the car-carrier truck
just proves
the laws of physics
don’t cover everything
the cars go
hundreds of miles
the odometer
still at zero

fresh for delivery
“like new”

and then there are those
driven by drivers
from the docks
to the dealer in the valley
odometer at 34
sold as “new”
not “as new”

* * *

drive-thru food
fill ‘er up

drive-thru gas
fill ‘er up

drive-thru college
empty minds
fill ‘er up

not full?
keep driving

* * *

they’re all there
in order
the highway patrol car
the broken-down car
and then the tow truck
waiting

* * *

I got so carried away
writing against discrimination
on Juneteenth
I forgot
to look
out the window

* * *

one step forward
two steps back
we need
a new dance

* * *

maybe we’ll stop
at Anderson’s
Split Pea
they have rest rooms

* * *

I’m on this side
of the fence
but I don’t know
what that means

* * *

He who has ears to hear
let him hear

But how can you
if you’re not here

* * *

Now I’m trying
to unfrantic myself
maybe I’ll start
a video blog
where I can talk
to myself
in person

* * *

That’s Life

stop
don’t stop
stop
don’t stop
it’s like sex
that goes on forever

* * *

I read the New Yorker again
in awe
and thanks
for so much literate
almost everything
just right
except the audience
too small
to make a difference

* * *

let’s pamper our animals
give them food and water
until we’re ready
to eat them

* * *

RV Resort

I can imagine
the RVs
rising up
on their back wheels
dancing

* * *

Sign:
“It’s not freshly sliced
if it’s not Jersey Mike’s”

Must be true
I haven’t heard about
any lawsuits
to the contrary

I’ll still go to Arby’s
as long as they have the meats
but I’ll give Jersey Mike’s
a try

* * *

San Andreas
It’s not my fault

* * *

Right lane ends

Not a moment
too soon

* * *

where there’s smoke
there’s FIRE
looks like smoke
smells like smoke
walks like a duck
it’s FIRE
even if I can’t see it
from here
driving by
I see the ravages
and the radio confirms it
FIRE

* * *

Ocean View Boulevard
I don’t see it
neither does the Boulevard

* * *

that’ll never happen
say the builders of the house
on the edge of the cliff
when after the sale
and they leave town
I see it slide down
to neverland

* * *

Big Flag
not the biggest
but too big
for everyday
There’s another one!
They’re breeding!

* * *

Self Storage

They have room for me

* * *

Exterminator
I misheard as
Exterminate her
NO
I know who
To get rid of

* * *

new wall
new cracks
already bleeding

* * *

Where are the yucca?
I only see yuck.

* * *

I remember the days
when people used to say
things thoughtlessly
like: “Black people
have liver lips”
and I unspokenly might say
“If so,
aren’t they lucky
so full and firm
and darkly rich…”
stopping myself
because the catalog
could go on and on
and stereotypical
is something
I don’t even want
to think of doing
“you thin-lipped people
raising the corner
in a sneer
are you jealous
your face less
well-endowed
eyebrow raised
to question
you slave to
mobile physiognomy”
no need for words
to tell you what you are

* * *

Here’s a picture, Dad
Windmills
You could write something
to put in your blog

windmills almost look
as if they could fly
turning
getting ready
for take off
already in the sky

How’s that?
Now let me get back
to what I was writing
about mobile physiognomy

* * *

Me and Cows

Languid cows upon the hills
looking for the water rills
eating grass where it grows
sprouting up beneath the nose
chewing cud for stomach store
to bring back up and chew some more
like me who gather every find
to chew my many stomached mind

* * *

Sign: College of the Canyons

When canyons have colleges
there’s hope for the world

* * *

Art Center
College of Design

Design needs it

* * *

and then the Highway Patrol Office
where they charged me
for the accident report
and Gordy’s Garage
where they tow the wrecks
and then the PUSD
District Service Center
where they store the books
and then the Mortuary
I’ve never used
and orange trees
bursting with fruit
and the parrots
noisy overhead
flying toward
my house
and every house
I’ve known for years
and the apartment
I didn’t rent
and the rival corner churches
trying to out-church each other
It’s all home
and I’m back