The naked truth about Cheetos, leaving me sweating in my birthday suit. Playing, "Olly olly gluten-free," with a bag of Cheetos. Waiting for my dip to come in with the evening's fries. With catsup on the side, dripping into my beenie weenies without an invocation or a bowl of hominy grits, floating in redneck gravy. Cheetos makes one as lazy and dumb as a parsnip thinking Annie Okra turns tricks. Blaming Gumby for unnatur...

Jerry Lee Lewis has the juice but where has Tabasco gone for my redeye gravy and memories turned to shade on a stone beneath bones of the Magnolia Pluckin' the ol' gitfiddle of one's life with death's obituary and a Dr. Pepper and leftover dreams of sad songs now everyone is goin' away turned to shade on a stone But sing one more song, Jerry Lee, "Whole lotta shakin' goin' on."

A bushel full of my eye. In fields of autumn and the cornstalks. With the shadow of the cider mill and the glowing meadows among the pumpkins. Giving inspiration as the wind's calliope dances. Seeking antiquity's faith and salivation. Based on Philosophy from nature's sewing basket. Whispering in my ear, the song of the cicadas with violins and folded wings. In pantomime of memories and old rubber tire swings.

New Orleans. A city of many beautiful colors, parades, and traditions. It is rich in historic homes and buildings. It is known worldwide for its lavish street festivals and outstanding performers. It's known for its grand celebration of the Mardi Gras holiday, reflecting the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual Lent season. This time of year brings tens of thousands of people to partici...

In my hand, the sand shaker and the utensil which I scribble. In the throat of the dark, I sleep in the inkwell. Hearing the footfalls of voices. "This little piggy, he brings a fork..." From the shadow space of bedlam's widow. Now a hollow shell on the pillow. Catching a breath, making a cat's cradle from strings of death's library. Inhaling the screams of illicit dreams. Perhaps, another theme. From the inner sanctum of...

Listening to Chuck-will's-widow singing the same song of loneliness as nightjars pulling at my heart when I should be sleeping with the cruise of the night and dreaming of my rocking horse with a wink from mom's eye sailing off in a wooden shoe listening to Chuck-will's-widow and saying my prayers... Amen

Away from the carbon dioxide and the clatter of the city and the citizenry sleepwalking. Away from the mainstream and their need to know. Now breathing fresh air from the manifolds in the trees. No rabbit hole to hide in or Johnny B. Goode in Police uniforms to issue citations. Now smitten by Mother Nature and comfortable in our skin. Playing our own Bossa Nova. Living life with the luxury of not stepping on a fool's toe....

Hair of coal Eyes made from chocolate Lips soft as feathers Body adorned in tats of many colors Everything capped off with occasional piercings This is how I see you in my dreams Through eyes blinded by your beauty I see the light of your inner self shining out from an behind an amazing smile I hear the love and compassion blossom from your personality Blessed are the ones lucky enough to be near you Compelled are they to...

After days of fog and overcast skies, the sun shines brightly today. The still-chilly air doesn’t bother the tourists, but I’m content to view the beach from my window. The water, so rough and wavy yesterday, is calm and serene to gaze at today. Occasionally a boat will pass by, adding little ripples to water that is otherwise as still as a lake. A little red-haired girl plays on the shore, searching for shells. As I watc...

From the larder of my portmanteau. I address the coming of the beast. Rocking the wooden horse, wearing shoe lifts from Abercrombie & Fitch. Beating a brass spittoon with a gewgaw in the asylum of my mind's cabaret. Scratching at my feet of raven clay, tapping on cataracts of the toad's rigor mortis. Whetting my appetite for the soul's corset line, Sparring me no garter. Raising my hackles. Dressed in a johnny gown and ch...

I had a dream last night. It was a silly dream about a class reunion. I couldn’t remember my classmates' names and they were trying to make me guess. I went to get my yearbook to help me. I remembered all the classmates who had died and I thought for a moment about using a magic marker to put an X across their faces. That would be disrespectful. Of course, I wouldn’t do that. Then I woke up and remembered that you were so...

“You know the trails? You have GPS?” Done and done. On that fateful day, I broke one of my cardinal rules: Do Not Ride With Strangers. But we were new to the area. He wasn’t. He had GPS. We didn’t. Sure, just like everyone else, my iPhone had Google Maps. But that’s no substitute for navigating waypoints through a wintery bird sanctuary of thousands of indiscernible trees and dozens of frozen swamps. So, we proceeded. He...

In the lazy daze days of Junebugs, swinging on an old used tire hanging from a tree. The dust would kick up from the dried red clay. The Peanut Man would come along, singing something about, "Old fools..." My shoestrings were full of knots, but I paid it no never mind. Taking a shine to a seesaw and monkey bars. Life was full of daydreams, Mars, and Moon Pies. My make-believe friend, Mr. Bear, and I would often have tea a...

On boulevards of broken dreams where the sidewalk ends touched again by memories only to end as a fantasy with a broken heart and wrinkle nose from the incense, I suppose, knowing how this symphony ends on boulevards of broken dreams

Evermore forever the rainbow no darkness between my feet only the sun and memories to rejoice your voice from crimson fields of your lips and mascara shade of your smile beneath the willows of butterflies dreaming