EMBERS. A FEW trampled grasses. Having left Orange County a ruin, my father and I must flee.

Have I never seen the jungle, truly, the jungle ? Will we reach it ? There might be a sea between us. There might be a quiet. Do not try to follow.

NA TO SA PI (Sun the Elder, Blackfoot)

“The final two syllables of the name mean grey or white hair of an old man. But they also aesthetically imply ‘to see’, as in to gain insight.” His bright rifle at his cheek nearly he brought down the sun he blinked it away he could see inside precisely what medicine I need.

UPON MY arrival was I greeted.

HARD – HITTING ADVICE for the hard hit, the hard of hearing, the herd hearteners :

Recognize. Look how ugly your baby and purple so tightly it’s carried. Whereas. The face across the car, that is a fine face, fine-faced, fire-winged and she has candy even for you. But don’t take it, it’s for the children, you jerk. Then join the club. It is everybody’s club but each must hold his own meeting and there is always an argument over who is responsible for taking down the minutes, who is responsible for providing donuts. On the agenda is only one item. Where you have caused a commotion, say sorry, say hello.

(optional)
If you wake with a shirt on which a sheeted ghost, his arms poking from his sheet, gives two middle fingers, you never have to wear it. It’s purpose is served. If the Austrian keeps you from sleeping on the subway platform, that is a bonus.

Sawdust. This picture of a bird belongs to someone else. If it belongs to you, please claim it.

OUT OF travel I built a nest. The road passing in strands and I took those strands. Wove a ring, curled in it. I carried one egg, still carry it. The photograph in the egg is albumen wet, becoming less formed, a dark lump — do not think of the fertilized egg that cracked in the sink shit still stuck to the shell what puddled surprise laid out on the stainless steel how quickly you turned on the tap to wash it away — think of this, the egg behind the ribs.

For the ghost of John with no skin on

EASE ON DOWN. Given up the meadow patches between the trees, given up the snow patches, patches of sheep, elbow patches, patch near the pocket of the down vest disintegrating where it catches on the fences, the patch of down down in the snow on the drive — No, not anymore. We are on. We are off.

GRAY through the trees through the window makes a nest for recollection. Is beatitude a memory ? A burrito ? Heavensent their expressions and now where are they ? You have this face. Remember.

MENAGERIE : a) title; b) Eddy, Prince Edward, our barker, geek; c) Bee, Beatrice, Beave, setter of meadows; d) Rotosaur, eater of cars and hardrock miners; e) X, X and X, keepers of the mystery; f) Bradypus, eater of the days, lookout.