Today in Literature

(for Katrina Douveas)

I opened a check for six quarters
from a fellow spoken word diva
with a disability, who manages
to spare some change for new Americans.

I wrote a poem,
read a book,
and finally add over 500 words
to my Nanowrimo novel.

It is a good day.

One Poet’s Lament

The muse has flown the coop;
departing along with my air
and last week's restful night’s sleep.

The Day of Laze

One a day of fire though my airway,
I have written 47 more words
of my novel, zero articles
(even though I have two that are vital to complete)
and finished this poem to support the literacy programming
I respect.

Hopefully,
tomorrow will bring easier breathing
and a re-energized wordsmith.

Just when (again)

One no show, new assistant
an ex- friend who is apparently to busy binging
on alcohol to care about
his future stepchild’s well being,
and being found in my PJ’s by the “I’ve fallen
and I can’t get up” necklace repair woman
who a headache caused me to forget
was arriving this morning.

I recover my day-
I get another copy of last year’s taxes
in under 30 minutes from the IRS,
learn a new bus route,
eat pizza with fellow transit revolutionaries,
and print out stuff to take protesting tomorrow
only to discover I’ve somehow lost
my barely used roll of scotch tape.

Today

Useless day
of illness and naps, mocks task
completion.

Power outage

(a Center for New Americans poem)
Pencil gliding across paper,
graphite over smooth, new notebook
is more elegant than the quiet clatter
of laptop keys.
I realize,

as I imitate Susan B. Anthony
crafting word that will beguile
the revolution’s enemies
by candlelight.

Quick Thoughts

So busy with power outages and catching up on work;
opting to honor Oakland’s general strike even though.

I decide that poetry and fiction for once
won’t count as work ,
more like sanity producing,
especially since it’s for charity.

I talk to Sarah, am relieved at her good spirits,
Can't help but onder how Anita steered
so many young, girl gimps into adulthood
without seeming to sweat,
even slightly.