Things Fall Apart (And Into Place)

I've cherished old words important to my cultures or nation,
and mourned when they got lost in translation,
though I have found that even then they are not out of place,
and I trust,
whatever may be the case,
that if they don't find their homes,
they'll at least find their way.

--Dr. Pen Name

Skegoneill Drive

Tea cups pressed against the lips of a stranger,
sweetened by answered prayers of the foreign ones,
where our laughter with the family of 16,
awakens the neighbor's wee one.

All this only a mile away from a riot,
happy to make abrupt wake up calls to guffaws instead of violence,
keeping organics moments loud and helicopters quiet.

--Dr. Pen Name
For Billy, Tracy, And The Rest Of The Family

Where There's Smoke There's Fire

She wouldn't fuck with cigarettes but she'd butt in and butt out,
we'd blow smoke out our asses as we'd kiss on the mouth,
she went upward in smoke--
she wouldn't reroute.

Smoking out smoke and mirrors for the first time in years,
still, ash tray to ash tray,
we all burn out

--Dr. Pen Name

Son of a Gun

Something triggered premature tactics,
when I jumped the gun in a back alley,
and took all its money.

Initially when I targeted my victim,
I figured it was worth a shot.
Surely it could be a bang for my buck,
but guns wear bulletproof vests to save them from themselves.

--Dr. Pen Name

It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

Shit-eating grin, grim gums that bleed!
I am the subtle floss that did that deed!
Better brush up before time runs out!
Time is up! Now open your mouth!

Tongue depressor at the psychiatrist's couch!
Tongue depressor sad it don't have a house!
Tongue depressor living in a popsicle pouch!

--Dr. Pen Name

Rugs & Brooms

The rugs were beaten with brooms 'cause they were too outspoken

They made a dusty escape

From a clothesline that looks like tracks of a train

They were once tied down to too many crossroads

They're fine now, back to the wash load

I will keep your cabin safe with me

If you'll let me be

--Dr. Pen Name

retroself b4 u wreck yoself (#foreveryoung)

Buzzard, buzzard--
your circle got this square.
You rounded my L7 high school heart
and ate what was left of its head full of hair.

It took less than two to shoot through my less than three.
Just when I think you're honest you emoti-con me.
One acronym, one colon, one parenthesis.

--Dr. Pen Name