Nomenclature

It's so late 

I can't escape 

I've done it again 

Even though I swear 

     And swear again

I won't do this 

     Ever

Again 

The battery is running 

     Out 

The phone has had enough 

Of my poking 

     And prodding 

Of my curiosity

     And philosophying

Tomorrow will punish me 

Undoubtedly

And I will have 

No excuse 

No justification 

I will be angry with myself 

And it won't be funny -

When I struggle

To exist 

To listen 

To have patience 

The excuse of 

Living in the moment 

And 

Enjoying the expression of

Personality 

And 

Writing poetry

Will pale before

The effort of 

Holding it all 

Together 

-Among people 

(Which I'm not so good at 

Anyway)

What to say 

And 

How to say it 

When to laugh 

     Appropriately 

Maybe a little cleverness 

Thrown in 

(Don't push it - 

Just get by) 

Why I 

Do this to myself 

I still wonder 

It is my little 

Rebellion 

I suppose 

My small attempt at 

The artistic life 

I laugh 

At myself 

For such 

Nomenclature 

Fourth of July- 2015 -

By the rockets red glare -

And the fireworks flare 

The 4th of July 

Has come and gone 

Crowds and crowds of people 

And cars 

Carrying chairs and kids and 

Coolers

Beware of the roads 

This long weekend -

People returning to LA

Will be crawling by 

-Locals not even attempting 

The freeway 

Going to church tomorrow 

By the back roads 

     -If I go 

The Fillmore tourist train 

Rumbles through 

Green orchards 

Mountains standing

     Majestically 

     Behind 

We take pictures 

Of each other 

Taking pictures 

Chinese tourists 

Speak Chinese 

Mexican folks herd 

Their kids

The car show 

Is all lowered 

Cars 

And cars that bounce 

Unnaturally

Motorcycle folks

Make lots and lots 

Of noise 

They roar away 

The women awkwardly

Perched behind their men

How can they imagine

That is fun? 

Oh well

To each her own 

I'm sure 

Those girls probably 

have as much trouble 

With their men 

As I do 

With mine

- only different