So yare talkin shelldom

he rocked backabit on his heels 

                                    Talking about . . . seldom . what? 

Your shelldom

Seldom?

            Mine?

Shell S H E L L  D O M shelldom 

                                    Yes you are a shell of your former self Yare getting older an aint a damn thing ya did as a kid a young man yare able to do on par today 

Its evitable

Quit clinging to it 

Only so many glory days  cherish you had them not mourn regret or whaever   context  ya want to put them in 

Theyre behind you

And that doesn’t bother you?

No

    I havent a shelldom

It really doesn’t . .

. . Bother me  No 

Whell . . . I can’t help myself.

Then help yourself 

I can’twhat are you saying?

Help Like taking a portion of food at the dinner table help yourself to all tha  I cant help myself

                                                                                                     Yare barking up the wrong tree man 

You’re not very sympathetic.

Im not

        Sympathy woud tend toward befuckinget  agreement   Im vehemently opposed no wiggle room 

What did you call again?

   Wha did I call it 

I know this.                                     

You do 

A little help.

In one ear and out the other

I didn’t think so. 

A little help?

   Howbout the whole ball of wax whole kit an caboodle enchilada the berries

Have to be so emphatic? 

I do 

     I keep figuring the emphasis might coerce shame you to be present

Wouldya just say please.

Shelldom S H . .

. . I got it got it . . I got it.

   You do

238preferred to 1438,  Twosday,  28  2. 23

1309,  Twosday,  14  3. 23

Bruce Springsteen  Glory Days  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvUOgIgLqOQ

Neil Young  Old Man  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKCiC-H2Xbg

they tossedthrashed the bed pretty good

he hit the floor oncefell right out 

                                almost didnt but his stomach muscles had had a work out quit on him 

it was pretty comedic him going over the side  they laughed  he jumped upjumped back into bed landing on his knees

smiled

       Babe  Im gassed   You 

Come here, doll. 

he crawled to her nuzzled her breast she put an arm across his back and with the other tossed a blanket over them

   they fell into a deep sleep 

they woke late afternoon woke spooninghim tight against her

Ooh, you’re awake.

Im up

You certainly are. 

                   they laughed they kissed they went at each other again 

they fell asleep 

he opened his eyes her face across from him he watched her sleepwatched her through replays in his eyes of their night morning an afternoon 

                        My God he thought youre so beautiful 

when she woke he could see in her face she was confused that it was dark  night 

                                                                                       Hiya beautiful 

Hey. she said sleepily  What  she cleared her throat What time is it?

I don know

Have you been awake long?

Not long

Why didn't you wake me?

I was enjoying you your face  You purse your lips while you sleep Cant tellya how many times I almost kissed you

You should kiss me now.

he leaned in kissed her gently then kissed her nose eyes forehead  she giggledgently  

You know what?

What

I’m hungry.

Me too

rolling her eyes Food.

Oh  Food  he laughed 

                           I can scramble some eggs got baked beans multigrain toast  Milk

Milk?

Whole milk

Whole milk.  I can’t tell you the last time I drank whole milk.

You in

I am.

Excellent Take a shower Ill get things going  Fifteen minutes good

Yes, plenty. 

at dinner she told him her story

The Le Violon d’Ingres

Yes. 

      I like that you know Man Ray. He inspired my Es.

Your tattoo is beautiful Your artist was up to the task

She’s wonderful, came highly recommended, when I met her told her what I had in mind she jumped at the chance, gave me a crazy good price too.

Nice when pieces fall together huh

Yes. Astonishing. 

she explained the lower-back tattoo was something she intended to share with only special friends  wasnt a tramp stamp

The Es

         she whispered  Exit. Entrance.  Make of it what you will. 

he almost choked on his milk

6AMish,  Monday,  13  3. 23

0910,  Twosday,  14  3. 23

Erykah Badu  Bump It  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbVIsYRP5P4

 

