the ad hoc MacGyver wick  was   overwhelmed                       

                                                            the wick     overwhelmed

      with pliers he stuck a wood match into a candle they used prior to scent the kitchen the bathroom  a waste he thought 

         Lets burn it itll perfume the room

she had purchased a hot plate to melt Yankee candles 

                                                          If we warm them, their scents will emanate, smell every bit as good as if we burned them, but they’ll last longer than if we don’t. 

he didnt want to be patronising Do we agree its a candle

No.

well that was it wasnt it   she had also bought the candles

so no quivering candlelight for him candle Nazi

 

he wanted to take a salted bath  rather his body wanted to take a bath it was achy  he supposed since he abused it for years and years it had a perfect right to turn tables on him abuse him

on occasion they had to come to terms  agreement   call a truce 

                                                                    a truce between mind and matter

the matchstick wick he fashioned was overwhelmed

he had hoped for better 

wood wasnt necessarily absorptive

though it was what he had

hed wanted to make his body happy

but it was impatient

if the candle worked and it did briefly when he got his body into the hot water he figured when it failed his body would sighmutter Whadaduck but immersed relaxing it wouldnt bitch him about missing candlelight which they werent truly enjoying because their eyes were shut

                                         Toss me a fuckin bone  

his body was kind

he could learn a thing or two from it

 

still laying in the tub he knew something a bit or two about overwhelming wicks

his body overheard his thoughts 

                                   You do? You wanna talk about it?

Yadon remember

Come on, that’s why you’re paid the big bucks.

he wasnt going to cross it

he was in a deep tub

his body could pull up his legs 

                                let him slip under gotta play the cards he was dealt he was no fool  and he was partial  he enjoyed life and living 

he said

his body listened

it was a good listener

he amused it recalled wicked moments

it conceded that his detailed memory reminded reembodiedrecalled those happy times 

call it muscle memory 

Yah muscle memory   his brain was infusedaffixed but his brain didnt fire off the ejaculations

his body was locked and loaded it fired 

                                         thrilled them both they dragged many an exhausted lover back into bed to accept his labourhis ministrations  his  Wha    enthusiasm their sensitivitytheir howledStop! and chokedhusky laughsangasps for orgasms they didnt think they had in them 

                                                                   their orgasms could try to hide from him

but it his habit to ferret them out

between 2307 and 2344,  Twosday,  16  2. 21

0048,  Thursday,  18  2. 21

 

the former presidents feral ambulance-chaser and faux-thespian accused the floor managers of manipulating evidence and blustered Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. he supposed the esquire was attempting to impress the Senate the learned Democrats with forked-tongue 

                                          he elaborated so anyone who didnt speak in tongues could understand

False in one thing, false in everything.

Ooooh he shivered scared the bejesus out of him

earlier this morning not long after venturing online to discover how the Latin phrase was spelled he walked to the grocer for catfud and mushrooms and beer OhMy the Wizard of Oz was never far from his mind  and as he walked he read The Terrorist Album about white South African policing violence to uphold and maintain their apartheid frankly not at remove from the Israeli apartheid government and in it he read a curious quote of Hannah Arendt Where all are guilty, nobody is.

in plain-spoken English

 

he scratched his headconfused how to equate one part All parts and All are guilty no one is

he need someone with a bigger melon that his 

                                                but to his splitpea brain similarity was present  or maybe what these quotes talked of were Absolutes one is not All guilt systematic  individual 

                                                                               and that these quotes have been devalued or should be devalued except as limning for argumentative purposes of which most argumentation is rhetorical or idiosyncratic not overarching not truly attempting to merge All or one representative of All

 

hes still scratching his head

1244,  Twosday,  16  2. 21

1116,  Ash-between-Two-Ts,  17  2. 21

 

its a jumbleusually a jumble 

                             but thats why he dreamed 

he set the stage

set the white noise by the washing machine 

concentrated on setsscenes and characterspersons of interest 

                                                               rarely real people

could probably count on both hands – no toes necessary – of people he knew

he dreamed strangers who either grew stranger or he got to know them acquaintances  attractive lovers 

