100 PROOF INSURANCE©

FIGMENTS

four pounds of politics and a dozen bribes

if you please

no bag needed

throw in a couple of skyscrapers

a quart of insurance, 100 proof

three mandalas

and some freeze dried wisdom

goodbye, have a nice trip

sorry I can't go along

too much not to do here

there is no time like the present

or the past or the future

no time at all

it might be embarrassing

a fire hydrant

a freeway overpass

clouds and tumble weed

VOTE

a knobby cactus puts in for leader

of the junkyard wars

and by mistake ends up on public television

it warns: I am prickly

dangerous but not disastrous

laid back to the land in a desiccated way

do-it-your-selfers will identify

I don't drink, snort or smoke

don't move very fast

fat and lazy

don't sweat

no one wants a hug

out there in the wars is a camera man

a microphone to catch the grinding gears

it's been going on for years

which is how I got mistaken for an anchorman

don't move very far either

always in the midst of the action, an authority

in the right place very time

a sound over will supply the dialog, credits for sponsors

paid for by viewers like you

thank you.

OUTSIDE THE TENT

it must be earth shattering, shocking in degree

bloody is better, or at least the defeat of evil

if not a promise of untold wealth

or perhaps a declaration of humbug

to justify Ink

certainly there is no dearth of candidates

or a great tragedy will do

or a paean to celestial splendor

ordinary life seems ecstasy deficient

maybe drugs will stir it up

the astute shopper can buy phantasies or oblivion

but like all the rest in this catalog

the effects wear off

change happens

even break-throughs the traditional way

finally are vacant

so what's left?

everything or nothing, flip a coin

maybe it will land on edge

ah, so!

AT COURT OF THE UNIVERSE

there are no parking spaces

so parking tickets cannot be issued

the case involves a vacant palace

atop a lonely hill

all but invisible

property tax cannot be collected

but street repairs and maintenance require funding

reasonable arguments are presented:

■ since denizens cannot be found

fines would be inappropriate

■ an invisible palace needs no street

those living in glass palaces counter:

■ you are defined by your relations

with others

verdict:

[with the roar of one hand clapping]

■ denizens and palaces that cannot be found

are not defined!

SILENT NIGHT

Awooo!

Halloween is over

taking a picture of the moon

not a cloud in the sky, full moon

so bright

not a bird, not a bee or neighborhood dog

so calm

a spell has fallen

astrology is alive, the street never

so quiet