~it very nearly breaks my heart~ ~every time my brother goes to prison~ ~the first time was the worst~ ~he had a wife & baby son on the outside~ ~we were young & I wondered~ ~how he would survive that place~ ~face the days alone in that crowded cage~ ~all our lives I failed to protect my little brother~ ~I wrote songs about how he must feel~ ~sent him a couple bucks when I could~ ~for zoom-zooms & wham-whams in the joint~ ~sang my heart out in the band~ ~the songs started out like this~
~A Vanishing Face~
~if truth were a sparrow & I learned to fly~ ~I would never again walk to catch a lie~ ~if moments were forever & days could be years~ ~love was a rainbow & happiness fear~ ~I would drown in a moment of fear every day~ ~color my love with your smile & say~ ~I love you today & yesterday too~ ~only tomorrow will know what to do~ ~I’ll hate you never, love’s kindling feeds the flame~ ~I’ll always hear whispers of your sweet name~
~my clothes may be ragged, these shoes may be worn~ ~my shirt may need washed, these underwear torn~ ~only the sparrow knows of the seed~ ~dropped down from heaven, our love to feed~ ~clothes do not matter, the heart tells the tale~ ~success is not beautiful to those who fail~ ~my love & your love, two hearts as one~ ~summertime breezes, summertime sun~ ~remembering touching, the softness was real~ ~no words to express how it made me feel~ ~blue eyes turned hazy, a vanishing face~ ~I reach out in vain to be back in that place~ ~I don t really blame you, these bars I can’t climb~ ~& I’ll never forget the last time~ ~no, I’ll never forget the last time~
http://wordwulf.com WordWulf Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com & wordwulf@wordwulf.com ©artwork & words conceived by & property of Tom (WordWulf) Sterner© A Vanishing Face was published by Flesh from Ashes
~soon after the turn of the century~ ~Quodlibet won the Maria Cerjak award~ ~for avant-garde/experimental writing~ ~Quodlibet~ ~The Hundred Bites~ ~IX~
~the tiny old woman~ ~wraps them in her housecoats~ ~bunny slippers~ ~dries their shaggy heads with a towel~ ~you are old men now~ ~in your fifties for god sake~ ~you have no business~ ~riding those damned machines~ ~they sit on her couch shivering~ ~smiling at each other~ ~her two oldest sons~ ~having ridden their Harleys~ ~five hundred miles in the rain~ ~to celebrate her birthday with her~ ~she brings them hot coffee~ ~loves them well~ ~helps them roll their machines~ ~into the dark warmth of her barn~ ~the very next year~ ~her bunny slippers are gone~ ~& so is she~ ~the brothers ride~ ~their tears hide the rain~
~IX. A Tender Wrapping~
~standing up for pennies~ ~all hail at a dollar down~ ~these blankets~ ~ a hundred pound weight~ ~strive to earn alive a shroud~ ~a safe place to bury your worried face~ ~o children learn to walk away~ ~plant your seeds~ ~your garden of youth~ ~be tall & kind to yourselves~ ~those older whom look away~ ~may be kind & understanding~ ~ever useful in the odd circumstance~ ~such as surviving under siege~ ~construction of birthing & burial blankets~
http://wordwulf.com WordWulf Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com & wordwulf@wordwulf.com ©artwork & words conceived by & property of Tom (WordWulf) Sterner© Quodlibet was published by Howling Dog Press
~Quodlibet~ ~The Hundred Bites~ ~VIII~
~an old man~ ~back against a tree~ ~forgets his dreams in the shade~ ~sidesteps into memories~ ~sees clearly what was not~ ~refuses to question what was~ ~blushes when his thoughts turn to her~ ~his leather paper-thin skin~ ~red in the autumn~ ~come winter his life~ ~finally terribly alone~ ~& none the worse for it~ ~he recalls the twisted angles~ ~primal howls~ ~language of his birth~ ~that it was she he learned to forget~ ~his now & only found~ ~VIII. Kisses/Mystery Forever~
~I am not about to look at your photograph~ ~you are not an image died yet~ ~I sense a ringing of word~ ~ingots piled high in our brain~ ~a pendulum of centuries pealing~ ~against our skulls until we are curiously aroused~ ~there are those who consider mystery ~ ~an only true for ever~ ~certain knowledge of this implied~ ~& tied to the tongues of dead heroes~ ~thank you; I would kiss your flaws rather~ ~make mud on the dirt of your skin~
http://wordwulf.com WordWulf Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com & wordwulf@wordwulf.com ©artwork & words conceived by & property of Tom (WordWulf) Sterner© Quodlibet was published by Howling Dog Press
~Quodlibet~ ~The Hundred Bites~ ~VII~
~in heaven~ ~all the interesting people are missing~ ~Nietzsche~ ~the most important kind of freedom~ ~is to be what you really are~ ~James Douglas Morrison~
~here I am an old man~ ~sitting in this cell~ ~that's the damndest thing I ever seen~ ~you know~ ~Charles Manson~
~who cares how time advances?~ ~I am drinking ale today~ ~Poe~
~VII. Dignity/Currency of Beggars~
~there is no noble death~ ~living so singularly significant~ ~where dignity may only be found~ ~in proper acts on walking faces~ ~days tied on strings end to end~ ~our lives a dangle of fishes~ ~never meant to fly underwater~ ~it just ain’t christian to lie~ ~we all try to go outstanding~ ~twist & present ourselves~ ~as some convoluted truth~ ~opine dignity is the currency of beggars~ ~laugh about honor amongst thieves~ ~dead folks don’t want to be alone~
http://wordwulf.com WordWulf Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com & wordwulf@wordwulf.com ©artwork & words conceived by & property of Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©Quodlibet was published by Howling Dog Press
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