IN THIS DIM CAVE



In this dim cave

we can go no further

Here money is key

to smooth age. Horses,

givers of guilt. Great

bags of gold.



I want obedience!



We examine this ancient

& insane theatre, obscene

like luxuriant churches

altars.



I confess

to scarvess

cool floors

stroked curtain



The actors are twice-blessed

before us. This is

too serious & severe.



Great mystery!

Timeless passion

patterned in stillness.



SEX FOR YOU



Sex for you

was thread

which binds

us even now

on this pale

planet.



To the poet

& cover-girl,

photo in color,

to armies

that join,

out on a desert,

& to Samson

& all his

generals

bound quiet

now w/ exotic

arch-angels

of dusk, in

Sumarian

& N. African

slumbers.



The bazaar is crowded

as dancers thrive.

Snake-wreaths & pleasures.

I take you to a low cave

called "Calipah".



STAND THERE LISTENING



Stand there listening

you will hear them

tiny shapes just beyond

the moon

Star-flys, jarts,

dismal fronds

stirring ape-jaws striving

to make the morning

mail call



Cry owl.

Hark to the wood-vine.

Suckle-snake crawls, gnawing

restive



I know you.

The one who left to go

warning. Wishless now

& sullen. Transfer

deferred.



Steal me a peach

from the orange tree

grove-keeper



She fell.



What are you doing

w/ your hand on her

breast?



She fell, mam.



Give her to me.



Yes, mam.



Go tell the master

what you've done.



They killed him.



Later.



Going up the stairs

handcuffed

to his cell.



A shot-gun blast

Behind the back.



UNTRAMPLED FOOTSTEPS

I



Untrampled footsteps

Borderline dreams

Occasion for sinners

alive if it seems

given to wander

alone at the shore

wanton to whisper

I am no more

Am as my heart beats

live as I can

wanton to whisper

faraway sands



II



Now come into my pretty isle

My weary westward wanderer

Faraway is as it seems

& so alone shall shelter

Come along unto my sails

as weary islands go

prosper merry as I went

I shall no more the sailor

Shall I ho the sailor



III



Where were you when I needed you?

Where indeed but in some sheltered

Sturdy heaven; wasted, broken

sadly broke & one thin thing to get us thru



IV



Urchin crawl broke

spenders bleeders all

brew North

stained lot

he was lost

out on an aircraft

high above

long awkward brewer's

shelters breed



this ugly crew

our poisoned jet

god get us love & get

us speed

To get us home again

love

Crippled by people

cut by nothing

Public housing

the incredible damage

can be cured



V



She's my girl friend:

I wouldn't tell her

Name but I think

you already know her

Name

is

Square fire insect

marble saffron intro

demi-rag in flames



it's the same game

whether you call it

by her real name



VI



She lives in the city

under the sea

Prisoner of pirates

prisoner of dreams

I want to be w/ her

want her to see

The things I've created

sea-shells that bleed

Sensitive seeds

of impossible warships



Dragon-fly hovers

& wavers & teases

The weeds & his wings

are in terrible fury