SEVEN - upheaval

in the narrow hallway
talking to julian lennon
about how his father's songs moved so many
sister calls me to the bath
it is overflowing
tiles are breaking
room begins to tremble
waves get stronger
until the house is nearly
jumping up and down
mother is there
panic in her eyes
tell her to take long deep breaths
and my highschool best friend
we're holding onto walls
but the waves only get stronger
until finally the house begins to fall
over and over
wall becomes ceiling
ceiling becomes floor
structure collapsing
we're all trying
to fall gracefully
not be crushed
i catch mother
help her fall onto a soft mattress
finally the motion subsides
can't go upstairs
stairs are upside down
i'll be a good scout
try a window
make an escape
we've landed in the neighbor's garden
their house didn't move at all
i wonder how
our lights are still on

SIX - the things you do for me

my apartment is small and dusty
but you are filling it with color
and light
"see how fast i've unpacked for you?"
you smile proudly
reds and pinks and oranges
dozens of pretty hanging mobiles
twinkles and chimes
so many in this tiny space
i bump into them as i walk
we'll move some toward the edges
clear a path
maybe
but for now
you press me up against the wall
and kiss me
not the fleeting teasing kind
to keep me waiting
a real kiss
sweet and deep
full of color and light

on the other side of my front door
is a bar full of rusty cowboys
singing folksongs

now i am on a hill
a man is strangling me with a rope
i breathe so shallow to make him think
but an hour passes before he believes
i am dead
waking up
takes fifteen minutes
before i catch my breath

FIVE - the faster you crash the less it hurts

roulettes and parlor games
everyone is winning
you went ahead to the party
i stayed behind to paint my face
even though it's only afternoon
i left the door open just a crack
thieves came in
i chased them back with my
double blade crescent knife
but it's not enough
they're in again
greedy
taking all of everything
not just what they need
one is pouring wine into glasses in a cardboard box
so i give him the bottle
earlier
mother and i are flying
hanging on to a flying cane
she is behind me
but also in front
and by my side
we go through walls
not by magic but crashing
the faster you crash the less it hurts
and there are many walls
she is not used to this height
this speed
i tell her to hold on tight with her hands
but relax her shoulders
focus on the green of trees
and brightly colored houses
far below

FOUR - coming down

falling and falling and falling
faster and faster as i drop
makes me dizzy
i hold my pillow close
if i rip it open
would it be a good parachute?
no time
ground speeding closer
but there is water
if my aim is true
it will break my fall
brilliant blue
just a stream now
once a lake
grandmother's cottage was here
mother spent her childhood summers
laughing in this sunshine
i splash down
current is fast
i can barely swim against
find the side
sink my fingers into rich brown dirt
pull myself up to the grass
naked now
a man stands on the other shore
blushing to see me
i search for the perfect green dress
there are so many here
scattered among flowers