Onze Labs

Can't Touch This

It's not as light as it looks. Not as wispy, fine. Up close it like to jab you, take out an eye. Jimmy said Touch it. He said, You don't make something like that and not want people to touch it. Come on now. I said You touch it. He said I said you touch it. I've got the camera, I'll take your picture. By the time I get over there someone'll come in, then it's too late. I said, See, we're not supposed to touch it.

Jimmy has ideas. Jimmy knows how the world is. He's right: Why would you put those swirly curly colors shining, pointed,  smooth, right in people's face if you want everyone to keep hands off?

I wasn't afraid of getting in trouble. I get in trouble all the time for doing stuff Jimmy says. But I don't get in as much trouble as he would if he did it, and when people see me with him they know how it is, they can tell I work for him. There's advantages and disadvantages to everything, Jimmy says, Whether you're the big brother or the little brother, there's pluses and minuses. You're lucky you're cute, Jimmy tells me. People can't stay mad at you long.

I know this is true.

So I stood very still for a second that felt very long. I looked around the room and listened for someone coming, but we were all alone. I looked up to the top of that thing, and it was crazy and beautiful and I wanted to go bigger than Jimmy asked, I wanted to show him how much I knew he was right and I looked back at him to see if the camera was ready and Jimmy was ready and I nodded. I put out my hand and took one of those candy things in my hand and it was so easy I grabbed another. And climbed.

 

Photo by Patti Weissler

A Winter Wish

May you come alive in the bracing air,
know the promise frozen within the ground,
which sleeps until it is time to unfold
and blanket your world with violet and gold;
and should you pace, trudge, or wander around
may you know a friend walks with you somewhere.

 * * * * *

Love Letter

/

        Speak to me of rivers and bones; show me what to do with this mouth full of stars. Listen—what am I saying?

        The dogs lie still; grandfathers dance through the shade of days to come. The snows of yesteryear melt into tomorrow, watering what might have been. No more.

        Take these stars, these bones, this river—take them far away from me, take them to the other side of time and see how I find you, see how I am already there.

//

Here's what I mean:
I feel you in my bones, riding
a river of light that sparkles
on my tongue.
This current, strong and steady
holds the willing in its sway.
It will come for you, for me.
Will we—dare we—be carried away?

Lake Effect

For @neddda

Rowing into twilight, Jules watched the sun dapple the ripples the oars made. 'Turn around, Nora; look where we've been.'

Thanks, @neddda, for this: http://twitpic.com/cpk07

Spam, Poem or Frank Chu Sign?

OBLIGATORY
YPOW UDODJ
GHERIS DANTE
SYNCOPATE MY ZUBONI
HYMAN QQFICQ
STARR UPOOCY

Who is Frank Chu?