Tiny Moth

Tiny Moth

You crept in,
through the kitchen window
as I sat in a chair working away.

Darting past my eyes I could only see a blur
and you looked nothing of your dark splendour.

Floating
mostly falling
barely keeping float on wind.

Tired wings half fighting fall
but embracing touchdown relief.

The window's open
but I won't force you out
there is a quiet refuge here for you.

Looking back at my work and burning eyes
tiny moth I know what weight can keep wings moving.

-Matthew Koutzun

For Your Reconsideration;

For Your Reconsideration;


You sir,
are a mythical man.


I can only rely on the things of lore to guide me.
I can only trust the things I believe to be;
things I half imagine to fill the variable x's with.


I am crippled at the base summit-
not knowing why I have such hesitation.
I am at ease with such peaked ranges
but such velocity and cliff warnings
and the guide trails that are faded
hint a fear inside me I cannot grasp.


I have no reason for this
no fact or facet
to prove such fiction
but I'm in it
and wondering if it indeed
is much tamer than the truth.


I'm beating around you-
you on fire,
and sprinkling water at your edges
maybe taking a dart in for a quick wisp
to catch a whisper of your truth.


I want to stand beside
you sir.


I want to have you know
I fight the good fight like no other
and wield a weapon mightier
than any blade
cause' it is a cause of compassion
that complies wrong's defeat.


If I had the courage to slice it off, I would sir.
To grow fatty in places you wished, I would sir.
If I could leave the flesh and just be incarnate, I would sir.
And if your boy would still take me, I would sir.


I cannot change the vessel,
and I will not change the contents.
I am not misshapen
and I am not empty.
I am beholden beautiful by he you bore.


You sir,
you don't even know who you are sir.
You do not know the instance you stir.
The respect you command
the action you halt
the winds you cease
and the boy you bore bind.


I ask sir,
please recognize
please consider
please console
please deliver
please release
please include
please just please for me
because I cannot bind my heart
and I cannot will it shut
when it parts an uncontrollable smile to my lips
when my eyes meet his eyes
and his words cajole such laughs from my sides.
Please sir, please
please reconsider.


-Matthew Koutzun

Leather Stud Princess

Leather Stud Princess


Hun,
walking the streets
you're wearing him on your eyes.
Tearing names down
as you pound pavement
your fisted wrists upturned.


Not even the leather hide on your back
is gonna keep your skin strong.
No piercing is gonna produce a pain so long
to numb the thudding beat of your song.
And no image stained on skin
is gonna grant eternity.
So you're gonna get your food
and lounge in the booth in the back that's free.


Watch out baby,
you know it's a public place.
Wearing a man so clearly on your face.
You're scaring strangers
willing to take you home
scaring yourself
on a lack of control.


Hun,
pick at your food
pass out this time.
They'll call the cops
and string you up
just for the night.


"Wake up baby boy,"
Frank whispers in your ear
funny thing
it's the one thing you've longed to hear.
Scruffy arm around you
and hot breath on neck
maybe he'll marry you
as his ring finger you check.


Darling
walk home,
after the police let you free.
Clean up your face
hang up your leathers
and baby just breathe.


Hun,
take your shower
wash the dye from your face.
Hang up the jacket
he stole for you
just for one night.


-Matthew Koutzun

Burnouts

Burnouts


I pull my fingers to my mouth
trying to suck the pain from the burn
applied by the stove.


Pulling it out
looking paste the saliva shine
at the milky red spot.


I taste it again.
Usually I would taste salt
but now it's just chicken limp in the pan.


I drifted into the thought again
of the sliding wheel.


I'm gonna season this more,
cause I'm tired of not tasting anything
and the dry taste of nothing in my mouth.


I forgot to set the salad in the fridge
and the greens are soggy
and the peeled apples a tinge of brown.


The timer is failing
braking to long past it's stop.


I'm on the phone with mom again
and breasts are burning on the stove again
cause I just can't bring myself to stop.


I'm banging my head on the wall
waiting for a firm seat rest to bang back.


And it's a burned dinner for one again tonight.


-Matthew Koutzun

Formations

Formations


Clay at feet
take my formations.
Set in moist stone
a path I've trod.
Let it take a sign
one that marks my name.


Sun dry and set
make it last.
Toss rain aside
and make a desert.
Crack and hold
formations firm.


Nothing may grow here.
Just the way I like it.
It is mine.


What fear is this
forgotten?
I run the path
running.
But perhaps you've
caught up.


-Matthew Koutzun