Thomas the Cat

Thomas the cat has six toes.
Thomas has a highfalutin nose.

It doesn't stick up, like you might think--
it sticks down and sniffs the drain of my sink

with whiskers and flicks, he falls down the drain
never to judge my dirty sink again...

Never?

I would never deign to operate
under such absolute terms.
I always--always understand
that subtle gradations abound.
It's the only thing right.
To deny such would be wrong.
So keep you black and white,
your highfalutin terms.
I'll stay in the muck with
the sex tainted words.

Two Lines

It is never 'you digress,' but
I digress.

poem from my seat at graduation

I tied my stole in a knot
to guard against the wind.
We are a sea of black,
tassel, polyester and flowers.
Impatient with the process
I write in my program.
Diploma in hand, cake waiting
for the celebration at home.
Strangely, home remains
for me my parents' house...
But I digress. It is weird,
degree achieved at the end,
I cannot acknowledge the change.
Would that I could remain
I would lay down this certificate
and try again for another,
living secretly on campus,
a legend; a phantom; vampiric
in my lust for academia.

Happy Birthday

a song

Don't panic
it's just a tattoo
Don't panic
I thought that you
would like it

Something new
to spice the soup
I am still me
And we're still we
We can still be
what we were
but we are not

So panic
It's not just a tattoo
Oh Panic
I just don't love you, anymore

Let's panic
about this tattoo
Let's fight
about this tattoo
Let's end it
because this tattoo
on my back
means what I meant
when I said
Let's end it
We just can't be
--I mean it
we just aren't we, anymore

Don't panic
there'll be other girls
Don't panic
It's not the end of the world
So, baby-no-more,
eat your cake,
drink your drink

and don't panic

----

audio, complete with the sodo train: http://audio.xanga.com/omgmynameisdiane/1d0f52210419/audio.html

the horror

the tents sank in the drifting billows;
smoke pouring from atop the hill.
a man stood nearby, wavering.
he blinked hard against the fumes.
a single log fumed from the high ground.
he was embarrassed and unsure.
he could not clear the air by hand.
the other campers would soon wake.
would they panic in the blinding drift?