WHARVED

The Triple Sec Bandit

The triple sec bandit
strikes again,

just as Johnny and his chainsmoke gang
prepare for Margarita Monday,

that alco-holiest of days.

Happy May Day Hangover!

Let me just say that I think NaPoWriMo was a success this year.

Now, before you go telling me that 12 poems can’t possibly constitute a good month
according to my previous work and typical productivity, I can assure you
that I wrote a hell of a lot more than that. And also, why would you be judging me so hard?!

For some reason, a large portion of my writing for the month
just didn’t feel up to the same standard I’ve grown accustomed to.

But I look at this learning experience to show me
that creativity has infinite shades of color
(I ignored shades of gray on purpose).

If you’re jamming along with a nice shade of pale blue,
it’s hard to give it up for a chartreuse. But
when you make the change, you remember why

variety is the best way to flush out wild imagery.

So that’s what happened. Some of the colors came out dark,
sometimes murky, sometimes counter-intuitive to what the eye
might think is appropriate for an attractive palette.

I’ll most likely come to terms with this phenomenon soon enough,
with an outburst of work (like how it always seems to happen).

Just wanted to check in. Thanks for humoring me.

-Aidan

Benny the First

Benny the Bootlicker
stepped aside once more
with humility, the only
thing he ever really had.

This time he lost a pie-eating contest
to that bozo two counties over.
After all the face-stuffing
and side-splitting, Benny gave up

another half-written dream.

NaPoWriMo 2014 – XII

Door fragments post turmoil
in twister conditions.

Wooden shrapnel
sticks out of trees–

returned to the family
in shards and chips

after losing roots
and framing ape huts.

NaPoWriMo 2014 – XI

I’m having a tricky time
pulling my thumbs
from this tangled extinction event–

I know I can use them
for the rest of my life
[if my life were to continue tomorrow].

But no matter my strategy,
I’m trapped and helpless,
my thumbs getting stiffer by the minute.

Now I know how those poor dogs feel
when they try to answer the telephone.

NaPoWriMo 2014 – X

To the person
concerned
with my overall health
and ungainly recidivism
every Tuesday,

I offer a branch
from a pepper tree
in exchange
for your counsel
and a dozen bran muffins.

NaPoWriMo 2014 – IX

Before we begin necklace preparation, we must drain porridge strawnecks with a touch of humility. We do not possess the capacity for creating these raw materials by ourselves, so we must forage for them and reap the benefits of a world well-harvested.