Observancy Disassembling: Inversion

It hasn't hit me yet, I can feel it coming;
the rush of blood to the head, the vulgar flush;
like a freight train, late for stupid reasons;
Plain white bright light, moving;
yet, far enough away;
27 days.

The first CD that came off the wall
was the hardest - 50 more down, and
I'm a CD/pushpin removal expert;
craning my neck just enough
but, not too much - 7 hours of
carpet cleaning have already taken
their toll.

Tom Waits' Rain Dogs
came off the ceiling in pieces
leaving an articulated sliced disc
in negative; pristine paint swaddled
in the champa-stain memory
of this, my space.

I had to stop
to take in the process
no photos, please
but songs to take hold
of this moment; wrap it
and stow it away;
time will be when
I'll need the key, maybe
a crowbar, too.

I watched the gloaming
from this obstructed window;
poured a drop of something
insubstantial, yet essential
from each pore, no blood;
translucence - like a scent
breathed for years, then lost
for decades, to find it waiting
spun out of time, web-charged air
a step beyond
some strange door.

What have I wrought?
can I guess; there's no telling
what mischief waits no matter
the choice; the scenery changes
but the lessons are the same
until they're learned;
until their smell, alone
announces the change of skeins.

I built this web;
node and conduit;
paths and patterns;
structure and desire
wind, wave, and gravity
pressing me towards
some edge, not dark
but mystery lit, opaqued
by hanging time; signs
that only serve
to draw me on.

Today I decided to go.
And so, I begin to move;
shifted down, low gear traction,
meticulous detail springs
into focus, a fantasy of
stepping between moments,
every moment, solid and bright
observancy disassembling
storing itself away
for some tomorrow I cannot
yet begin to grasp.

The Needle and the Damage Done

This track was recorded live at La Soiree on January 27, 2007.

The 3-hour show features Steve H. on drums, me on vocal and guitar, sometimes on hand drum (djembe.)

This track was mastered by (and with much thanks to) Aram "Hippie" Cartozian of 21st Century Remastering.

Needle and the Dam...

Late Summer

Late summer when the world,

saturated in energy, hanging

on the cusp of freefall into

cool, Autumn lethargy;

when the lifetime of flowers

has moved into middle age,

when day lilies open brightest,

and the rose and the orchid persevere;

in ardent vigor shed their scent onto

slow light and charged, languid air.

To stand there in the long light

drunk on the light, wrapped in her hair

full of the promise that change will come

but not yet, meantime rest

my head upon her breast

golden-green and soft

as living earth can be

full of her breath, held

drawn in quivering wonder

toward her brazen mystery