Monday, March 31, 2008

JoLynn by Jakob Chapman

fiery hair fantasy
makes me nervous
like Brand or Bleys
or she who is white and
“ fair”
(Celtic pale)

makes me stare
which memory
keeps me warm
when all other lights
“go out”
(fire of Galadriel)

but I love
the picture
of her new shoes
“little brown boots”
(modern Caligula)

mid-calf suede
“anticipation”
(gloves of Sweden)

kept in her wallet
to show me
“simple gifts”
(Appalachian Spring)

which memory
warms my sheets
at night
begs my attention in
“economics”
(my red-haired Giffen good)

Friday, March 28, 2008

Jack-in-the-box By Jakob Chapman

red box
mounted
on the wall
reaching forward
outstretching
tempted
each time I pass
grasp the handle
knuckles white
firming grip
blood burning
like fire

save yourselves

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

String Theory by Jakob Chapman

official handicap
forgotten
lips forming the possibility
of pastrami on rye
knee pads and sunglasses
llama rodeo
sunshine and physics
physical attraction theory
in a getaway car

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

One Like the Other by Jakob Chapman

another new day
half hour early
shower and pray
write down questions
anticipate answers
try to guess
what she will say

countdown
the time
waste it away
were we on five?
or always on six?

I lose track of the hits
it takes me to stay
focused
on absentmindedness
today

Friday, March 14, 2008

Understanding Tuesday Afternoon by Jakob Chapman

I am stuck
in redheaded
desire
I can’t get out
of the lovely
quagmire

eight-year-old
rollerblades
covered with mud
hose them down
fuel the intensity
of the draught
delight in saturation
it’s okay
mother won’t
find out
about the flood

I am sorry
about haystacks
the lack of love
and devotion
acquired from cats
thankful lunch
engagement
with or without
cheese
satisfy cravings
strange emotions

I am burned
by redheaded
fire
my heart is ready
it couldn’t be
dryer

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Reading Jane Eyre by Jakob Chapman

my hand is a spider
crawling on the ceiling
my covers too warm
the book by my side
spinning my mind
causing me harm

the clock on the stand
races faster
drinking my sleep
bringing me nearer
the 10 o’clock classroom
wishing for Tuesday
devotion and noon

bunk bed creaks
desire an end to games
roommate speaks
I listen
as he sleeps
jealously excited
awaiting alarm

red is new
favorite color
I think of her often
silent alms
always later into night

pitiful sleep
calm surrender
frightens
and claims
the spider on the wall

as always…

as always.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Empty Chair by Jakob Chapman

fake granite
composite plastic
cold curves
sharp line
cutting narrow
strip
fourth row
to the right
mother hole
dripping
disappointment
counting seconds
forgetting minuets
rigid awkward soul
I was supposed to meet
and never lose
the imposable hope

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Rowboats by Jakob Chapman

glide away Sisu
glide away Jazz

waiting alone
in a house of photographs
constant smiling faces
a few watts of light
help me remember
keep me up at night

clip the grass
when it gets too long
don't forget
she'll be coming back
by the time
I've gone

house-sitting memories
tale set for one
empty arms
album in lap
empty pages
the desire to fill

little boats
on the lake
little boats making
little wakes
glide away...
glide away....

Monday, March 3, 2008

Washing Windows by Jakob Chapman

I am always amazed
at the clarity
pure pool
of crystal style
that rests
before lashes
increasing vantage
decreasing ambiguity
of secret smiles
and hymn numbers
seen from the isle

fuzzy shapes
moving in the grass
throw them away
beside the book
on the blanket
they get in the way

I am always amazed
at the clarity
the freedom
from indistinctness
which happens
every time
I put on my glasses

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Breast Cancer by Jakob Chapman

vinyl paper clips
dwindling
assorted colors
thin under-wires
digging under
searching
scratching
finding the last
one
that’s not pink
to hold my papers
together
without sending
a wrong
message