Collected habits

Collected habits
one thing triggers another
routines mark my days 

They say "I love you"

They say "I love you"
yet all I can think about
please go brush your teeth

Blue clouds approaching

Blue clouds approaching
warm gusts blowing from the north
rumble of thunder

Musicians will know

Musicians will know
gear acquisition syndrome
it plagues me lately 

Want to know something?

Want to know something?
Cheeseburger-flavoured spring rolls
it's weird that they're real 

Observe and reflect

Observe and reflect
acknowledging my response
remaining detached

If you can’t be free

If you can’t be free
withdraw back into shadow
be a mystery

Comfort surrounds me

Comfort surrounds me
a life filled with abundance
domesticated 

On these thoughtless days

On these thoughtless days
can I please excuse myself
while prose lies elsewhere

I cooked hamburgers

I cooked hamburgers
that path has least resistance
my kids are happy

Now he's found a mate

Now he's found a mate
after weeks of melodies
this blackbird sings less

Morish savoury

Morish savoury
when salt and cocoa combine
delicious tingle

Showers washed the roads

Showers washed the roads
streetlights dance on them again
fresh air intoxicates 

Nesting now begins

Nesting now begins
birds pecking apart my chair
taking away threads 

Out riding last night

Out riding last night
clouds of bugs assaulted me
birds could have feasted 

I identify

I identify
"neutral gender expression"
I don't play that game

Watching canaries

Watching canaries
seemingly pause in mid-flight
catching their dinner 

Earthy tones taunt me

Earthy tones taunt me
lacking aniseed or nut
decaf coffee sucks 

A cold universe

A cold universe
dark, vast and indifferent
without containment

Vulnerable flesh

Vulnerable flesh
not coming out of my shell
impenetrable

Gathering dried weeds

Gathering dried weeds
carrying them in strong winds
sparrows build their nests 

Boundaries aren't walls

Boundaries aren't walls
boundaries are acts of love
the self transcends skin 

Twice as much rainfall

Twice as much rainfall
sees iris flowers budding
awaiting spring's bloom

Melancholy clouds

Melancholy clouds
romance of a rainy day
droplets tease senses 

Deep dive into dark

Deep dive into dark
make life inside your body
human submarine

However painful
I’m a sadist in that way
love the pain away 

Singing through the night

Singing through the night
with 'Nine in the afternoon'
three in the morning 

Zooming through details

Zooming through details
revisiting history
hearing an old friend 

This town I call home

This town I call home
punctuated by small steps
laps around the block 

Songs from the backyard

Songs from the backyard
all through the day and the night
blackbird melodies 

Reheated again

Reheated again
filled with leftovers
never-ending days