late january...

wrote this one about a decade ago. thought it fitting given the time of year.


carlos of little egypt

living, learning, buying and growing in a cave, the sierra nevada
following carnivals around
sell those junkheeps, travel upward
you don't lie or cheat, you steal my soul
and all my respect and astonishment
what makes you?
you live alone
piano melodies sail down onto me
escaped the fate of your fellows
so narrowly, so wonderfully
destroying pen and three things new,
five and six of red and blue
the back of you
spreads the destruction of late january
three inch death squad, destroying,
dropping from your cacoons,
fly with all your might
hatching and birthing by the hundreds each
calasoma beetles and other parasitic insects that feed on you, unleashed
wilt disease combined
collect and burn egg masses or treat with creosote.