Thursday, August 18, 2011

That Empty Lot on Cedar

That Empty Lot on Cedar


Guess you've left town.
The place you lived in is gone now too.


The shed in the back is the only thing left standing
and all the tools and paraphernalia too.


You left the kid's swimming pool.
And my bike.


The only thing of real value you left behind.

Dust just creeping over them.

Water from the ceiling pooling in the kiddy pool base.
Sludge rippling as I give it a tiny nudge.


The rest of the building is gone.
Don't know why they had to take it down.


Neighbours don't recall you leaving.
No van, movers,  forwarding address.


The one on the left has a box of bills and flyers that piled up.
She said she'd give it to me if only she could remember me.
I left it, no use paying for things of something long gone.


The only thing of real value I left behind.


She had her dog tied up in the back.
Right on our property.


I was so pissed off that she had that fucker
shiting and pissing on our lawn.


Then realized that
hell, this place isn't ours no more.
Not mine nor was yours shortly after.


The only thing of real value we left behind.


I traced out the lines of the foundation
as the dog barked at me.


Told that woman to take it indoors
but she just ignored me and left the porch indoors herself.


Looking at it again I wish we'd had a basement.
Grown a root cellar or something.
To keep it down.


Some where to hide when the shit came down.


The light is half burnt out on the left side of the street.
Decided to stay here till nightfall.


Packed some sandwiches and a beer.
A few juice boxes too since I have to drive back.


It's just around the corner
but it seems like forever since I've come here
since moving back.


The only thing of real value I could really remember.


Damn, most of these people's houses need residing.
paint's all chipped and weathered.


Thank god we moved.
If only I could remember where I misplaced you.


-Matthew Koutzun

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Pride -or- A Tiger's Meal

Pride
-or-
A Tiger's Meal


When are you gonna abandon your pride?
Gonna leave those aching lions in the dust?


Realize where I am on this rock
and see the water trickling down carving stone.


i've laid out commandments of this jungle
and vine swing and moral branch bewildered.


March of the army ants straight to the slaughter
into the mouth of god anteater.


Oh wanderer a path just like those solders
and give wanton to fever moist air.


When are you gonna leave that pride?
When's a tiger gonna have it's meal?


-Matthew Koutzun

Sunday, August 07, 2011

Matching Set

Matching Set


You're pillow is a peaceful blue.
Dark criss crossing stripes.
It's the one that remains with me
even though it really is in your possession.


It was my brother's from home
now yours from nights
and I hide it away
no one else may rest upon it.


Back then it was a contrast.
A blue streak on black and red.
Then black and grey.
I could find no other place for it but with you.


I had it there
taking it away when company came
leaving it out
only with those most comfortable.


But those sheets are stained
and one is a mass of rips
from the tossing
and I've outgrown what they used to be.


Queen to a Queen.
Size unchanged.
Sheets of peaceful blue.
A matching set.


-Matthew Koutzun

Thursday, August 04, 2011

Dynamite Dan

Dynamite Dan


Dynamite Dan
with only one hand
playing with flames getting burned.


With fuse and with wire
and abandoned attire
he's pumping the detonators down.


Oh Danny-


collar up 
and sleeves tight
what's next on your hands-less night?


You blew off the other
each catch blowing a finger
and now you can't pull your own trigger.


Oh God-


What delight
what you found here last night
to light fire in you without your own touch.


They'll nibble your nubs
kiss your arms with no thumbs
because hun, love is your trigger.


-Matthew Koutzun


Blasting Grounds

Blasting Grounds


The utter of a candle.
Whisping and wrought
touching existence and not
but spittling smoke and pipping-
drawing in a crowd of one.


From flash bang firework
or clear calm incandescence
one thing is for certain
the quicker it it's rise
the quicker it's fall.


Gonna burn out in the hemisphere
before touching the ground
gonna create a force
inconsiderate of it's impact
and disappear before calamity.


Oh lasting shimmer
burned a white hole in my eye
the part which I can't see with now
and only around
you're here for a moment and healed here after.


-Matthew Koutzun