2.2188 : 04/30/11 : Past is Past

Past is past
and I'll put all thought
of it from mind
the turning point will be
hidden, none will find
some fragrance will be left
in a simple code
but I will turn my back
on what it might forbode

what

2.2187 : 04/29/11 : Affliction

Since I won't speak of my affliction
there's nothing to speak of
this isn't a mountain
that I'll hit the peak of
I'll suffer in silence
just give me a minute
the night its course, my
affliction within it

what

2.2186 : 04/28/11 : Engine

We've heard you boast about your engine
and the battery
we may have egged you on a little
with our flattery
but with one thing and another
we are past the point of demonstration
if you want to keep your funding
follow through your strange creation
you must hook your engine up
to something that can do some work
an oar to row the ship ahead
a fan to blow away this murk
a cleaver to slice up the meat
a dash to churn the butter
hardly matters what the task is
though I clearly hear you mutter
fire the engine charge the battery
and heave a mass some distance
I know it's not your dream job
that dear sir will take persistance

what

2.2185 : 04/27/11 : An Answer

There might not be an answer
not to anything
nobody talks about it
it's got a nasty ring
slaves to entropy
and nothing lasts forever
we pretend that we can
escape these rules by being clever
if there isn't an answer
no perfect way
I guess I have to do my best
and be kind every day
I know it's not impressive
you don't want it on a shirt
but it doesn't seem unlikely
even though it's plain as dirt

what

2.2184 : 04/26/11 : Salad Days

My salad days may be
yet before me
maybe there's always more
to reach out to for free
sure I'm pretending
expect more of the same
I just want to come up
with a better game
Bring me my salad days
my green and hot ferment
give me the call I swear
I will go where I'm sent

what

2.2183 : 04/25/11 : Prong

I only come back
because I fear the prong
despite my nasty habits
I still might end up living long
I've got more important
things to do to be sure
So I deftly dodge the prong
with the dippy verse de jour

what

2.2182 : 04/24/11 : Wrong Question

Must have been asking the wrong question
feel so stupid I just got it
Should have paid attention while
everyone else was shouting "not it"
I can tell you think it's my fault
I can tell you think I blew it
how I turned every stone over
I had nothing and you knew it
Oh the trials and contortions
trying not to heedless ask
the wrong question over again
just to get handed my task

what

2.2181 : 04/23/11 : Daydreams Nightmares

Days I dream about
getting messages from utopia
nights I merely sweat
the worst parts of my day to day
Daydreams, nightmares
So you think you can cope, do ya?
'Cause it's already burning
So we might as well play
I try to dream out
Some way we could get to fixing
Set aside this nightmare
endless debate
but the sides will never resolve
in spite of furious mixing
So it seems utopian dreams
still must wait

what

2.2180 : 04/22/11 : When In Rome

When in Rome I guess
burn it up
every drop and breath and nugget
churn it up
in this cauldron of techno
of logical brutality
no above or below
no moral duality
God the nonsense
Sorry for losing it
should have been paying mind
seen my error and been refusing it
When in Rome as I say
Guess it won't fall apart in a day
is anybody really paying attention
it would be just the thing for a play

what

2.2179 : 04/21/11 : The Thing

The play's the thing
it might be our weakness
it might be nice
if I could just a little, freak less
and just get on
delivering my soliloquys
you'll find me afterward
in the corner head between my knees
and I will tell you
when I find the play's the thing
you're going to understand
lord when you hear me sing


what

2.2178 : 04/20/11 : Ink Spilled

Of all the ink spilled
what has commanded
the king's portion
surely war or romance
or maybe the books
oh these days surely
nothing measures even close
nothing else has a chance
what have I spilled my
measure of ink on
lately it seems just
if only if only
I could get better
I could get it better
if I figure it out
on some night so lonely

what

2.2177 : 04/19/11 : Enough

Like as if I couldn't
get enough
all I could think of
was what else
couldn't hear
the warning sounds
couldn't hear the
whistles and bells
and yet somehow
I got along
though there was too much
of this and the other
It was a rough start
but it was a start
let me tell you brother

what

2.2176 : 04/18/11 : Plus One

Where would I be
right now,
less one more
my mind can't
wrap itself
around that
try not to think about it
close that
black door
May I forever
wear this
plus one hat
I got a good reason
a real good reason
to say it's all looking up
Well I thought you gave me
just one more
but when I looked
you were still
filling my cup

what

2.2175 : 04/17/11 : Creature Feature

It's got 3D surround and
limbic support
used to blast stuff right at the brain
but that got ate up in a tort
the creature feature yeah these days
it gets right inside your skin
settle back relax
and let the creature in
I want to say a million things
but everyone I know I said them
and the creature wants its night
so I must lead you to your bedlam
the creature will be vanquished
at the stroke of dawn
and if I don't want to get caught
in the same net I best move on

what

2.2174 : 04/16/11 : The Newsreel

You're here to escape
but we must punish you before
take a look at the awfulness
outside those swinging doors
still wars of course
and grave disaster
and don't it seem
it all keeps getting faster
but look here's
some strange thing never before seen
might make you think we'll make it yet
so focus on that scene
Quickly now
we'll make reality recede
forget about the newsreel
here's the real feed

what

2.2173 : 04/15/11 : Loop

We'll loop the end about
pull it through tight
it won't ever seem done
this knot I tie tonight
without our loops what would
we be, our telltales and habits
and this world has so many shares
and we fear them like fear them like rabbits
loop back to me comet
old friend, I'll never see you again
what will you look down on
when I've been down twenty and ten
will time ever loop back
or does it change always
I thought to myself that once
as I chased whispers down hallways

