I thought to buy you a trinket
to express the warmth in my heart for you.
Some small token that might find a home
next to your bed.
There were toys, lawn-gnomes
and rocking chairs
swaying in the cold April wind.
This life falls short of you
in my fleeting paradise beneath the spotlight
I remain incomplete. There is more
to my dream than was planned
I did not mean to love you

I work on Sunset now
where dreams die and take shape
where highways are twisted at the throat
of the green that once was
sometimes with more choice
comes less freedom
more sugar in place of food
sirens for a handshake
bright lights casting longer shadows
soon the earth will erupt
and reshape the landscapes
in her likeness
to invade the invaders
with mountains for fingers

A dog barks at the morning prayer
and the sky remembers everything

the smoke-filled houses
leaned against each other
the wild green hand of nature
clutching at humanity. Go ahead
and die, says the world
we will not find you
in your toothpick temples
eating rice and leaves. Your children
are not lucky enough to feel
the breath of medicine.
There is no love to spare.