                                                                                                                 he was astonished if someone he knew appeared in a cameo

just didnt happen

                  and besides  given his penchant to dream the bizarre it would be Impossible to figure outanalyze what the hell they were doing there

it was better to play with strangers 

 

last nights jumble 

                 differing skeinsthreadsfabriccordsropes woundup like a ball of yarn rags collecting in street gutters

then a shuddershudders of lifeanimation quivering   grotesque

then realised 

               Alive

a bustedbroken  resembling a fox 

                                        and people stepping into the street to cross it a filthy corrupt illlighted street disregarding the clots and flotsam stepping over them the surly fox hamstrings them slashes their Achilles tendons with whiteshining teeth 

                       hot rubyred splashes and variedsize pokedots 

screams of agony turned to last-blowing-air tickling the foxs muzzle devouring in the street not far from steel manhole covers which seemed to him unwilling witnesses  then closing their eye   mocking  they were blind

 

kneaded lumps of disparate coloured fabric kicked or stepped on by errant shoes or boots a blueelectric shivers spasms inside itleaking out of it asif touched by The Hand of God  animated           

                                                                         that lump congeals with another and another and another  and stumbles to its kneeshands on the oily tarmac staggersup  becomes a disgusting human  form 

then turns into a vicious cannibal who can runpursue its prey off the street up steps break through slammed doors 

                                                                                                                       GORE

could be the reason why he dreamed of strangers   

2251,  Sunday,  7  2. 21

1221,  Mundaye -- or not,  15  2. 21

 

never truer words were spoken

he didnt meet the young man

his father spoke for himwhat he said

theres been much sorrow over the past year Death  separation   Trump virus  civil unrest  violence  sadness  depression

           layer upon layer scaffolding over scaffolding  scabs over wounds torn away not allowed to heal

                                                                                                                so we bleed and bleed  feel anemic tired    helpless

a helplessness reinforced by stupidity

and greed 

          greed verging on sociopathic

 

never truer words have been spoken

It’s hard to be human.

hed offer its harder for earthlings who arent human

1214,  Sunday – Valentine’s Day.  14  2. 21 

Tommy Raskin  his father Jamie quoted his son on the floor of the Senate during the impeachment of Americas most specious divisive president 

                             he could only assume that many senators and representatives would have had to die terrible bloody deaths to persuade for impeachment  

 

he entered a liquorstore for spirits                          

                                     vodka for spicy Bloody Marys hed perfected scotch and Drambuie for yetperfected Rusty Nails and a couple Irish whiskys to sip straight 

he was in his own little world 

                              marvelously coloured by neon signage lighting the plateglass panes inside and out

he reveled and relished it 

                           because unfortunately  when he had finished with his shopping he had to cross to the other side of the store for whine wha he called wine and JesusChrist  white whines at that

he didnt know squat about whine

it had occurred to him to go at it first 

but when he walked inwhen he glancedsaw there were three aisles of whine 

                                                                                 Oohno  that wasnt gonna happen

so he crossed left and passed three endcaps to the last aisle to begin relishing his own little world and entering it he stomped the brakesstopped cold 

                                  a woman halfwayup the aisle stood bent over YOWIE  wha an ass  just an observation wha an ass 

                  she seemed oblivious  lost in thought

Shesh he walked up on her softly so not to startle her admiring her as he went 

                                                                                 just behind her he ask Could I help you with something she didnt stand upright a girl after his own heart  You know a damn thing about vodka?

I do

You do? her voice piqued she stood upright and turned to face him Good. she paused Excuse me please, gotta let the blood drain out of my headGeez. 

