Sunshine Seventy-Seven
I went and sold some blood
then bought
a big bottle of wine.
Copped some weed
so we could party
and celebrate my new job.
Blind bat getting rowdy
tried to attack Jimmy Green.
He picked up a stick
off the darkened street
smacked the bat down.
While I was over at her house
I helped Galatea
paint her bathroom green.
Powder snow whisked up my nose
to my brain
pizzeria summit meeting.
Then riding all night
delivering pizza.
Feeling the hot dabs
of Summer swelter
and going to bed alone.
I looked into her eyes
in the morning light
as we walked
on the dew covered grass.
The clouds churned white
it seemed like
a hundred years ago.
I had the stoned awareness
there were illustrations
in my thoughts
obviously created by her stare
Her kisses
could have lasted forever
her eyes
were like two blue stones
my thoughts flew like birds.
On the blood red clay of the bank
we sat
she was sitting behind me
wrapped around me.
I could feel the air
so hot and dry.
The sun swam over the lake
in crimson floods
the clouds were shifting
in orange flashes.
Like golden chains
the clouds cut across the blue sky
my thoughts of her
seemed to freeze my blood.
The day mellowed finally
I wondered when or if
she was ever coming back
it was so silent.
I found that she was gone
told her goodbye on the telephone
as the sun went down
blazing red.
Blue stars sparkled
on the black sky above
as I sat on the corner
smoking my weed.
Wondering how much longer
I would have to wait
waiting for the sky to split.
The night lumbered on
club-footed
I wished she would
come to my window
and lay beside me again.
Her eyes
like blue stones
as my thoughts
flew like birds.
-Will Dockery (July 1977)
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Walkabout Riff Raff
Walkabout Riff Raff
If dreams
are parallel worlds
I'm on a planet
with my brother.
Sort of a Mad Max
or Dune
or Clockwork Orange vibe.
Traveling home
looking for a way
to get back home again
to see our mother
again.
-Will Dockery (11-28-2021)
If dreams
are parallel worlds
I'm on a planet
with my brother.
Sort of a Mad Max
or Dune
or Clockwork Orange vibe.
Traveling home
looking for a way
to get back home again
to see our mother
again.
-Will Dockery (11-28-2021)
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Smoke and Mirrors
Smoke and Mirrors
Thick smoke
everywhere tonight
around town.
Like walking
through a smoke screen.
I was on
the far north side.
The air was heavy
and smoky.
Then on the South side
it was worse.
I'm down
about midway now.
Downtown on Broadway
and it is much better.
A breeze
off the river
may be
blowing it back from
me now.
There's a citywide ban
on burning out doors.
So I suspect
this smoke
is blowing over
from Fort Benning again.
-Will Dockery (May 2020)
Thick smoke
everywhere tonight
around town.
Like walking
through a smoke screen.
I was on
the far north side.
The air was heavy
and smoky.
Then on the South side
it was worse.
I'm down
about midway now.
Downtown on Broadway
and it is much better.
A breeze
off the river
may be
blowing it back from
me now.
There's a citywide ban
on burning out doors.
So I suspect
this smoke
is blowing over
from Fort Benning again.
-Will Dockery (May 2020)
In the Days of '99
In the Days of '99
At first there were my words
I stood onstage to deliver them
the buzz grew
and I grew with it
walking it
talking it
creating and comparing mythology.
Over the years
most often than not
poetry performance
evolved into a group effort
but this was not immediate
or overnight.
I'd take the stage
for my set
several of the newest poems
and some older favorites
cold call with my back pages
and microphone.
By 1998 the process was
poetry backed by music
having discussed
with interested musicians
to remain onstage
contributing
improvisational riffs.
A decade later
collective contributions grew
it was when contribution
grew into collaboration.
-Will Dockery (2020)
At first there were my words
I stood onstage to deliver them
the buzz grew
and I grew with it
walking it
talking it
creating and comparing mythology.
Over the years
most often than not
poetry performance
evolved into a group effort
but this was not immediate
or overnight.
I'd take the stage
for my set
several of the newest poems
and some older favorites
cold call with my back pages
and microphone.
By 1998 the process was
poetry backed by music
having discussed
with interested musicians
to remain onstage
contributing
improvisational riffs.
A decade later
collective contributions grew
it was when contribution
grew into collaboration.
-Will Dockery (2020)
"All's Well at the Well at World's End"
"All's Well at the Well at World's End"
I've seen many warnings
that the end is near.
Sometimes they seem to come
once or twice a year.
"The End is near!"
From street preachers yelling
to new age hippies chanting.
The end is always certain doom
and coming quickly.
"Take this, brother, may it serve you well."
The visions of zombies
I watched with Katherine and Tammy
in Summer 1978.
In the movie theater
out at Fort Benning.
"From the land of fire and ice..."
Comic book Ragnarok
set off when Balder was slain
by a mistletoe arrow.
As Christ was speared
with the dogwood lance.
"Just one drop of water in the lake of fire."
I've always known
as my Grandmother told me
He, and the end,
will come like
a thief in the night.
She said no water this time
but fire and brimstone.
"Riding a pale horse..."
And when a man
figures out the date
of the end
God will simply
change his plans.
So, for now...
"God put the Rainbow in the sky."
-Will Dockery (2020)
I've seen many warnings
that the end is near.
Sometimes they seem to come
once or twice a year.
