0 to thirty-x and mas

Too much to dig out
Too cold to stay in
I stop looking at the mirror
Foundation sets alarm systems
Wound hose iced tight as the pianist
fingerless nails set to ivory
from the car hammered
we puzzled out a start
to German soprano love songs of spring

*

Too fat for the highway
or the AM transponder
presents for strangers beatific surrender
green world around the skill
grown now and shovels or froze
of Christmas past sprayed on the windshield
Wishing you well in an empty field

*

Looking for love "went down to the cemetery"
saw it in the lips
dusting of concrete powder
real fear something to look for
lion's wages
that old sign no different
trespass over the water fall
an engraved translation

*

everywhere we drove the anxious dream
"music to wrap mummies by"
always changing clothes
must get money
to stay warm
and avoid disappointing

*

colour of asphyxiation
his pen technique
on her skin
then and thirsty
some years later
lumpier yellow
but same strokes