sleep

stretching on while the leaves fall apart
all was a constant
variables hid in trash cans hunting for cyphers
all was gold except for the nipple ring
dragging behind the y was the yxz
it didn't make sense but it was there
through the bear hole with a bottle of wine
no sense in another the temperature's fine
just take off those mits and sand those gums
not much to get worried about
then the sand turned to wane
soap turn to bubbles
when the tide came the wood fell asleep
decreasing the variables
leaving constant cyphers
behind the why
leaving zzzz

denis streeter   11/29/16

Donald Barthelme

I discovered  in Donald Barthelme in The Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales (1993) edited by Alison Lurie.  His tale was The Glass Mountain (1976).  And it was the strangest fairy tale I've ever read. Nothing like it.  It defies any categorization.  And he's dryly funny.  Just look up Donald Barthelme.  Oh.  And read The Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales.  I'm not going to tell you about that either.  Just check them out from the library.  You might be surprised that a writer like Donald Barthelme exists.  I feel lucky that he does.  His writing will inspire my nonsense poetry.


Denis Streeter   11/23/16

plundering the skyline

First version and
edit version below


the blocks fell before the towns began
shifting up ashes in floats of fun
the derigery dressed in cow dung for the occasion
more than one dress and collar at a time
weeding was tricky for next revolution
code was out of order and solutions benign
so was the number nine
dressing up pools in shelters of crime
lifting tadpole from one stool to the next
addressophobia dusted the mill in peaches of pie
there was no digressing the matter.  speed for lapsed tongue
all the alphabets were dead ere one.  waiting for the tadpole benefit
scholars dressed in cartoons waiting for the apocalypse
migrating from mitigation those striped shadowed shoes
more for less when the steeples were chasing
words reappeared, some imaginary real
were became ere from I don't know where
the tongues were crossed from some senseless revolution
wrapped behind the neck where the toadstools lie
ginger and garlic spread their flavors
hunting for carnivores of institution
found politics instead.  the wigs have it
wandering the wings as if there's something to do
forfeiture and wingdangdoodle
at least one word is real
in this half in half world.

denis streeter   10/24/16

edit

the blocks fell before the towns began
shifting up ashes in floating fun
the derigery dresses cow dung for the occasion
less one dress and collar at a time
tricky weeding revolution
code ng solutions benign
as are the numbers nein
all the alphabets were dead ere one.
scholars dressed as tadpoles waiting on the apocalypse
mitigating migration in striped shadowed shoes
more for less in the steeple chase
words reappear, imagined and real
tongue crossed senseless eden
raptured next to toadstools lie
garlic and ginger spread their favors
hunting up carnivores the wigs habit
wandering the wings for someone to do
forfeiting wingdangdoodle
for the real
not that whirl.

denis streeter   10/24/16

really?

the crabs were singing
I dressed their shoes and they cried
there was nothing to do
so I ate them.


I suppose it had nothing to do with their toes
but I kept on singing
nothing to do with my crime
their shoes were backwards.


I finally opened the octopus jar
it was smelly and inky
maybe it was squid
I don't know


I was kidding about the cocktail kit
you didn't really use it did you?
just because I asked you why
it wasn't for coercion.


the onion skins fell off my back
they were discontinued anyway
sold them on line on e bay
can i get my superman one comic back?


I suppose you know the prime was empty
I didn't have any control over that
it was hiding in the corner so I forgot to feed it
at least the cactus isn't dry.


you were wondering about the marshmallows
I'm sorry to say that I burned them
don't worry they were stale anyway
I compressed them into charcoal briquettes.


no I'm not leaving.  just going away
don't worry.  I watered the cat.
he seems to have disappeared
I forgot he was wearing clothing.


never mind the rat traps.  they're already sprung
just leave them alone.  I paid extra for the self load ones.
they're loading as we speak.
damn I forgot to add water.


the rings are gone.  I sprayed them.  they should return.
don't worry.  they were feeling hollowed out.
I think they like the journey.
I'll ask them when they come back.


do you have any ice cream?
the one with the wagglety tail?
I guess that's a children's song.  I don't know.
It just made me think of ice cream.


what are you thinking of.  really?
I didn't know that.  I was only guessing.
you know. pride goeth before the fool.
but I'm known for that.


why do you think this should end?  really?
well okay.  if you really think so.
i'll gather these words together
throw them in the recycle.


denis streeter   10/5/16

waiting

the signs were high
up on the bridge
where the lines rafter
when the feeders stuck
where the truth lies
over boarded creek
when sounds relapse
test their pools
toss their rafters
over fools errand
washing sky
crease overhead
it wouldn't be why
it would be less
washing each line
overboard barrel
it wasn't the time
it was the lesson
signs passing time
waiting for you


denis streeter   9/22/16

mollification

the shine was off so I grabbed another
drifting down as I went
coffee filters try
drip up my legs with a cup of wise
I didn't ask questions while waiting
that was for later
drinking mollified wine
it's all in the wait
the craftiness of drafters, saving for later
orange gone mandarin belie the point
sauerkraut on lime waiting for delivery
there be an old man in a tub
seeding the washing
bully for him and his waggelty thing
overexposed and nudish
the blocks of sun they lie betwixt the copper spaniels
beneath the desk watching the washes
29 in line
goosing the porridge hot to cold
eating the equilibrium
one taste of wise and down the hatch
it doesn't always happen that way
summer high summer dry
none too wise
the toothy know better
scratch your legs and roll on
tried to fail
not that you care
carried away
forward and backward eating tide
the ocean's wake tottles the wind
it was not what they liked, but how they cried
perhaps the toothache's whining
trots the cupcakes liming
timing the measured molecules
arising to squat them away
cursed in all 12 tongues
I don't ask why
nudish rails
one doesn't ask the left behind
I grabbed a stick to beat the senseless molecules til they cried
it was meaningless
left them behind the burning bush
turned on the hose
the house is empty


denis streeter  8/24/16

snatches of why

the scrappiness was outdone
waking toadstools from their oasis
watching pools rise and fall in unearned bliss
the watches were ticking the highlights were lighting
Even the fish seemed fishy but who asked them


rogers ago the fences went amiss
perhaps it was remission I don't know
the guns silent as magpies
twice as scent as wise
double meaning met phonetic
lost and tried again
there was no humor lost
I checked lost and found


the badgers were glistening again
I asked why but they didn't know
just sat on a toadstool and cried
no sense in lying but I did


crabcakes are too much, lions not enough
the birds cracked wise
forgetting eggs
they missed the time


perhaps the waffles are ready
i'll check them in a minute
could you check the stove
coo!  they're ready


i'll fill the bath, you get in
no no.  I'll drink the wine
just get the lab rats ready
we'll find out if they swim
wow!  look at their white lab coats!


too much for now
could you quit disturbing me
i'm getting ready for bed
yes i know.  stop already!
i know my fly's undone


you've done the math, I've done the whiskers
let's have no more commotion over that
just get dressed I'm ready to go
umm...could you help me get this splinter out?


dodgy i guess, but that's the way the ball flies
I'd jump if i was metaphor
but pundits let me off the hook
now I'm on the fly


i guess you know by now, everything's got to end
but I'm finally ready.  could you get my coat?
yes that right.  the one in the corner
it's too high?  ok i'll get it


denis streeter  8/18/16