"The End is near!"
From street preachers yelling
to new age hippies chanting.
The end is always certain doom
and coming quickly.
"Take this, brother, may it serve you well."
The visions of zombies
I watched with Katherine and Tammy
in Summer 1978.
In the movie theater
out at Fort Benning.
"From the land of fire and ice..."
Comic book Ragnarok
set off when Balder was slain
by a mistletoe arrow.
As Christ was speared
with the dogwood lance.
"Just one drop of water in the lake of fire."
I've always known
as my Grandmother told me
He, and the end,
will come like
a thief in the night.
She said no water this time
but fire and brimstone.
"Riding a pale horse..."
And when a man
figures out the date
of the end
God will simply
change his plans.
So, for now...
"God put the Rainbow in the sky."
-Will Dockery (2020)
She Sleeps Tight
She Sleeps Tight
Sleeps so tight
she has a marksman's eye.
Maker's mark
tattoo firewater spine.
Leather shoes
but nowhere to go.
Dice and coins
scattered in the snow.
Dice and coins
scattered in the snow.
Won't be long,
until I see her face.
She's waiting
in an undisclosed place.
I've been conspired
banned from my muse.
This won't stick
poor boy's all confused.
This won't stick
poor boy's all confused.
In Salem town
she keeps her chin so high.
Darkened breeze
she smiles as I roll by.
Step inside
she looks for tables left.
Wink at time
nothing lasts except yourself.
Wink at time
nothing lasts except yourself.
Like a Steamboat
she plans to roll on down.
To the Gulf
out of this dirty town.
Copper mesh
kept stuffed in a jar.
Sharp cold hit
turning wine to water.
Sharp cold hit
turning wine to water.
We know him
eye deed by his ship.
In a trap
a kind of goosechase trip.
Whiskey fumes
and stale gunsmoke.
Sunk and drowned
with all her knives and jokes.
Sunk and drowned
with all her knives and jokes.
Sleeps so tight
she has a marksman's eye.
Maker's mark
tattoo firewater spine.
Leather shoes
but nowhere to go.
-Will Dockery (September 2009)
Sleeps so tight
she has a marksman's eye.
Maker's mark
tattoo firewater spine.
Leather shoes
but nowhere to go.
Dice and coins
scattered in the snow.
Dice and coins
scattered in the snow.
Won't be long,
until I see her face.
She's waiting
in an undisclosed place.
I've been conspired
banned from my muse.
This won't stick
poor boy's all confused.
This won't stick
poor boy's all confused.
In Salem town
she keeps her chin so high.
Darkened breeze
she smiles as I roll by.
Step inside
she looks for tables left.
Wink at time
nothing lasts except yourself.
Wink at time
nothing lasts except yourself.
Like a Steamboat
she plans to roll on down.
To the Gulf
out of this dirty town.
Copper mesh
kept stuffed in a jar.
Sharp cold hit
turning wine to water.
Sharp cold hit
turning wine to water.
We know him
eye deed by his ship.
In a trap
a kind of goosechase trip.
Whiskey fumes
and stale gunsmoke.
Sunk and drowned
with all her knives and jokes.
Sunk and drowned
with all her knives and jokes.
Sleeps so tight
she has a marksman's eye.
Maker's mark
tattoo firewater spine.
Leather shoes
but nowhere to go.
-Will Dockery (September 2009)
The Science Ladies
The Science Ladies
Weariness, soon to be picked up anew
there was the Spaniard
and he told a tale of blood anew.
"No more fictitious words
no more underhanded tactics done up..."
The words were spoken seriously to him
but the words are spoken as if forced
and Mary turned out to be a man.
She said that she was really burned out
so seductive and strange.
He said "Where is the man with the preludes?"
The Science Ladies
inhabiting the length of soul.
The grey things
inhabiting the
where the lumber was kept.
Particles that were stinging my lungs.
The godly seal, the grey seal, will dissolve.
400 years, 800 years of slavery.
She showed me where I had to go
told me what I had to know.
And as she told me
the land was being pelted with snow.
Answers like seeds being dispersed into the breeze.
The Science Ladies
wandering inside my soul.
She stood there
with a handful of gleaming seeds.
She opened her eyes to me.
We stood on the marsh of reeds
the understanding of the ages
would grow in my mind from this point in my childhood.
The Science Ladies
inhabiting the length of soul.
-Will Dockery (1982)
Weariness, soon to be picked up anew
there was the Spaniard
and he told a tale of blood anew.
"No more fictitious words
no more underhanded tactics done up..."
The words were spoken seriously to him
but the words are spoken as if forced
and Mary turned out to be a man.
She said that she was really burned out
so seductive and strange.
He said "Where is the man with the preludes?"
The Science Ladies
inhabiting the length of soul.
The grey things
inhabiting the
where the lumber was kept.
Particles that were stinging my lungs.
The godly seal, the grey seal, will dissolve.
400 years, 800 years of slavery.
She showed me where I had to go
told me what I had to know.
And as she told me
the land was being pelted with snow.
Answers like seeds being dispersed into the breeze.
The Science Ladies
wandering inside my soul.
She stood there
with a handful of gleaming seeds.
She opened her eyes to me.
We stood on the marsh of reeds
the understanding of the ages
would grow in my mind from this point in my childhood.
The Science Ladies
inhabiting the length of soul.
-Will Dockery (1982)
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