New Roulette

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1. I'm Feeling Dancy

evening walk
in an autumn park
by deep twilight
she nearly killed me on her bike
that’s what it’s like

sitting porch-side
in a lawn chair
watching vegan show
she shreds electric cello
the moon’s glowing low
caught in her tow

I’m feeling dancy
[like fire light]
she has a charm to pull the tide

I’m feeling dancy
[like a neon sign]
electrons rise and ignite

she sings songs
on the front lawn
by the window pane
it’s stardust falling in
I catch it again

counting down
the seaside sounds
her crackling might
thunders on to cosmic heights
she’s taking flight
gravity’s light

I’m feeling dancy
[like summer night]
shooting star sgraffito lines

I’m feeling dancy
[splash of lime]
the clinking glass of sparkling wine

I’m feeling dancy
[in a dive]
freely floating in a plane

I’m feeling dancy
[dawn of life]
she terraforms the terrain

floating astronauts shuffle space walk shoes
there’s no rocket fuel like what we cannot do

I’m feeling dancy
[all arise]
clicking cameras mark the time

I’m feeling dancy
[marble sky]
cirrus clouds of silver shine

I’m feeling dancy
[burning bright]
colossal rumble shakes below

I’m feeling dancy
[t-minus 5]
all systems go

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2. Unexpected / Accept it

her entree arrived
something turned
in her face
stirring fear in me

she wanted to go home
slender hand
garnet set
an engagement ring

that was unexpected
I accept it

trees releasing leaves
flipping by
like the pages
of a kineograph

she passes like a breeze
brittle smile
flurried step
no acquaintance

that was unexpected
I accept it

I would have folded to her flow
so low
but she chose
a softer no

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5. Breaking off the Branch

the moonlit gravel driveway
hid a glinting house key
you met her in a shadowed bungalow

you made out on the staircase
glasses clacking faces
a decade later peering down below

pair of hands push on your back
breaking off the branch
rush of wind, crack of black

you had nothing left she needed
so she took your favorite nothing
you shove the rancid story on a shelf

in bitter brine you’re brewing
acidic feelings curdle
you set the bones to mending by yourself

pair of hands push on your back
breaking off the branch
rush of wind, crack of black
breaking off the branch

you raised her high among the leaves
sunning in the elevation of your family tree
that’s your body mangled on the stairs
oh you never saw it coming
you couldn’t see it coming

pair of hands push on your back
breaking off the branch
rush of wind, crack of black
breaking off the branch

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6. You're Setting Us All on Fire

matchmaker
you’re setting us all on fire

“Man up,” he says,
“Show us your face!
Shove on in. Place a bet.
We’re spinning a new kind of roulette!
Shake a hand, breathe, you’re dead.”

matchmaker
you’re setting us all on fire

stomping
the wrestling ring
frothing crowd
chanting “king”
flash bombs
billowing shock
the exit doors are chained and locked

something wicked this way comes

[plucks it from the box
sparks it on the side]

slopping kerosene on everyone

[flings a careless whirling flame
unto the teeming fuel and tinder]

crows our villain now unmasked

[waving in the blaze
no one gets away]

“this is fine!”

matchmaker
you’re setting us all on fire