The Middlewesterner

Crush of the clouds,
an oily wind -

all we would
abandon

breaking in.

Enormous wind,
come all the way
from the mountains.

"Sometimes the poem
comes so clear and

sometimes I haven't
the slightest clue."

*

"Line breaks
where the
language

bends back."

*

"More and more
I live

in my head,
less and less

in this
sorry world."

"What? You are
going to use
my poems

against me?"

*

"This poetry -
like a squirrel leaping
tree to tree,

sometimes you catch it,
sometimes it catches you."

*

"Why do I
keep notes on
what I see?

Reader,
for thee."

Storm coming -
a bully wind

bringing rain.

Soybeans turning
like the season.

"Speak, darkness.
Silence does not

become you."

*

"Poet of the
ordinary?

Of what else
could I sing?"

*

"Love nothing
without

wings to flee."

"Some have more words
and some have none.

I am blessed with
lack of excess."

*

"Rhythm of the line -
if you can't hear it,

don't bother counting."

*

"Driving
the big storm -

no time
for crows,

no time
for poetry."

"Enough storm
to keep the crowd down

is all we ask, Lord."

*

"You don't like it
and you think that
should make me stop?

Hoo-hoo, now that's
a good one."

*

"It's there.
It's right there.
Wait for it.

Ah!"

"How do you
know when to start?

How do you
know when to stop?

Why choose
the words you choose?

Is there more to
it than that?"

*

"Don't make the mistake
of thinking you're there simply

because you're not here."

*

"No verbs and
no need for them

in this world."

Push.
Push some
more.
Break

the door.
Enter
the darkened
room.

Hope
that where
you've come
is home.

Wind the color of dust.
Sky the color of wind.
Light the color of sky.

Breath, a surprised sigh.

The under-
layment
of wisdom

is silence.

"Sometimes
it gets better, and

I gain hope
only to be

disappointed
again."

*

"Travel the hard
slow road."

*

"Admire your work
but don't linger

long with it.
Sunrise resets

the counter."

"Silence
is delight.

Here's some."

*

"No, I beg to
differ, officer -

it is not
inattentive, but

very attentive
driving."

*

"There's always a way
to say it, if that's

what you want to say."

Enough crows
on the ball diamond

for a game to go
extra innings.

Ha, Big Bird -
cranes!

How would we live
without the bees?

Ah, the sweet bees!

High summer
days. Moisture

in the air
like dust.

Nowhere I'd
rather be

than here
with you.