                                   he knew the feeling although her standing upright didnt help his feeling

for martinis she wanted to impress a friend  they like martinis

he helped her select a potato and a grain vodka though recommended the potato and told her if her friend truly enjoyed vodka theyd be over the moon for it

thanking him placing the bottles in a red plastic handbasket she excused herself and walked away thanking him even more and as she went round the corner she looked back 

he nodded 

winked 

she smiled

she had some ass and he wasnt going to deny himself 

somehow brazen worked for him

 

 

with his selections in his arm he headed over to whines

he took a deep breath entered the shelves

turning up the second aisle he stomped the brakesstopped cold 

                                                                 he said  WE GOTTA QUIT MEETIN LIKE THIS

he heard her laughter splash on the shiny green linoleum  

then her voice 

              despite her speaking to the floor You . . again?

GOTTA TELL YA  IVE GOT EXCELLENT TIMIN

You certainly do.

he walked up on her

she stood upright and turned to meet him

she was smiling 

                a continuation of her departing smile rounding the corner

You know a damn thing about white whine

I do. she said

they laughed conspiratorially

 

she selected two bottles that she favoured 

                                             Your friend will like these, I guarantee it.

You guarantee them

I do.

Theyre pricey

They’re worth it.

Awright Shot in the dark Mind providing me with your telephone number just in case your guarantee falters

In case it falters?

Yes

Are you kidding me?

How do you mean

Falters?

Falters Yes

Have you seen my ass?

 

she had a point

 

2337,  Reggae Friday,  12  2. 21

0032,  Sunday – Valentine’s Day,  14  2. 21

ugly 43

6 January  Senate Republican seditionists/insurrectionists

Lindsay Graham  SC

John Barrasso  WY

Marsha Blackburn  TN

Roy Blunt  MO

John Boozman  AK

Mike Braun  IN

John Corryn  TX

Tom Cot Ton  AK

Kevin Cramer  ND

Michael D. Crapo  ID

Ted Cruz  TX

Steve Daines  MT

Joni Ernst  IA

Deb Fischer  NE

Charles E. Grassley  IA

Bill Hagerty  TN

Josh Hawley  MO

John Hoeven  ND

Cindy Hyde-Smith  MS

James M. Inhofe  OK

Ron Johnson  WI

John Kennedy  LA

James Lankford  OK

Mike Lee  UT

Cynthia Lummis  WY

Roger Marshall  KS

Moscow Mitch McConnell  KY

Shelley Moore Capito  WV

Jerry Moran  KS

Rand Paul  KY

Rob Portman  OH

Jim Risch  ID

Mike Rounds  SD

Marco Rubio  FL

Rick Scott  FL

Tim Scott  SC

Richard C. Shelby  AL

Dan Sullivan  AK

John Thune  SD

Thom Tillis  NC

Tommy Tuberville  AL

Roger Wicker  MS

Todd Young  IN

1049,  Sunday,  14  2. 21

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/unity-white-republicans/   https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/13/us/politics/senate-impeachment-live-vote.html

 

the enemy is within

43 Republican senators have proven to America and the world that there is nothing a president cannot do and be impeached

1305,  Saturday,  13  2. 21

 

he called his Paw 

                   he always held on for a while letting the telephone ring and ring an ring he didnt have a message machine 

           eventually as he wasnt moving well hed pickup  Hullo?

Paw always answered the phone asking a question

Hey Paw

Hullo?

Paw

Joe?

Yah yare not sounding well  Ya under the weather

Just home from a dentist appointment. 

And

He’s telling me my teeth are in bad shape, gotta pull some, gotta replace some.

Molars incisors canine

A couple of molars. My front teeth.

Yar front teeth yahavin troubles biting an chewing

No. I can bite an apple, eat corn on the cob . . 

. . Is it painful

No. I’m not having any problems eating, chewing my food. 

Awright Whas the dentists recommendations

He’s insisting I have teeth pulled and then replaced.

Well pull teeth I imagine some would have to be replaced

Yeah. He told me we could replace them either temporarily, or permanently.

Temporarily or permanently

Yes.

