Japonica Julie (1983)

Japonica Julie (1983)

Through the winding
mists of Edgewood,
stand on the backporch
smoking.

Near the sand on the hill,
hearing the music float up.

Wiggle flex
round the corner in 1983,
when she loved me.

Warble snobble in 1983,
when she loved me.

China Girl don't seem to
use much English,
gets enough
to leave me a pot of tea.

We hit the pothole
on Primrose
that landed us here
more or less.

Mulberry pie and ice cream in 1983,
when she loved me.
Japonica Julie in 1983,
when she loved me.

I knew it was late,
when she stumbled.
Overcast in the fog,
...fumbled.

She was looking at me
by the old oak,
that can't be,
she knows as well as me.

Left on Avalon Road
past Mazzio's Pizzeria,
to the park-side
of Alta Vista.

By the dunes,
fading dream in 1983,
when she loved me.
Smiling blinky in 1983,
when she loved me.

-Will Dockery

Crashville Skyline

Crashville Skyline

Hitting bottom again
It's a state of grace.
Cold snap to my judgement
Face to Face.

Flying high
Flying low.
Flying where I know
I have to go.

Pretty little shards
Clean shaven moon
Crashville Skyline
on a blank dawn.

She held her hand
against the glass.
Game of numbers
so high to lose.

I hesitate
to call her name.
Deep humid night
sick wildflower smell.

Godspeed Hex
Sniper in my Psyche.
Crashville Skyline
Wind from the East.

Watch her knocking
cross the Village Green.
Frayed pitch
stopped way too short.

Her eternal beauty
weary and so wary.
Crashville Skyline
Reconstruct my heart.

-Will Dockery (2013)

Shark Pact Manifesto

Shark Pact Manifesto

The law of the undertow
it ends at the waterline.
In the Summerville night
not all of us can win.

There we are
where we never really were
Here we are
sidestepping the future.
Smile at me
while you stab me in the back.
Smile at me
make the moment last.

Standing near Ferry Landing
wind stinging my eyes.
Centuries reflect on the river
as you smile from the sky.
Shark Pact manifesto
no one makes a sound.
Silent waiting for the Tie Snake
to drag us Underground

I saw the river darken
so green it turns to black
With the sun fading away
edge of Alabama on my back.

Here we are
at the only place you'd allow
There you go
forcing my hand on
this burning bridge now.

There we are
where we never really were
Here we go
sidestepping the future.
Smile at me

from out of the past
Smile at me
make it last.

-Will Dockery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft3X3kC6nr4&t=7s

Shark Pact Manifesto written by Will Dockery (words) & Rusty Wood (music)

Twelve Efforts

Twelve Efforts

Come along now
come along.
Come along now
go slowly.

Now
we are like stone figures
setting a place
in history.

We had one shot
to get out of
Cabbage Town
on crutches in the sand.

Still dancing
under electric skies.

Old Scratch
kept it all
within reason.

Exit
step back.

Let the street side
melodrama play out.

I must have been
on a bland ego trip.


What task was I
set up for next?

He was displayed
sitting with the crowd,
like a stranger
in an even stranger land.

That Summer
left me feeling young
and I was young.

I had
more notches to carve.

Jump cut back
to Springtime.

The refreshing wind
when I tried to hide.

It was
morning in America
all the way.

so we took it back
to the start.

Throw in some
Rolling Stones machismo
or a touch of Brando.

Like a jungle adventure
taken from my era
took a moment
to come to realize.

To last
through
twelve efforts
weed thoughts
sure do
tax my mind.

That will be an effort
we were
like the lost ones
leading the blind.

Doomed us every day
Shiver's bird
was tossed.

She could have been
someone's mother
but she sure was dosed.

I was with Rita
who was one of my
favorite flames.

Up on the hill
with her breakfast coffee.

Sure loved the way
she played
the numbers games.

We do not know
where he went
not even his brother
had a clue.

We don't know
where he went.

All up in alms
repeat the 23rd Psalms.

All this great crass
rejuvenating effort
making a last
slightly late retort.

All of us
laughing
down the avenue.

In that humid
spaced out
Summer of 1982.

Hercules Shiver
you were right
this is true.

Auto writing
for the myth
from the muse.

I made it just along the trail
court and spark
on a Saturday afternoon.

As the world sleeps
nothing seems
to be moving.

But that would
have to be
incorrect.

I have not decided
if you are real
or just a figment
from a fever dream.

With wind
from the East
and a chill
not right for June.

The night shines
and the torch lamp
glows
out there
down the hill.

Will you prefer
a lucky gnome
who was
not so sentimental?

-Will Dockery (June 12 2020)