Remember the Maine

remember the hooligan
remember the mars remember
the cat's whisper
remember sweaty skin beside yours on a hot humid night
remember french fries remember spanish rice
remember turkish coffee remember swedish meatballs
remember danish pastry remember irish stew
remember    countries    that used to exist 
remember the shopping list remember coupons
remember the car remember your pants remember
sweat remember    laughter    remember the cat's whisper
remember the maine remember the bus schedule
remember your mother remember your anniversary
remember the twist remember the beatles remember the night

remember your lines
remember patriotism
remember the flag
remember the trash
remember to take it out
remember the cat's whisper
remember all of us

from Purgatorial (2004)

Approaches (for Judy)

i dream of you because I want you

i saw you once in another dream
in a coffeehouse in a storm i'd imagined
to keep us both waiting there

i dreamed of you later through a telephone 
device to call
warm voice on the other end but only a voice
walking a wire

i dreamed of you later a major event
i wasn't paying much attention to it
clowns hanging from my tongue
i walked out on a unicycle
robots painted me grey
my rigidity    freezing
my vocality    true
til i walked into my own mouth
and the teeth shown like lights behind me
and the mouth closed
and i sang your praises