 

Awright Paw dontake this the wrong way Yare ninety years old

                                                                     Isnt temporarily permanently

1436,  Monday,  8  2. 21

1246,  Reggae Friday,  12  2. 21

Iron Butterfly  Most Anything You Want  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QZdITJX6I0

 

the impeachment trial concluded today

its Q & A hed rather T & As revealed how Republicans have devolved how Republicans are fearful of their Dear Leader a fat man who talks tough but probably hasnt stood across from a teenage or man fists balledup ready to fight

hah fight like hell

                  for as big a belly he has he hasnt the stomach or balls to risk being punched or dropped on his miserable ass 

closing arguments tomorrow and the vote 

                                            well learn if Republican senators are also sociopaths well learn if senators will be complicit 

its too bad a few didnt get caught in the Capitol

to truly to feel the horror that police endured

1736,  Reggae Friday,  12  2. 21

 

after midnight it was 

                       is it all gonna be peaches and cream

he dug ’70 Clapton his unbridled enthusiasm for peaches and cream

                                                                       anif Clapton was reveling in wha he understood peaches werewha he understood cream was 

if they were sympatico

                        then they might be hangin out with the same kind of bonnie lasses bonnie lassoes bonnie knots cinches and bowties

theres comfort in company

even if one is taken across the pond 

six hours ahead of his tangos  his doings an undoings

he was curious he couldnt help but wondered if Erics birds easy to snare

 

                                                                                       he reread his words        

ah it occurred to him hed dissuade anyone who thought his snares were premeditated

premeditation could be misconstrued he wasnt one to case bars or clubs 

                                                                             not his style

whafun would that be

the pursuitthe chase was in its surprise its suddenpleasure  After Midnight

                                                                                  shake their tambourines

play percussion  beat bongos congas an cajons  skin   beat skin                       

anif things didnt jivedidnt congeal

there were other nights

other midnights

after midnight

                to anticipate  to grin about

no life is lived in one night                                                                                                  

0000, Thursday,  11  2. 21

1704,  Thursday,  11  2. 21

Eric Clapton  After Midnight  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkWccgl-9vs

 

Senator Josh Hawley

sitting in the gallery

painting his toenails

posing for reporters

a disinterested juror in Drumpfs impeachment

2333,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  10  2. 21

 

10:01

bookends  he gathered

however 10:01 was 2201 hours in his book

                                                                                     also in one of his two daughters books

she would read the time but disregard the AM or PM that followed it  her late arrivals became family lore and loving teases

        she never found it funny she found it hard to laugh at herself

took after her mother

                       he her father couldnt stop laughing at himself

                                                                         an acquired taste  acquired because his mother suggested when he was young that he learn to laugh at himself 

wisely she suggested he learn if for nothing more than the purpose of disarming the boys who were older and bigger than him  who taunted him sadistically  so when he stood up for himselfas they knew he would  they could knock the hell out of him

They’re your fights, I can’t stop you . . but if you can disarm them for the time being, if you can put them off, later, you can bring the fight to them.

she kissed the top of his head

it probably was the only place that didnt hurt

she had reached out to her sister

 

her son Jimmy was a Golden Gloves boxer

                                             Jimmy didnt mind knocking him around the basement as he taught him how to box

       at least until he began blocking punches parryingcountering blows landing punches delivering combinations really pissing him off

when he pissed his cousin off who was three years older than he  it was timeDING 

he heard it they didnt  three minute rounds began

he rapped them with opening combinations

they went to grapple

dont bring wrestling to a fistfight

his reputation began to precede him

the older bigger boys began leaving him alone

it was hard to explain how a punk rocked themhow they couldnt stand up to him

soon he didnt have to laugh at himself

he didnt have to disarm anyone

Jimmy wanted to set up money matches

he fought seveneight times

it wasnt why he learned to defend himself

hed miss the money

but it wasnt why he learned to defend himself 

bookends 

           all the books inbetween

 

2201,  Twosday,  9   2. 21

1917,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  10  2. 21

there are recipes for writing as there are recipes for cooking baking pickling drying

ingredients too

the ingredients for writing however arent as readily available as it is to run down and fetch from the grocers

he walked to the grocers a canvas bag over his shoulder 

                                                           and often while walking he came upon odd ingredients he would have had to been blind to miss and incorporate them into pieces 

