Lead ‘em astray.
A twelve-string in the hands
of a blind man dressed
in a big city business suit,
black glasses, fedora.
They tap their toes,
but the reaper will come.
No mercy, no mercy!
Finger and thumb –
let him preach away.
The gospel won’t cover
the blues man’s beat.
He’ll strive for the heart,
but I’ll capture their feet.
Lead ‘em astray.
No mercy, no mercy!
A twelve-string bible
in the hands of a man
dressed for business.
****
Katumushi grips
a branch, seeking his next prey –
straight line to the kill
* * *
Katsumushi – winning bug or victory insect — a Japanese name for the Dragonfly.
Eeek out a place
for yourself deep
in the woods – far
from the burr
of highways,
street racers,
the din of air termini.
Plant yourself
some tiny white
lights set
to blink.
Sit up in an unlit
window – watch,
wait
with childlike expectancy.
* * *
A memory from a recent trip to Upstate South Carolina, staying at a vineyard, where each night we were visited by the fairy lights of fireflies.
Life in Portofino 