Thomas P. Deckard

there is nothing left here

graffiti that serves no one

an uncommented thought

an uncemented sense of self

.

i lost the pattern stumbling

uneasy aches flitting from one place of rest

to the next, in time

it was cold and hard on the skin

encouraging a pinch

an undeserved digging in

to

why would you look away

how could you possibly watch?

.

the space between is learned

emptiness was never prone to guilt

shame is being seen

is being caused

.

here, the jacket fits loosely

mismatched but not in any meaningful way

the strum is indicative of strings at rest

what were the steps

for summoning that thing (you called it

a demon)

we are on our last legs over here

figuratively.

and we want to try "working backwards"

reverse engineering a liveable atmosphere

for ourselves

for the kids

why did you do that?

a question of taste

it isn't like we asked for this

it isn't like us at all

i would write it down but

there's no time

i shouldn't have asked

learning

like the barriers weren't installed

correctly

grated off the big block

symptoms of a blockhead

steam forge congealing poetry

from saucy soups

it is tantamount

to travesty

the words that scuttle out

as heavy bootfalls close in

adding more

to travesty

summit of a rocky profile

lesson

sit with this truth

of an open, eager eye

become discoverer on your dime

.

i have felt cold dew upon the back

listened to the changing wind

and heeded not

the colors of this place bleeding

generously

into my ordinary clothes

complicating simple things

.

bottom or top

penned in sounds like

business more than pleasure

slowly boiled is blissful

heaven sent

but the parcel was lost in transit

they didn't know

or maybe they didn't care

the end result is the same

your ability to remedy this situation

is the same

when the lovers cash out

two fixed points remain

and everyone walks home empty-handed

somewhere, an unchecked nook

behind a busy mail receptacle

please

leave the filled bag at my feet

don't look up

don't make a sound

i will be happy when it's over

and so should you

this isn't what we'll remember

i hear only praise

sentient panacea

a rough shake of time's branch

scattered, blessed goading

it sits lightly on the wind

the whispered crown

and harmonizes minorly

with untamed demons

it is safety, swimming in grey matter

i apologize for watching them closely

for learning to adjust

and for being the better person

stay well fed

i am amber

lidless eye

a kissing shroud entombs me

elicits tears

a violent and becoming end

to wisdom

to the length of one's imprisonment

a new beginning

you were framed before you exited the building

.

the toast went off without a hitch

everyone laughed

.

these weren't factors in the morning schedule but

long division weasels its way into

every spoken spell

.

your fingertips grip with an understated strength

.

you do not

look

like someone strong

.

the coffee is lingering

memory-wise, in the conditioned air

but you are accustomed

.

look cowardly, on tape

.

the birds are nesting in an

antiquated reliquary

hallowed ground

untouchable

sent swimming with scant to show

for it

the blessed land is blasted, least of all

inhabitable

apportioned affinity is unaffordable,

actually

extreme exigency of exosystems hampers

ebullience

in the shadow of shapes far superior,

one wilts

under other obvious decrees the often divine

unwind

and at long last altitude does not affect

adoration

at least,

the grinding of metal teeth

almost flush, always tearing

deconstructing

uncoupling

meticulously bonded molecules

unceremonious

decisively unrepentant

agent of accelerated entropy

heedless of rationale or intent

oblivious to units of consumption

and their soulfulness

designed for one purpose

in case of emergency

break rule

the one nearest and dearest

closest to your clockwork heart

this flips the script

what was up becomes down

what was dire, sound

safety is only an eschewed truth away

when water fills your lungs

let oxygen become optional

when brains exit your head

transcend the mortal form

obstinacy in the face of lethality

is next to godliness

guess we'll have to come back to this

bludgeoned to a crisp, familiar edge

haunting my regular spots

if it isn't left out, it's devious

warm and unannounced

begging to be interrupted

learners in a shadow's path

a welcome slice of wrath

implore me, slept and stormed

uncertain, like the seven or the cherry

beholden to a final dictum

yet to be revealed, if ever

this is the way that each of us turns

always all there

almost always in the dark

but given a brief

try to stay awake

however you can

and whatever that means

they say you don't remember falling asleep

what would that look like?

"try not to lose control"

set up reliable, external stimuli

think

about your current experience

better yet

don't think

about your current experience

don't let "not trying" take effect

wake up

constantly, continually

change things up

and make things up

new tasks

to hold your attention

and whatever you do

don't get comfortable

stay uncomfortable

swearing isn't as hard as it used to be

fealty or veracity, they come and go

and so do i

but dials turning up mean there are options

it means the console was programmed for this

run your hands all over it

see what every option does

get cozy with loud and soft, thick and brittle

but let me know

I'm looking for a side to take

keep telling yourself that

riddle

and keep seeking its golden core

talk to yourself or a thousand

others

stop at no locked door

swing for the fences in between

dreams

force the crowd onto their feet

the show is the quest for precious

answers