                                      How long we gonna lay here

crickets

I know yare not asleep

Yatalkin to me

I am

You talkin to me

Drop the Bickle woudya

I cant believe you remember

Travis  Taxi Driver

                    Film influenced the hell out of you 

It did  Scorsese directing Schrader screenplay  Awesome

   Yaknow wha woudbe awesome

I believe I do

Wha

Ya think we oughta get up 

Yah 

        Were lying here eyes closedwha  an hour now

I thought we were listening to the rain

Are we calling it rain 

                       I thought you were calling it its toutedness  an atmospheric river

Thas pretty awesomeya have to admit

No argument from me but coud we get our ass out of bed we aint fallin back to sleep this morning

You any idea wha time it is

No  You

No

Guess

Bed just before midnight 

                             Felt like a long nap  four hours 

I concur

We like tha 

We do 

               Get the show on the road

   I think sothought so a halfhour ago

Thanks for keepin it to yourself

Yare welcome

               I heard you listening 

Listening  Really

   Yah  Ya listen hardya actually amplified the river

I love the rain

Since we were boys

Yah

   It used to put us to sleep

It did I was hoping

Yawere listening too hard 

                                         Get the show on the road  Gonna concede 

Please  Id rather concur 

they got up made the bed cleaned cat boxes made coffee 

                                                                      show was on the road for another day

0527,  Twosday,  14  5. 23

Erykah Badu  Appletree  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nujt--zPa70

she didnt say

made him guess 

they met once before  

afterwards he found he was looking forward to when he might see her again

Joe, Id like ya to meet Spike. thats how her friend introduced them

she thrusted her hand into his   

gave him a good firm handshake

   Spike

Yes.

Makes me muse

she smiled broadly 

                     If you don't mind, while you’re musing she motioned her head in the direction would you mind grabbing me a beer from the tub beside the picnic table? As I came into the yard Janey grabbed ahold of me walked me over to meet you. I’ll hold down the fort.

We have a fort

Not ifya drag your feet. she chuckled

Hmm he smiledbobbed his head Guess I better get on it wha beer woudya like

You pick.

Bold  This a first step in a gauntlet

Could be. Let’s see how it plays out. 

there were sixseven types of bottled beer under ice in a large galvanised tub his mother bathed him in one like it during summers when he was a kidHell when he was older he bathed his little brothers an sisters in kind the Ivory soapbar floated    

he chose the one he wanted grabbed two she didnt like itwasnt interested he wouldnt be either gauntlets can be run by two

returninghanding her a beer Look at you . knockin’ it out of the park. I was curious.  We share similar tastes.

they did

Id say  queer quirky

Quite. she grinned 

                     I’m not usual fare, I put people off. 

On purpose

I don’t think so. I am who I am, I don’t play games. 

None

Not usually.

             You got games you think I might play.

I got games youd play with me

Not afraid of hanging yourself out to dry?

No We have similar tastes

                             You said

they did

it was raining

               drops rolled down the bedroom window playing before an intermittent sun that threw their shadows an curlicues about the room 

                           on her way to the bathroom she strippeddropping her clothing piece by piece to begin a shower for them

he went to the windowbuying her some time a head start and looking out he marveled  raindrops were climbing a rosebush they fended off others falling from the sky sidestepped insensate dripping ones they climbed to blooms and nestled in them remained separate

                           before he could call to her she called him 

hed tell her

shed believe him

then strippingdropping his clothes among hers he mused if the water might be playing with her

she stood under the showerhead back to him

elegantly tattooed to either side of her spine at the small of her back Es cursive ornate the one left was reversedtheir spines back to back reminded him of Man Rays Le Violon d’Ingres

Beautiful

Thank you.

he put his arms around herheld her breasts they stood under the spray breathinghearts  pounding 

he whispered into her ear Theres a story

There is.

Will you share

Some other time.

Ive a story for you

A bedtime story?

Yes  for bed

she giggledleaned deeply into him sighed  No one has told me a bedtime story since I was a little girl. 

