Left Handed Summer

Left Handed Summer

Left handed Summer
alias Uncle Hugo.
I step out
into this night.

Those parasites know
of the light
that failed.
Imploded in the center
of op bop.

In this shadow made
by blooming springtime.
In this shadow
next to this last temptation.

I walked into your door
will I never see her
any more?

I see two
little red boxcars
I think of her
I hurt inside
a hallowed ache.

Games people play
one game on the house
dark angel in green.

Every little trick
she plays
scarecrow straw Janie.

There are three names now
for Lady Katherine
I saw the way.

Remember
the living lotus
in her paste up hell.
I am the clown
on the hill.

She still
plies her trade
in the sporting house
grocery.

I read the bio
of her husband
the ogre.
His world
his fame
his flame.

And I think of:
star money
secret star
Sweet Jane
superstar.

Star mama
some glad morning
you are my
satellite soul mate.

On Vinegar Hill
marriage a la mode
a case of need.

The bottom line
in deep Summer
endless horizons.

We hunt
the spirit mammoth
somewhere
below the salt.

This is the story
of a secret state
in this left handed Summer
in this valley of vines.

Sweet Lasher went swimming
in the dark river
with a bad man
in the big heat.

Tigers in the smoke
she rides the red dragon.
Too many cousins
dancing naked in La Grange.

She's one of seven
born again virgins.
she steps out
she is lost to me.

That strange woman
she's into soul bonding
soul bondage.

Where is my
red curled poltergeist
she's clocked,
boom boom in my ear.

Some Japanese thing
Lone Wolf
I snarl at the moon.
Moonchild experiment
watercolor
in the rain.

You poor little
kidnapped angel.
My poor little
clap trap angel.

My soul like
riptide water.
This abundance
of witches
you living lotus
bitches.

Uncle Hugo is in Eden
the old folks home
of joy and poems
dealing with this
ever present danger.

To the magic store
on some blinded date.

Into her labyrinth
and back out again
sweet soul pilgrim.

I know
my love
I can hear
her battle cry.

She returns to life
cries for the angels
a word shogun.

My daddy went blind at 40
but my will is good
on this glorious morning.

Bless your fuzzy little heart
baby
go sow your seeds
of mischief.

The doomsday ladies
hide and go seek
as they work
their science.

I asked my love
Dark Queenie
will you talk
in this left handed Summer?

Hard facts
a woman run mad.
In the caves
on the hill
under the sheets
experimenting
with the moon.

I keep
the search light
burning.

Face to face
with the misty tiger
in the smoke
she rides the red dragon.

Orphan daughter
of the philosopher
for common good.

A fiend in need
she is a perfect whirlwind.
Inhuman condition
I am alone for days.

I am nothing
to her now.
The ongoing silence
is driving me mad.

Her mirror mirror
on the wall.
My fingers
in her soft places.
Her modern mathematics
her pager number.

I light
the candle for her
and this big
world of people.

Silver leopard
led astray
from a magnificent destiny.

I am the foolish virgin
with my
magnificent obsession.
Law of the lion
I'll find her.

Bright feather
hot leather
magicians of night
and strutting ducks.

Loaded dice
she is there
in that secret
shadow valley.

Sweet adultery
under the moon.
The Dark Queen's gift
a riddle.

Please speak to me
before the sun goes down
the children
of the rainbow
do the dark dance.

-Will Dockery 1997