Poetry Visualized

Brain Food

A page from my paranormal comic.

SLEAZY

(left in a returned paperback)

How dare you?

You thought,

no, you assumed

I would...

because you did

that I might too.

And if I don't?

Just because you flirt at bookstores,

wander the library stacks,

scan the trade at swap meets,

finger, even buy on occasion

You think I'd be interested too?

Hope you enjoy them.

I guess when done or bored

(or challenged) you just pass them on.

I don't take

such things lightly.

I seek, crave,

experiences,

committing time

and effort.

I risk. I trust.

Each time I allow myself to be

surprised, teased, tricked, touched,

even shocked, hurt, but never cheated.

No matter what the outcome

I expect to learn, see the world anew,

feel, meet at least one other soul.

Frankly,

you don't know me

well enough.

Sorry, Thank you

I DO thank you,

but, please,

no hard feelings,

just take back this book.

LIKE A VIRUS

On shelf or counter

they will latent lie.

In supermarkets,

boxes 'neath the stairs,

or from a friend,

through ear or eye,

the sly contagious germ

will enter unawares.

And once infected

no help can you find.

First you'll deny it,

try to carry on

until the fever bans work

from your mind.

Your hands are hasty.

Appetite is gone.

You might as well give up.

Go home to bed.

Take phone off hook.

Turn heater on or fan.

Put coffee at your side.

Lamp over head.

For, though you'll toss and turn,

you're quite resolved to end

the mystery novel while you can,

'cause you can't function

till the murder's solved.