Driving up to Dunsmuir
The day after
1/21/25

Shock Wave

There’s a rolling shock wave
across the country.
Where I am it’s
already hit.


Refinery

Even your taste
is refined.

***

Crossing the Bridge

Tolls went up a dollar
to cross the bridge.
Maybe I’ll just stay
on this side.


Is he qualified
to run the country?
Yes.
He can run it
into the ground.


The Fat Horseman
of the Apocalypse
throws the torch
to burn the world
doesn’t realize
he’s set himself
on fire


The Department
of MisEducation
gets rid
of the books


When people say
“God damn!”
that implies
judgmental surprise.

When they say
“Hot damn!”
it’s
“Bloody Hell!”

Oh well.


America
The (once) Beautiful
The (still could be) Beautiful.


What’s up with those tariffs?
Is it just
their enforced sudden realization
that they can squeeze even more
out of the working poor?
But
what
can we do?
Starve?
To death?


“I’ll end the Ukranian War
even before I’m sworn in.”
Too late!
It’s already Day Two after.


Empty words
and broken promises
are the things
that are still here


Follow the Constitution
and the law?
Why?
I didn’t write it.


Yes
We Can
grope the children
and shoot people
in the head


There’s always a down side.
Restoring the power
lets us know
how bad things are.


Doom
and
Gloom
Together
Again


I drive by
the houses
of everybody
no matter who
and hear the silent cry
“We don’t deserve this!”


Can’t leave the country.
The Passport Office is closed.
And the Post Office
no longer delivers
unopened mail.


Is the only alternative
to waking up
and seeing the devastation
just not waking up
at all?


I weep
because they won’t let me
love the world
or the world
to love me back


I’m pouring forth
because I’ve been holding it in
like diarrhea
released


I’ll try to stop writing
so I won’t implode.
I haven’t had breakfast,
was offered a cookie,
declined,
so now it’s my fault,
the loss of the voice
of the fate of the world.


Responsible Government
They pay
for the clean-up crews
to clear away
from the foot of the windmills
the carcasses of whales


“There are good people
on both sides.”
Why should there be sides?


Did you find
your good pen yet?
Not yet.
When was the last time
You used it?
If I knew that…
I know it’ll turn up.
It’s a very faithful
and loyal pen.
It’s like
The framed picture of my Father.
It’s around here somewhere.


It’s like the poem I wrote
so many years ago.
The last line is,
“Things endure.”


Another last line
from another early poem,
“and civilization in a single room.”


Re-reading myself
I learn again
I must have always been
this way


Another compromise:
“If not better,
at least not worse.”


I can hardly wait
to get there so
I can type myself up.
I have a feeling
I know what I’ll look like.


Let me outta here!
Even with the window open
I can’t breathe!


The Pope goes barefoot
among the poor
to distribute blessings.
The Emperor
from his throne
waves his hand.
The Dictator
from his balcony
showers words.
What do we have?


When Pigs Fly,
I look toward Washington.
He’s not off the ground yet.


There’s the Little Mountain Range.
He hasn’t discovered it yet.
When he does,
he’ll come over
and put a big T on it.


Crapola
comes in boxes
for breakfast.
I’m going to the market
to stock up.

Don’t you ever quit?
Apparently not.
If and when
I ever do,
it’s only to pause
for food
to keep me going.
My pen
hasn’t run out,
nor have I.


Gavin Newsome
is in the news. Some
people say he’s the best
choice at the moment.
All the rest
have the intent
to form a coalition
so people listen.
I do.
Do you?


when we pause
from daily life
we sometimes review
our collection of grievances
that fester like a boil
build up a poison
that could kill us
if we don’t let them out
that toxic culture
that doesn’t want
to let us be ourselves
we prick the boil
the gush rushes out
flushes away
we seal and heal
I’ll help you know what to do
because I’m always here for you


I deflect things away
from myself.
Can’t you
do
what I do
too?


the way it is now

I can crush you.
I can pontificate like a pope
until you have no other hope.
I can decree
that you be like me.
A woman’s a woman,
A man’s a man;
I say that’s human
because I can.
I don’t have to understand,
I just say it.
I raise my hand
and you obey it.