6AMish,  Monday,  13  3. 23

1204,  Monday

https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/104E4A

his electric blanket sweated himsurprised him 

                                                 he didnt think the setting was too high going to bed it was toasty but going to bed nakedslipping in when the air temperature was 42degrees would feel toasty 

                                                                                               he reasoned 

then mid night 

in his hair armpits groin sweat 

                                 the warmth woke him

he was grateful it wasnt his bowels bladder 

                                               walking to the bathroom would have been like leaping into a Spring Lake Michigan into the Pacific off Avila a Polar bear New Year Daylike jumping into the Minnesota River after stepping out of an Indian sweat lodge he was invited to partake

                                                 his consciousnessbrain caught by the hips trying to exit out the top of his head their violent squirming ridiculous 

Suck it up  Yaint goin nowhar

   reluctantly they return 

                            however chidingreminding him when he CROAKED theyd exit  lubricated by His End 

YAH

     But not until then 

Once in a lifetime mongrels

                              Once in a lifetime

   

1628,  Sunday,  12  3. 23 

Flora Purim  Nada Sera Como Antes, Amanha  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDBupn9LXuo

   there is a single distinct pleasure 

                                       when he drops his eye on a piece of paper his scribbled ideas frontnback an realises hes used them allhas taken their crude  disparate imaginings   an forgedrefined them lavished them with dialogue that propels them into existence 

anwho wha woudnt want to exist 

want To be 

   stuffed away clasped not realnot really until read an painting or distressing   minds

he used to keep the notes 

evidence he thought 

                      like the sexlove tha creates a child

but a child says it all

   he has two

                hes also had sex thats produced thousands of pieces

the experience doesnt matter not the positionwho dominated who 

   date day time religiously recorded 

                                       their births pregnancies   all undetermined until hes peels them from the page then they are vivifiedanimated by his attention  fingers

1514,  Sunday,  12  3. 23

pulled the body from a cairn an vitalise it

Where do you come up with this shit?

   Its not shit  naturally occurs to me The dearth you suffercompared to me if tha didnt happen if I quit dreaming  Id question the quality of my life going forward 

Their departure woud be tantamount to me shot into space disconnected silence  suspended in Void

Has it ever occurred to you you exist in a selective void 

                                                         Orrather  thinking more   Avoid

You fail to entertain an are you prefer  being entertained

Haha ahyes  an as yasay  You don wanna work tha hard 

                                                               he pitched that smarted 

You have a lot of nerve. 

None at all

            Frankly just calling ballsnstrikes youll note the sports analogy  as you prefer

combative You don’t know what you’re talking about.

   I don  Enlighten me 

                        Give me a solitary example of something similar to wha I just shared with you anya shit on

What?

Wha  Wha I just said

                       Donfuckin tell me I don remember The little yellow flower  Outside       

That?

Yahtha  exactly tha 

                     Sumptin similar out of your mouthGo 

You know I can’t, I don’t think like you.

Imagination isnt thinking It exists like fireballs streaking the sky striking a match  trippin an fallin on your face

   Arya truly devoid of imagination  Avoid it wrap yourself in wha science dictatesreason  dicktates  thas spelled

D I C K T A T E S  Dick  As in being a dick

You think offending me . .

. . Offending you NO

                      Ballsnstrikes baby You take offense I doubt it rather yare tryin to worm your way out of this without capitulatingwithout  acknowledging your avoid no space between the A and V  

Lemme say this  anya know how much I dislike it It is wha it is yare wha ya are I apologise tha yare bereft of imagination 

              Ground Control to Major Tom sitting in a tincan

he had come in from urinating outdoorshad urinated on a small yellow flower an as he did he imagined it in a shower singing gargling water  anthropomorphised it humoured himself 

                                                                      he didnt take any offence

had his share of golden showers

hed bet a million dollars his buddy hadnt 

   an he wasnt a betting man

1748,  Sunday  19  2. 23

1338,  Sunday,  12  3. 23

David Bowie  Space Oddity  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYRH4apXDo

Little River Band 

                       notno to knock them  but Ladyreally    She made me think of things I never thought of neverthought  on their own

                                not to be confused withGawd please  Styxs Lady    You gave me all the love that I needed

Little River baffled him  incredulous

all the teenagerswomen hed been withhad loved were a joyous pheromonic phosphorescent taffy pull turned them inside out pulled them apart streeetched them long bunched them in ballstossed them licked his sticky fingers sucked out their bits stuck under his fingernails  he felt pinched tweaked sucked  didnt overlookmiss one crook or cranny 

   . . . I never thought of . . .  compared with  . . . all the love I needed . . .

maybe Little was ultimately descriptive

                                           little ardour 

women obsessed him

   a dog knows wha to do with a bone  a cat with a knitball of yarn

1451,  Sunday,  19  2. 23

1139,  Sunday DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME after the fact,  12  3. 23

Lady  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DaQuwC7NlY 

Styxs Lady  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QumxOQganfo

talk of death made him uncomfortable 

                                        he didnt confront itskirted it found comfort not thinking of it 

Man ya really ought to give death its due Its life

It’s life? How do you figure?

