skeleton

it's chilly here
the wind goes through
my defenses are down
I'm open to stares
I know they're laughing
children passing
as I stand
exposed
I'm rooted to the ground
wishing I could hide
sink into warm earth
but I'm bound still
forced to wait
'til Kingdom come

late on a friday night

the bus is crowded with awkward faces
but it's not the usual portland weirdness
the lady across the aisle looks like death
or something warmed over with blood
and a skeleton just walked by
the girl in front of me has lines on her face
not from age but makeup in cow shapes
some hipsters complete with flannel got on
oh wait, that's normal

maybe that zombie apocalypse happened
or maybe it's just the end of october

joyful angst

fall has wrapped his arms around the world

blowing fire on the maples

breathing a cold edge to soft breezes

on the corner the chestnut shakes

dropping spiked burs to the ground

inside each hides a savory fruit

when roasted over crackling flames

a taste of snow to come

i stand beneath the chestnut

feeling the warmth of the dying sun

whispers of cold nights on the wind

my heart is torn with love of fall

his pernicious kindness draws me in

fed by the harvest of summer’s death

chilled by the wasteland of winter’s hope

can i tear open prickly capsules

yet not bleed to find life-giving food?

if it costs me nothing

is it love?