what

2.2172 : 04/14/11 : Roll

Maybe rolling with the punches
isn't so bright
When no end to the punches
is anywhere in sight
and the hill is steep
and goes down very far
no place to roll like a donut
to roll like a car
I roll with the punches
'cause shit there they go
and I hate to have to tell you
but I told you so
bright or stupid
I still have to roll
but I tell you the punches
are still taking a toll

what

2.2171 : 04/13/11 : Rock

I rock from anger to crazy optimism
looking to the junction of the prior schism
as I try and try and try and try
when it seems like only one thing could satisfy
get all steely, smash a fist down
I'll die if I can't be king of this town
ha ha ha just a tiny jest
ain't no gold to speak of in my warchest
terrific terrific and where's it leave me
unsatisfied but doesn't quite bereave me
get back to biding and counting the clock
waiting for the next big swing to rock

what

2.2170 : 04/12/11 : Desperate for Lucre

Desperate for lucre
sickening sight
I scorn gold in principle
but can't escape it's bite
the universal solvent
try to claim it's untrue
cold comfort when I want to
shower gems and such on you
I want to take a damn trip
pay someone to do the scut
I want the answer to stop
being but but but
its sick because by so
many standards all around
I am wallowing in riches
opportunity thick on the ground
I've asked to be released of it
perhaps not sincerely
I've asked to be led to
the way of the bird that's early
I've asked for specific figures
or a suitcase full of cash
such a desperate ugly spectacle
buckling at lucre's lash

what

2.2169 : 04/11/11 : Not Poetry

It's not poetry
and you will learn nothing
except my rotten attitude
no significance
oh God and here it goes again
just push on to the next one dude
We're sorry oh so sorry
for the inconvenience
some little upset in the state of mind
I keep trying
some days it feels unfixable
but making a big fuss about would be unkind
to the ones who rely
on my pushing through
and wearing a smile
through the mile thick blue
so excuse all the
unpoetical glop
we'll try again tomorrow
if that's not
too much of a sop

what

2.2168 : 04/10/11 : Essence

If they wiped you clean
put you right in the same place
would you do it all again
all the same looks on my face
maybe there's a random switch
mix things up for old round two
maybe all we are is arbitrary
essence couldn't be less true
all the boring same labyrinths
free will thought identity
metaphysics minds and souls
zero and infinity
couldn't say a thing about it
nothing new it just grinds on
extract my essence from the powder
there's a thought to keep our minds on

what

2.2167 : 04/09/11 : Dry Spell

will the dry spell last
a year or more
as I dream of gold
of a distant shore
as I tunnel down
every layer the same
will the dry spell last
till I lose my name
I just do not care
oh I care a lot
just not about this
and that's what I've got
so I apologize
hope to just snap out
hope that now at last
I've got this crap out

what

2.2166 : 04/08/11 : Better Than 9

I can write songs better
than 9 so far
so why ain't I rich
no trip to Rome
no little car
it ain't because I won't sell out
I'd do it in a blink
maybe I've got no vision
don't know what else to think
hell yeah I have got no vision
all ways scattershot
and still I come back every day
and give you what I got
so what if I can string words
along better than 9
better than the flavor of the month
whoever's steaming up the incline
better doesn't mean a thing
smarter's worse than worse
haul another stillbirth
off away in song's grim hearse

what

2.2165 : 04/07/11 : Wind I've Sewn

When did time get to be oh so
quick like silver
when did I get caught up in
dreams of gold
when did I stop trusting in
my ever after
whenever did I start to feel
oh so old
So this house of flesh
seems to be falling slowly apart
So is every other
damn thing I own
seems that I am responsible
for it all somehow
some mean twist that spun out
of the wind I've sewn
and what would it take
for me to feel free again
truth I can't recall
if I ever really did
maybe the wrong question
they all feel like stupid questions
just another flaw that rattles
underneath my lid

what

2.2164 : 04/06/11 : Evening Prayer

Pull the book down
at the appointed hour
say the evening prayer
hey why do you look so dour
another day
it's like the ultimate cliché
if all you've got to do is pray
well you won't change much that way
close the book at least
you won't see it for years
this student thinks he's ready
and yet nobody appears
and hell the rub
it seems like everyone's a stub
and bobbing around an empty hub
hope something hits me like a club

what

2.2163 : 04/05/11 : Third Attempt

The third attempt:
interrupted
seems the sector
was corrupted
knew in time
it'd come to shame me
left my mark there
so they could name me

what

2.2162 : 04/04/11 : Chances

So many chances
they lose all value
even winning
feels like no great issue
what is the success state
what defines victory
is there even any sense
to such terms in this story?

what

2.2161 : 04/03/11 : Called

Called at last
away by sleep
and hoping to be
long and deep
no time was left
to say anymore
no hint no guess
none to set store

what

2.2160 : 04/02/11 : Age of Alchemy

End it tonight like the age of alchemy
abandon for all time the quest for
the philosophic mercury
no essence, that age is done and through
time to get into the present
on the tide of non-ado
no way in heaven
to assert a final word
but times have been I overcame
I think you may have heard
set aside the midnight magic
toiling over grim retorts
it is healthier by far that way
or so I hear by all reports

what

2.2159 : 04/01/11 : Nothing to Say

Truly nothing to say about this one
I suppose that I hope
that will make it all different
oh but I've been speechless so many times before
I suppose I'll have to face
getting called on the floor
Silence is not forever an option
Someone must speak for the past
Someone for the new way's adoption
Sorry only gets you a little way
You're going to have to
come up with something to say
You'd think with the words
that circle round and round
there'd be no end of them
to wrap around the sound
refusing excuses, refusing half baked proverbs
refusing canned responses
and back jacket blurbs
I dance around it likely I'll forget it all
praying my unwanted silence
leaves a space to hear
a brighter call

what