Were born well die

                       Nobody gets out alive

I don’t like to think about that.

So much for an unexamined life  Wheres tha rigorous curiosity you claim

I'm rigorous about some things . .

. . Rigorous woudnt precludeexcise death 

                                            Next time someone asks yaoughta agree yare just curiosity  Kinda like your power naps  Theyre just naps 

                                 I think you think power  embellishes tha ya have to take a nap   he shook his head

They’re power na . .

. . Ofcourse they are  Yare takinem

disagreeing he shook his head 

                                   You want to tell me how we ended up here?

 

   You skirted our conversationthought ya think  yare clever

                                                                 I told you long ago to let tha go

I am clever . .

. . Yare not

              Rather yare terribly inconsistent If I acknowledge one please do not take it asif Im encouragin you  Im not

It was an inappropriate leap

I didn’t think so. 

No 

      Yadidnt But yadidnt think either

The bitterest 40s you ever held?

   Please Indefensible

Bitterest 40s?

Seguing from my family and friends who died at 40 to the size of womens breasts ya don find tha inordinate  odd  Inappropriate

If I did I wouldn’t have said.

Jesus  Yadidnt thinkshot from the hip  as I tellya 

                                                     I wish I didnt have to say  often 

I prefer not to talk about death . . 

. . Not an excuse

It’s not an excuse, it’s my rea . .

. . Its not  Shaddup 

   Don’t tell me to shut up . .

. . Ill hurt you

he threw his shoulder back  maybe emulating a fighting cock 

                                                                You’ll hurt me? 

Ive no doubt I am confident 

                               You havent my confidence  Please

his ruffled feathers fellsmoothed

Thasaid I woud agree 

                           40s Ive heldwrestled with  werent bitter

1414,  Sunday,  19  2. 23

1219,  Saturday,  11  3. 23

I was thinkingyaknow wha I was thinking

she laughedsaid I never know what you’re thinking. 

                                                        topping it with a sprig of throttled merriment

Ya bein facetious 

   Me? 

          Facetious?

she was too much fun one of many reasons why he loved her

Yawanna hear I can tellya later if ya rather  I wont forget

she rolled her eyes 

                    No you won’t. When was the last time you forgot? 

   I forget  he chuckled  

she chuckled 

                Let me ask, would it be better now or later?

Now Woud synch better with the outdoorsy conversation we were having

So . . . you must?

I really shoud

Should I ask?

Yaoughta 

she rattled her noggin side to side

                                     Awright.  Gee Joe, what were you thinking? 

I thought yad never ask

they laughedrattled their noggins cracked themselves up 

                                                               So camping awwayscarrying a knife a pocketknife

Yes. You bought me one.

Id like to buy you another

Another?  Something wrong with mine? It's a Swiss Army knife . . in addition to other knives . . 

. . An cutlery

And cutlery, yes.

                   Is there something wrong with mine? 

Its not complete

My Swiss Army is incomplete?

Yah

It’s got everything I need.

   No he shook his head

And this is what you were thinking?

Im an idea guy

So what’s the big idea Einstein?

Youll love it

   You’re dragging your feet. 

I am

Trying to raise suspense?

Am I

   No.  You’re beginning to . irritate me.

Then perfect

What’s perfect?

Im thinking contact the company recommend their knife includes a vibrator 

                                                                                 gave her a cold cleareyed sober fishlook

he didnt often catch her with her panties down

they were around her ankles 

hed have to wait out her torrent of laughterwipe her eyes clear of tears 

                                                                           ahhuh plugged her in the G-spot 

wasnt far from her funny bone

1406,  Sunday,  19  2. 23

1049,  Saturday,  11  3. 23