                                                                            no measuring spoons glass Anchor Hocking measuring cups no pots and pans or sieves no greased and floured baking tins or glassware  stoneware

 

he did get an interesting recipe last evening  Vita & Virginia  Virginia Woolf  Mrs Dalloway  The Lighthouse  Orlando  Vita was the muse for Orlando

“. . you must let the eye lick it all up

all that deliciousness

and then the brain will settle itself down

and watch things happening

without troubling itself to think”

marvelous 

          not that it told him what to do  but rather that it confirmed what he taught himself

 

 

a potbellied toad squatted on its haunches in the crotch of twinned trees 

                                                                            Once upon a time they were triplets  the toad was carved from the stump of the third

clever 

       it became less clever when it belched as he walked past

kneejerk reaction he answeredattended belches as he answeredattended sneezes  Gawd bless you

the toad couldnt thank him  it lacked an articulating tongue jaws teeth voicebox and any modicum of human language  English  were it to speak to him 

                                   rather it assumed his benevolence and nodded its thanks

before he could catch himself he politely nodded in kind 

                                                                 Man  toads made of wood

he excused a wooden toad

if he were a lesser manan insecure man he might have looked around to see if anyone overheard him

being who he was 

                     he couldnt give a fuck

he almost waited for the toad to bust into DeNiros Taxi Driver bit  Ya talkin to me  Ya talkin to me  Im the only one here Ya talkin to me

but frankly the sapling didnt look old enough to have been seededsprouted to have overheard the speech

bitch to have roots 

                    he didnt  picked his up years ago an hadnt put them down  just never found a place he wanted to commit to wanted to call Home 

                                yaknow   Home Sweet Home

so he intruded on his folks 

                            Yamind if I keep my attachment to Home with youse 

they were tickled

when they were fixing to sell his childhood hometheir home they asked him if that would be alright

that was mighty nice of em 

                             Thank you but no thank you  Its your house  You do whacha like

they sold it

the new owner tore it down

a onehundredten year old house bulldozed  brick foundation  true roughcut 2X4s 2X6s bigger bearingbeams and posts  slat and plaster walls  white oak baseboard and trim  stained glass and other decorative leadglass windows

it was down a couple of weeks before family said  his folks never said   he hadnt gone back to the old neighbourhood since

twenty years later at the thought of it his next thought was to firebomb the structure that replaced the house he grew up in

 

he stepped back didnt turn around just threw it in reverse 

                                                            Ya okay toad

it nodded

couldntve known what he asked  maybe surmised by the tone of his voice  his concerned expression

sometimes communication didnt need wordsthe same language

he and a stumped tree apparently didn’t

someone was deliberate  and exquisite  with their knife or knives

had the stump been left taller a crown on the toads head wouldnt have been inappropriate

despite its humourous posture  there was a regalness to its expression  asif it was caught breaking wind  kings fart everyone farts 

               yes  even beautiful women fart 

however in light of his experiences  it wasnt wise to say 

                                                           he couldnt help himself

he was a truthteller

and not only was he willing to tell the truth

                                              he didnt suppress a fart if one ached for freedom

Excuse me

Excuse you? That was rude.

Nahnope  That was fuckin human

he couldnt sayhow many farts stood between him and a beautiful relationship fuckya  he was being melodramatic if a fart stood in the way of a relationship it wasnt a relationship to be hadBAM

                                                                            he was surprised how many guys thought otherwise  I’d’ve given my left nuts to spend my life with her  Yafuck it wouldve cost ya more than your nut  he didnt get these guys  they were full of shit

                                       they didnt think they were  not to have a woman like that on their arm

hell with his arm  he wanted a woman under himover himbehind herflipped around sixtynine under on top inside hell with his arm

 

Toad  Names Joe  Hope yer belly settles down

it blinked one bulbous eye

                            then the other

imagine  a piece of wood and him speaking the same language

Have a fine day  Ill be seein ya again

the quickest of nods

                      or the sunlight fluttered  a diffuse cloud casting an abrupt shadow

  

3216,  Sunday,  7  2. 21

2307,  Monday,  8  2. 21