Cream of Ether Read online

  falls dead within its tarnished case

  "No more," it cries, "I'm broken!"

  but in a voice too small to hear

  above the howling gale

  like dimes, its whispers disappear

  like us, it hates to fail.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Plastered to the heavens

  like napkins beered to bars

  they're tens if not elevens:

  the planets and the stars.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Painted glass in every city

  blocks the gaze of beastly boys

  Ladies draw their curtains, pretty

  certain it's not missing toys

  the lads are looking for this evening

  nor lost snakes or pepper mills

  steamy sights are what they're thieving

  not too young to dig cheap thrills.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Simply felt as hair by face,

  snow on couch by fireplace,

  blocked affection spots his guide

  racing down her slippery slide

  to a bed of scary joys,

  hears the call of her Ahoys,

  holds his ears for fifteen seconds

  then creepy-crawls to where she beckons.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Fire and meat, potato salad

  barbecue is always valid

  twenty dogs and twenty brats

  How much beer? I'd say lots.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Here beneath the silver town

  eyes all carefully look down

  urban instinct to be surly

  closes off the hurly-burly

  city bonds grow colder sooner

  emotionally, the landscape's lunar.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Exploding with utility, the men of exiled grace

  call wistfully for exercise, the challenge of the race

  their bones and concentration hope a game of painful forces

  will help them to forget about their sensitive divorces.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Decide, said the doctor, what'll it be?

  get a beautiful face scientifically

  approval is yours with fuller new lips

  made with the fat that we've drawn from your hips

  wrinkles be gone, and anxiety too

  ask about terms for a radiant you...

  Well, the ether was sweet and my flesh is now tight

  but my soul is still empty and black as the night.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Stay metallic, copper eyed,

  o rugged robot mine

  your silver flesh and what's inside

  stand stately and refined

  I never grasped your exile

  in the closet, solid neighbor,

  I never thought to thank you while

  you freed my days from labor.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Pursue the challenge, older fellow

  drag your songs out, grab your cello

  buy the band some Wonder Bread

  and send them off to watch with dread

  your magic journey back in song

  a happy gig that might go wrong

  they say you can't be cool past fifty

  but even trying's pretty nifty.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Beer from powder (just add water)

  soaking into yonder blotter

  dry the blotter out in here,

  grind it, make more powdered beer!

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  That glowing broth, the cream of hope

  is known for features any dope

  would call incredible if it weren't

  a soup inedible when burnt.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Hey there, noodle, why so broad?

  noodle trimming center flawed?

  skinny fallen to disfavor?

  grandness said to yield more flavor?

  reasons keep emerging strengthwise

  still, I think I'll cut you lengthwise.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Ballooning down the hall one day,

  Naomi wished her youth away

  up went money, style and class

  down rebellion, beauty, bone mass

  when her craft approached the attic

  youth came back on, automatic.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Anxiety, that modern horse,

  is charging quickly 'round the course

  as Reason wears a jaded face —

  he knows that Joy should lose this race.

  Then suddenly a fragrant breeze

  appears to make the leader freeze

  and Reason learns what Excess knows:

  the winner's Joy, if by a nose.