they build themselves now
out of mirrors.
chrome-spined apostles
with teeth whitened
like cemetery gates.
they speak in blue-lit sermons,
thumbs flickering over glass,
manufacturing love
the way factories once made bullets.
every photograph
another prayer to themselves.
they call it branding.
I call it standing naked
in the middle of a freeway
begging strangers
to describe your soul.
the old drunks at least
had honesty.
they knew the bottle
was a bottle.
these new saints
sip themselves instead—
small poisoned doses
every hour
until the face in the screen
becomes more real
than the one rotting quietly
behind the eyes.
and God help you
if you stop watching yourself.
because silence
is the one room
they cannot redecorate.
I saw a girl crying once
while taking photographs
of herself crying.
that was it.
the whole century
balanced perfectly
inside one human moment.
outside,
a dog limped through rain
without an audience,
without applause,
without needing
to become
a monument to itself.
to its own suffering.
the dog
was holier than all of us.
Old peddler wanted a new home design.
He hired Mable, a decorator, and all was fine.
Until she decided to redecorate him too.
I don’t want to change he said, I am ninety-two.
Mable was forceful, she did not hear the word no.
She took lots of his money, and created some woe.
He sits outside his house now, for it reminds him of her.
A bossy overbearing woman, who felt like a bur.
Look around your home and see
Your furniture, your rugs,
The pictures hanging on the walls -
Like old familiar hugs.
For every item you have placed -
Inherited or bought -
Is there to help create the space
That somehow you have sought.
We start out small, collecting
Things we like and can afford
And often there’s a goal in mind
We gradually work toward.
Our tastes may change throughout the years
But there will be a thread
Of special objects to connect us
To the lives we’ve led.
So though we may redecorate,
We’ll likely never part
With those various reminders
Which give every home its heart.
I like when things remain the same;
Stagnation is my favorite game.
I play so well I never lose;
What’s set in stone makes me enthuse.
While others might redecorate
Or even move, I can’t relate.
New furniture does not entice;
My stuff is old, but still, it’s nice.
It isn’t normal, I’ve been told,
Becoming worse as I grow old.
I wish I knew why I eschew
The new to stick with tried and true.
Two empty houses
They are side by side
Waiting for someone
To give them tender
care
One house needs repairs
Inside and outside
New windows and roof
A handy man's house
The other house needs
New windows and doors
Some repairs outside
To give a new look
Inside some paint job
Then redecorate
For the new people
That bought the house
next door
Inside some paint job
The redecorate
For the new people
They
bought the house
next door
Raging, fall winds scream
And redecorate landscapes
But, not very well.
The desert sand lies tearless,
Not rising into stem nor leaf,
To allow creation of some waxy flower,
Shifting, winding with the Maker’s wind,
And then
The Creator’s mind takes its nothingness,
Paints it with strength and color,
To rise and redecorate those barren places,
Casting Love even in an empty Spring.
My Grandma usually had some,
stuffed in her sleeve,
and like a magician pull some out,
when she started to sneeze…
And when I was young,
didn't like to wear a hat,
so Mom would pin some on my head,
can you imagine that?...
And as soon as we got to church,
I'd sit down low in the pew,
hoping no one would recognize me,
I'd feel just like a fool...
Then there are times,
I'd be in a strange bathroom,
and suddenly aware,
"Hey theres no " t.p." around, anywhere!"
Then trying not to panic,
I think I might have some with me,
so I dig in my pocketbook,
and viola! pull out 2 or 3…
They also come in handy,
when you are at home,
and you suddenly see out of the corner of your eye,
a rather large bug…
And I know this is mean,
but I stomp on it, wad it up with a tissue,
and give it a quick burial at sea...
And you can almost redecorate,
your room with a colorful box,
if you buy it from Wal-mart
it won't cost an awful lot…
But it really comes in handy,
when females start to cry,
dabbing at our eyes,
it helps keep our mascara dry...
So I thank the person,
that invented the versatile tissue,
because if are like me
theres always some kind of issue!
Okay Girls, let's go shopping
But just to look and see
We don't have to buy a thing
Oh, what fun it will be.
Okay Girls, let's do lunch
Separate Checks so we won't argue over a dime
What an exaggerated procedure
What a waste of time.
Okay Girls, let's redecorate
The curtains haven't been changed in weeks
So we'll just order some new ones
And give the house a tweak.
Okay Girl's, let's have a party
Of course we have nothing to wear
But we can buy a new outfit or two
So the other girls can stare.
Okay Girls, let's show our men
Just how right we ALWAYS are
Make them be gentlemen today
Have them hold the door of the car.
