice
and it was ok
but ate with him out of politeness
then felt too hot and heavy to enjoy being at Spa Castle fully
and felt spaced and tired from sex and sleep deprivation
we surfaced
and I wanted to make a phone call
but as soon as it was done
it jumped out of my pocket somehow
and cracked the glass on the front of the screen
I’d put $300 in my wallet in 50s to buy the new phone whenever they got one in
because I’ve been waiting for the white one
and they’ve been sold out since they went on sale
and they just announced the white one isn’t being made coz it can’t be perfect
just like that

because I touched my belt yesterday and thought about those biker wallets
and how a chain wallet would be nice when I replace this one

because I’ve been thinking of closing my account at bank of America and opening one at Chase anyway

because I saw a picture of myself today…
but where?
in my dreams?
one from before that German street parade I bought this one at
and I was still wearing the button coin purse I got in Peru
(that I lost one night in a cab in London while wearing pants, like these, without belt loops)

because I was wearing pants like this when my phone jumped out of the pocket
but not these…

because I was cleaning the house all day today
talking on the phone for hours
when he called
I called him a douchebag
coz he said he’d be over no later than two
and there it was
quarter to five
which I didn’t notice
and was rushing
because I’m always late
so didn’t change pants
just put my metrocard in my pocket and my wallet in my bag
my bag I got from my father
that I rarely ever zip up
because it’s an old bag and the zippers are huge and stiff

because I always keep $100 in my wallet
no more, in case I lose it
so I won’t lose very much
$40 hidden in the back
and I never really worry about losing it
because it’s always on my belt

because if been thinking about him all day
for days
but
subliminally
so didn’t notice
but he called me
and I felt like someone loved me
because I was so sad
under the full moon
and we were fighting
but we knew we liked to fight
and were talking
I was so insecure
I always am
scared and stupid
and he told me he’d teach me to be a slave
but I was.. am.. still all angry that I have to pay him to live me the way I’ve always wanted a friend to love me
I’m obviously not good enough
I feel
my love being worth little
money must accompany it

because the trains were full
and one door was jammed by two deformed adults in mechanized wheelchairs
the man constantly making jokes to offset his uncomfort and making fag jokes about a furry Dominican daddy
funny! ha!
but what a sorry lot in life
but one of my best friends here broke his nose yesterday
really, why would I complain?

because after paying for more than I had intended to get at the indian grocery store on 1st ave near 6th street
I tucked my wallet into my bag crammed with cloth
in a haze
and walked by a fruit stand thinking I should stop and get lemons
but walking on anyway
when turning on St Mark’s I realized I was missing something
and reached into my bag to find my wallet gone
really gone
gone gone
over $500 gone
and my ID, driver’s license from California
credit card and debit
EBT and 8gb flash stick
gone
a stack of my moo cards
if they’d want to return it
I walked my path
not even five minutes from when my wallet was last in my hand
it could have fallen out
but this is an area famous for junkies and thieves
of course I didn’t find it
but was glad my metrocard was in my pocket
and what was left of my phone was still in my bag

because i looked up at the moon and asked “Why? WHY?”
and wondered
what is this luck?
and why do i have so much of it right now?

.iP

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the little girl struggled with the drinking fountain
shattered husks of failed attempts confettied the ground as if a party had been happening
but she was almost done
holding a translucent plastic box nearly full already
she just needed one more
but these two bearded men approached
which unnerved her
causing the lip to slip
and water splash out in a rush

the big one was ravenously thirsty
the slim one looked her in the eye and asked if shed like help
she told him she was fine on her own
yet her body said
yes, please
he took the tiny yellow thing from her little hand
and deftly put it on the spout
started filling it
asking her how big she wanted it

slight
the big one told him his cousins called those half-filled little ones "squishes"
more fun
they don’t explode so easily…

he tied it off and handed it to her
only then seeing her open her case
strange fluid jewels there
looking heavy and lugubrious
like his friend
he smiled at her
while the big one drank

they walked on
but the slim one stopped quick
finding what looked like an intact red one on the ground
he scurried back to the fountain and filled it
just to squishy level
tied it off
and ran to catch up the big one

it was leaking from a pin-prick
which he kept his finger over
holding it up to the light as he walked
imagining biting into it and tasting its superb cool juicy redness

the big one stopped at the next fountain
where the slim one played with him by letting the fruit leak out on his sandaled foot
the big one looked up
around
touching the fountain
puzzled
back to drink
again
they made eye contact
and laughed
and walked on through the sweltering day…

.iP

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walking stick
stick being the size one hand can hold
usefully

balance
your imbalance
walk

.iP

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momma died when we were real young
daddy and Jim and I had to take care of ourselves
daddy taught us hunting real young
but all the limitations over the years has made it harder to feed ourselves that way
daddy was real tough about that
making us have to kill our food when we were boys
skinning and roasting
now there are too many people with big houses and no trespassing signs
daddy’s been dead a while now
we found he had some money when he died
which was real good for us
and all those years with just the three of us we got real stubborn and never really liked having a lady around the house
so it’s just us two now and we come here for dinner a few times a week
it’s a real good buffet
I like it a lot
an their homemade pies keep us both real happy
we’re the luckiest guys alive
I’m glad we still got eachother..

.iP

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a friend offered to take me for a Road Trip
… to Pittsburgh
to pick up some paintings he left there
and come right back.
we decided to make it an over-nighter

drove out yesterday (leaving around 1)
arrived around 10
but the whole city was sold out of hotel rooms
(we were shocked.. i thought the city was a dead horse)
it does look like a beautiful city, shame it looks like there are no people in it…
but there are many houses
many hills
mountains
trees
bridges

i imagine it to be like Portland Oregon
is there anything going on in Pittsburgh?

we didn’t really try and find out
we round a hotel nearish the airport
with a taped-up carpet
and beds that inflated via remote control
.
.
.

we got the paintings this morning
drove back quickly afterwards
but seeing as it took is so long to get there
it took us even longer to return
involving lunch at a crazy local Buffet (with homemade pies! and gigantic people) playing a game of checkers at the CrackerBarrel
and going for a walk in the Delaware Water Gap
… i hadn’t done that in a very long time
i have many memories of the area
and
this is the first time i’ve been there with a good camera

i love my new camera
and i love the forest there
it was so beautiful

i got high from the walk
the drive was great for a perspective shift
and his companionship and conversation also served for inspiration

i threw the pics from the forest up (and a biker on the road, ahhh)
and now i’m heading to sleep

every day is a new day

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when I used to drive
Iyar a friend out here in Buttzville
I think he’s dead now
and I haven’t been here in years

but on our return route from Pittsburgh
I recommended we stop at the opening of the Appilacian Trail and hike for a bit

it is so beautiful
I’d love to come out here regularly
the air is so lush
moist
full of prana
green
gorgeous

I’m just thankful now
and feeling Gooood

(couldn’t turn the air conditioner back on right away… I wanted some real wind… so wrapped my hair)

.iP