The Night Storm

 

Buffet and shake my little house

Dark and raging winds

filled with the lash of rain;

Remind me of mortality

Show me the risk of being alive

Separate from the fury of effervescence;

This restless, driving universe.

Give me this gift of fear

The last door through which I’ll pass;

Opening on the light that is

A Vulcan shower of forging sparks

Of which I am and always was a part

Though I deny it, in my little

Shaking house.

 

 

Unrequited

 

 

Light comes in

through your shy face;

a window

where I can see

all things I know

are beautiful…

 

beautiful and young,

bright and earthy,

new grass, wildflowers

blue skies

Leopard grace

sunshine smile of brighter hue

than the finest, warmest gold.

 

Excited and alive

diamond-eyed

swirling up, a storm

of crackling ideas

childlike and intelligent

given freely to the day

with grins and hope.

 

You don't know it

but I love you today

with all the yearning,

all the soaring arrows

of truth and freedom

in my mind and soul.

 

I'll never tell you

for it wouldn't do

to mar your path

with selfishness

or, witless, heartless

allow you to feel a single pang

of regret, distaste, or pain

for something so unreal

and unneeded.

 

 

Though turned away,

in my hidden thoughts

I kiss your luminous face

hold your mystery in my arms

wonder at the universe

reflected in the surface

of your eyes.

 

I ask for nothing else of God

except-- let me love him

with my secret glance

which whispers

like a breath on glass

warmly, but without harm,

memory, or trace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Picture

("1965" By David Salt)

Where the emulsion

Has cracked and curled,

Has torn or worn away

Lies the truth.

 

The shy boy face

The half-smile

Is the mask

worn to school that day;

Like the stiff, red shirt;

Protection against

The cold.

The true self dreamed of

Going somewhere friendlier.

 

Lonely,

Reading ahead in class

Or dreaming

Of red numbers and blue numbers.

He always dreamt in colors

Always--

 

That was one thing that

Couldn't be cured, or slapped away

With incomprehensible

Adult resentment.

 

Ageing Song

"Cell Phone Self Portrait"

It the little things, you know

The sudden ache to go

It’s the breakdown of my body

The breakdown of my body

 

The deadness in the morning

After aching in the night

The breakdown of my body

The breakdown of my body

 

The softening of flesh

As it folds into a wrinkled mess

The turning of my hair

Into tasteless shades of gray

 

The dimming of my eyes

And all the little lies

To which my ears are prey

And fear grows everyday

 

For the breakdown of my body

The breakdown of my body

 

Oh, leave me halt and blind

But leave intact my mind

Or, perhaps it would be better

If my reason left me first

 

Then I’d never know

I’d never even see

The breakdown of my body

The breakdown of my body

 

The creaking bone

And rheumy eye

The birdlike hands

The livered lips

I see them like a hologram

Imposed on my reflected face

One can’t control

Impose one’s will

On ages rolling down one’s back

All I can do is watch and wait

And give up to my fatal fate

And cope somehow, now it’s so late

 

With the breakdown of my body

The breakdown of my body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Items from the LILITH VERNON Catalogue:

 

 

1. A MUDDY HALF-BOOT ELEVATED ON A PLASTIC PILLAR One genuine brown leather boot, besmeared with mud from the left bank of Paris. Included is a durable plastic pillar, measuring 36”. Comes in Black, Ivory or Puce.

2. NEON CROWN OF THORNS.  A Beautiful and pious crown of thorns like the one worn by Our Lord. Our version is in bright and cheerful neon and will banish the blues. Comes with a 6 foot cord in either black or white.

3. EGG-FLAVORED LOLLYPOP MELTING ON A DUSTY TELEVISION SET. Rare egg-flavored lollypop gracefully melts on the top of a vintage black and white Magnavox television set. Genuine imported dust imparts a homey touch.

4.  VACUUM CLEANER FILLED WITH LIME DENTAL FLOSS AND LUSCIOUS CHOCOLATE NAZIS Sure to be a hit with the little woman. Real Hoover Vacuum Cleaner’s bag is filled with tasty and healthful lime Dental Floss that has been blessed by the AMA. Small Chocolate Nazis, wrapped in gunmetal foil in the shapes of your favorite Genocidal Maniacs complete your gift.

5. A DIRTY MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATING COPULATING SNAKES  Ooh-la-la! Treat your favorite reptile to this racy depiction of many species of snakes “getting it on” in Nature’s way! On glossy magazine stock paper, thoughtfully wrapped in brown paper.

6. A CEMENT CAMISOLE  An unusual and striking addition for any gal’s wardrobe. Silky cement will accentuate the figure and get you noticed. Comes in Pearl Gray only.