Okay Girls, the Guys agree
You are GREAT AT EVERYTHING
To prove it we throw up our hands and shout
"YOU WIN ! YOU WIN ! YOU WIN !
Annoying knot right in the pit
Of my stomach, please stop it!
You twist and churn with fear and dread
Echo voices in my head
Have you any clue who I am
What I'm up to as a man?
What's your job, why were you hired?
I think you suck, that's it, you're fired
Here's your pink slip, now be gone
You been here now for far too long
Sorry there's no space for you
I've simply too much left to do
I wish you well, it's been a blast
Redecorate your room at last
Dust the Cobb webs, walls are painted
Furniture's been re situated
Loving life, this brand new space
Without you up in my face
Happy feeling at peace with me
At home, in love, completely free
Okay Girls, let's go shopping,
But just to look and see.
We don't have to buy a thing,
Oh, what fun it will be!
Okay Girls, let's redecorate,
The curtains haven't been changed in weeks.
So, we'll just order some new ones,
And give the rest of the house a tweek!
Okay Girls, let's have a party,
Of course we have nothing to wear.
But we can buy a new outfit or two,
Just so the other girls can stare!
Okay Girls, let's do lunch,
"Separate Checks" so we won't argue over a dime.
What an exaggerated procedure,
What a waste of time!
Okay Girls, let's show our men,
Just how right we ALWAYS are.
So, there's no giving in today,
Make them hold the door of the car!
Okay Girls, the Guys agree,
You are GREAT AT EVERYTHING.
To prove it we throw up our hands and shout,
"YOU WIN! YOU WIN! YOU WIN!"
Redecorate
give it a brand new look,
so much fun to change the face
making something old look new
colors, paint
posters, furniture
like breathing life
all over again,
all it takes is time
to give a gift to yourself,
enjoy a redecorated room
Color the grass blue, and you can walk on water and waves.
Paint the clouds of red and orange, set the sky ablaze.
Whisper to the shooting stars and travel beyond the moon.
Face your worries, stare down fear, and fear will soon fear you.
Redecorate your grief with a smile and keep your humor.
Do not fight emotions thinking your struggle will end sooner.
Look beneath the depth of skin; let no one judge your face.
Do not create conclusions before you have reached your place.
Explore and make mistakes, it's how everybody learns.
Believe that it is never too late, don't be afraid to turn.
Let no evil speech impale your soul, for these sounds cannot hurt.
You will find that love can exist even when no words can be heard.
Move forward and remember, you learn from the past, but don't live it.
Stand your ground, hold fast 'til it's yours at last, never give in.
-But don't believe that mercy is reserved for those that are weak.
for, in humility, in forgiveness, the great emerge from the meek.
Live, for life is the greatest gift, and it is yours to keep.
There is nothing out there you can't have; there is no one you can't be.
I had another lover over last night.
Loneliness.
Knocking on my door, even though he has his own key.
Beneath my silent covers he crawls.
Mummers moist against
my blue bruised sighs. I confess salty, soft, sins.
Embrace.
Under stale yellow sheets.
I crumble.
A pale version of light sleep.
Bad Habits?
Overstaying his welcome, snacking on the last hard-boiled egg in the fridge.
Stealing coins from the dryer for banana ice-cream and balloons.
Never arrives here with out tag along
Despair.
Who crashes on my sofa keeping vigil of infomercials until two.
The only way to rid the room of him, entice Faith over.
She breezes in
a Swedish lullaby smelling warm
of chocolate chip cookies.
Sulking in a corner
he stalks.
Slamming the door.
Faith helps me redecorate. Lights a pillar white candle with a bent match from
orange overalls.
I remember.
I remember he left
but,
he kept
his key.
(to my late husband, Sonny)
Time to repaint and to clean
I really need a change of scene
So I can make this room mine
Where we once spent our time
Redecorating my room is a chore
Because I have treasure galore
I can’t part with this or with that
I have to keep this little white cat
And this red stuffed frog that can sing
Of course I must keep my engagement ring
You bought years after we were wed
And the Harley cap you wore on your head
My bubble fairy is a precious figurine
I must put it where it can be seen
Oh, and the water globe music box
Along with these polished rocks
The models of a ’64 Ford
This replica of a sword
Boxes for my jewelry and trinkets
Books, music, and these blankets
Memories flood into my mind
With each treasure that I find
I can’t part with things that you gave
‘Cause my heart says I really must save
So Sonny, even though you are gone
Your memory will still linger on
With mementos of the love we knew
A love that was forever true
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