(1) FRANK'S ENCHANTED WORLD VAUDEVILLE (starring Frank)

I'm dedicating these to Frank T., not because I think he's anything like the title character, but because he's the shape-shifter who could best read him, if it ever came to that, and, well, he's the only Frank I know in real life, except for an old Army buddy that I haven't seen since the misty sixties.

1.  How to Quit Smoking

Frank was standing under a rusted out, WPA railroad-bridge trying to catch a smoke, when an outlaw wind caught him off guard

spun him around

knocked him to the ground

flew up his pant leg

forced itself under his jockey's

and blew into his asshole

with so much force he exhaled out of every other orifice for three weeks.

He was the old lady who swallowed the fly - in reverse

Farting -

birds

cats

dogs

and goats

out his

eyes

ears

nose

and throat,

and finally

wheezing

enough dust to fill up a whole new Oklahoma.

When he was done

he dropped to his knees

and drank up the Wabash River.

For over a month

Frank roamed around

pissing and dribbling

hundreds of un-named waterways

around dozens of previously unknown national parks.

It's a wonder he didn't rupture something.

It's no wonder he gave up cigarettes.

WABASH CANNONBALL

Theme & Variations: Now I Lay Me Down

1.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.





2.

Animal Warmth

huddled drunk and reeking
in each others arms

wet wool and sleeping bags

overflow the threshold
of our deco doorway

one step above the flood

barely out of the rain


3.

Animal Warmth

Now I lay me down to sleep
huddled drunk and reeking
in each others arms

I pray the Lord my soul to keep
wet wool and sleeping bags
overflow the threshold
of our deco doorway

If I die before I wake
one step above the flood

I pray the Lord my soul to take.


4.

Now I lay me down to sleep

Recline and rest

Soft as
cloud or night

A promise then perhaps.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

I in hand with me

You

hold

This sparrow thought.

If I die before I wake

Gone
before
we are

awake
asleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

We ask your hand
to always hold
the us we are with you.


5.

Recline and rest

Soft as
cloud or night

A promise then perhaps

I in hand with me

You

hold

This sparrow thought.

Gone
before
we are

awake
asleep

We ask your hand
to always hold
the us we are with you.



6.

Animal Warmth

Now I lay me down to sleep

recline and rest

huddled drunk and reeking
in each others arms

wet wool and sleeping bags
soft as cloud or night
overflow the threshold
of our deco doorway.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

a promise then perhaps

I in hand with me

You
hold
this sparrow thought.

If I die before I wake

one step above the flood

gone
before
we are

awake
asleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to take

barely out of the rain
we  ask your hand
to always hold
the us we are with you.

LAST CIGARETTE

I like to rhyme, and I love song lyrics. I'm getting down to work with a musician friend, and we'll see if music can even fit around these structures.

In the meantime, here's a new one.  Came to me while I was tossing and turning, and I got the first draft on my iPhone while lying in bed.

Gotta grab 'em when they come.

LAST CIGARETTE

Hey there, sweetheart

walking in the rain

smoking our last cigarette,

there's something you need

and I know what it is,

you just ain't found it yet.

It's as close as your heart

as close as your veins

as close as your bright red blood

and the name in case you forgot it

is l-o-v-e, love.

Now you can look for love

in your high beam lights

you can look most anywhere

you can even look on the internet

maybe you'll find it there.

You can fall to your knees

and kiss the sky

say a prayer like you believe it

but there's nothing out there

but the blue beyond, and only as far

as you see it.

You can toss, you can turn,

roll around in your sleep,

you can throw your arms out wide,

you can shake your blankets,

straighten your sheets,

flip your pillow to the cooler side.

It's right here, baby,

as close as your veins

as close as your bright red blood,

and the name in case you forgot it

is l-o-v-e, love.

So, come back to me, honey,

let your guard down,

you're the best sight I've seen

and I mean it,

you're just as soft

as the night coming down,

won't you let me stand in-between it -

As close as your heart

as close as your veins

as close as your bright red blood

and my name in case you forgot it

is l-o-v-e, love.

top photo - no attribution

bottom Oimax photo used through a CreativeCommons agreement