7. LACE AEROPLANE  Who says air travel has to be boring? This Aeroplane will add a touch of class to the sky. Both titillates and teases with peek-a-boo frills.

8. A GASOLINE POWERED TULIP.  Tired of boring “natural” tulips? This one will get you moving! Uses the same gas you use in your car. No need to mix in messy 2-stroke oil.  Gets up to 20 MPG and compliments any décor.

9. A RAT-INFESTED LIMOUSINE HURTLING DOWN THE AUTOBAHN.  One Silver Shadow Rolls Royce filled to the brim with peppy Norway Rats. Watch it careen, driverless, down your choice of German freeway or “autobahn”. Fun for the whole family.

10.  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (No Longer Available)
11. a scream from a bulbous sky. Ignore it.
12.  A SOAP BUBBLE ON A CHILD’S LAUGHING HEAD (no longer available)
13.  POWDERED-GARLIC FLAVORED CANDIES. Choice amber-colored hard candies with the deliciously odd flavor of Shilling Powdered Garlic. 12 to a can.

14. ONE TON OF BRIGHT RED SNOW Be the envy of your neighbors with unique red snowfall. Made from recycled slaughterhouse blood, it will brighten the holidays while fertilizing the lawn. Also available in Gangrene.

15. A CELLOPHANE WRISTWATCH An ingenious new kind of watch that will match any ensemble.This stylish, sleek watch is made from the finest available grade of pure cellophane. Your choice of “Scotch Yellow” “Holiday Green” or “Red Hot”. Guaranteed not to run.

16. ONE THOUSAND PENISES FILLING AN ELASTIC OFFICE BUILDING Lovely “postmodern” office building filled with high-quality HD penises. Cut out the guesswork and know “up-front” who you’re dealing with when you “come to work” every morning. 

17. ROOM ON THE THIRD FLOOR WITH A SEA INSTEAD OF A RUG  Why go with old fashioned Deep-pile when you can have Deep-SEA? Think of all the fun you’ll have cavorting in the waves.

18. SILK MIRROR  Accept no imitations! This is REAL silk, not rayon or nylon. In Taupe or Sheer.

19. COPSE FULL OF FLIES AND IRIDESCENT BROWN BEETLES (No Longer Available due to Climate Change).
20. CERTIFIED SALVADOR DALI SOUVENIR BUST, MADE OF EARWAX  Everyone’s favorite Surrealist modeled in rare Andalusian Earwax. A real conversation starter at any party or get-together. Each bust comes with a certified certificate of authenticity.

21. A CLOUD OF IODINE AND SULFUR FUMES SHOOTING SPARKS THROUGH LAKE MICHIGAN  Spectacular and unsettling, this item may move you like no other. Not available in Alaska or Hawaii.

22. WILDLY FLEXING SPINE IN AN ELEVATOR  Think of the fun you’ll have riding in a Real Otis Elevator while being entertained by a wildly flexing Human Spine! Fun and Instructive for the whole family.

23. COLLECTION OF CHARLES MANSON DESIGNER NOSE-HAIRS  Guaranteed to be from the nose of famed psychopath Charles “Chucky” Manson these quality items are uniquely styled by fashion experts for that “up-to-the-minute” look in nasal accessories.

24. ELECTRIC MASHED POTATOES  Tired of the same old boring mashed potatoes? These will add plenty of zip to your next hot meal.  Each serving contains at least 120 volts of joltin’ excitement with every satisfying bite. (Check with your Dentist: Not recommended for people with metal fillings or electrical allergies).

 

Prices will vary according to Relative Humidity in your area.

Please send your questions to screamingneedle@desperation.net

 

 

 

 

Your Strange Music (For Jamie Stewart)

Somehow you understand
the world is full of Bali-smash bells
grinding guitars and doomsday drums.
something angry and fierce
is trying to hold on, hold on.
Even though it’s tearing out of my skin
with a long knife, please,
don’t let the sounds of a pretty flute distract you
(for it will try)
or the howl of the maelstrom molest you
(keep walking, keep walking on through)
I’ve noticed it too,
the sounds of frightening decay.
Oh, we’re having a mighty good time.
but we aren’t
and the see-saw of nausea, black blood and gangrene
when you know it’s lose it or die
(no time to laugh, no time to cry)
leaves you waiting in the sinner’s café,
waiting I say, for a bullet in the brain
to make a tunnel for the train
the clouds remain, raining
until you’re met on the street
by crazy Rebecca…


…and something small and still
something that struggled for so long
lifts it’s feeble hands to the sky
drops them and shockingly,
dies.