“We carry menthol”
and “flavored vape.”
Can I put it in my gas tank
now that the hanging pine
car deodorizers
are illegalized?


You lookin’ mean at me?
Is that your Gaza gaze?


Christian love.
I love you to death.


The Radio says,
“Just because
there’s an Executive Order,
that doesn’t mean
it’ll actually happen.”
What do you know?
Where have you been?


I really like that little house.
I want to put it in my pocket
and take it with me.


All the mountains
in a volcanic row
Mt. McKinley
Mt. Lassen
Mt. St. Helens
Mt. Shasta
where we’re going,
they all have snow
on top
in January.
I take comfort
in that reassurance
of continuity,
especially now,
when I need it most.


It’s only the Second Day,
and already they’re talking
about his legacy,
Peacemaker and Unifier.
Get rid of all opposition.
Look, there’s one
on the ground.
Kick him to see
if he’s still alive
and breathing.
If so,
shoot him.


Why won’t you let me love you?
You don’t need my permission.
I think I do.
I don’t want there to be
any doubt.


I wouldn’t mind a salad.
That’s local food.


Trump was sworn in yesterday.
I heard him swear.
But not on the Bible.
He’s hedging his bets.


There’s that little hill again.
I wrote about it before.
I already said it better.
Look it up.


Shameless Self-Promotion

We’re getting close to Dunsmuir.
More and more it’s in my book.
Buy a copy.
It’s available.


“Borrow from the future
to get rich today.”
Really?
What happens to the future?


These people!
We’re dealing with crazies!
Somebody let them loose!


Blanket of snow.
Sounds comfortable,
even warm,
but I know it’s not.


Everyone my age
is as old as I am.
Fewer and fewer are not.
At least they tried.


My pen just ran out of ink.
It says on the side
Hotel Astoria.
So all its words
are a bonus
from the cost of the room.


My new pen vmware
says vmworld 2009
so it’s lasted 16 years.
I have too.
With the old pen
I can replace the cartridge.
With me,
not so much.


Now it’s getting ready
to get dark.
The clouds are pink.


J & J Pumps.
I’ll bet they do.


Something Something Caverns.
I was at Carlsbad once,
but that was
before I was born.
Look it up.


BevMo
and Mo and Mo
and Mo


Based on your medical history
I encourage you
to go to the doctor


Now the radio
is talking about
medical regret.
Isn’t anything new?


Radio says
“I’ve been pinching myself
for many years.”
It’s like a confessional
over the air.


I can feel my energy
flagging.
Aren’t you hungry
too?


The time is 5:30.
Could be worse.


Radio:
“All things considered.”
Really?
All?


Government announces
a breakthrough.
“People who like chocolate
are allowed to co-exist
in the same town
with people who don’t.
This is Your Government
working for you.”


There’s Lake Shasta,
just where I left it.


The lake is getting
pretty low.
What happens
if it doesn’t rain?


Cease-fire means
you stop shooting
while I bomb you

***

The government is under
a lot of pressure.
Yes?
So?


Cease fire
rhymes with
peace fire
but
I want more
than a cheap rhyme


There’s still a long long road ahead,
Where have I heard that before?


He says
his failures
haunt him
every day of his life.
That’s spooky,



The most ____
(fill in the blank)
In the history of the world.


“The speed of relevance.”
Is that relevant?


We’ll only pay
for things that make us
stronger safer more prosperous
forget the rest of the world


Some students who don’t go to school
Chronic absenteeism
Sometimes it’s because
they can’t get there
so the School District
in its infinite wisdom
has provided bikes
and now,
wait, no,
the school is over this way


Come on now,
play fair,
don’t be like when
we gave you computers
and you just played
games and porn


the time is 5:40
time either flies
or crawls


We’ve got your back.
Who’s got the rest of me?


The tsunami
is slower than I thought.
I look out the car window
and see almost everything
still here.


This is a good place
to stop writing.

***