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Tuesday, January 30, 2018

THE PARADE NEVER WAITS










In honor of the Blood Moon, I'm sharing a freebie with you from my book: Last Tango In Timbuktu.



Shelter along the cove
palm fronds fretting in the wind
sun beats down
eyes flutter behind darkened lenses
no secrets revealed

Dancing in the courtyard
summer smoke and gin blossoms
arms akimbo for kabuki
no tangos
or wild gang-bangos
for the faint of heart

Along the beach lovers entwine
like snakes that strangle their prey
love me a little
love me a little more
I'm not a lollipop
I'm an all day sucker

We take no prisoners
nor photographs of these encounters
for pride is like a ride
on a lizard's eyelid
the shutter clicks
when you forget to smile

Beyond the fire coyote waits
eyes burning like binary stars
in the morning he will escape
with a piece of your soul

Fair wind and a calypso beat
requiem for the summer's heat
magic spells and voodoo dolls
and dead men smell no tails

Crumpled napkins with lipstick traces
pedal to the metal
heading for open spaces

The parade never waits

Waves pounding the shore
echo the emptiness
phone abandoned in its cradle
like a waif on your doorstep

Staring into your breakfast bowl of Wheat Chex
you are reminded that you are back to square one
standing pat while the river of dreams drifts along in your eyes

Mata Hari
Harry Caray
Howdy Doody

Peewee Herman
Ethel Merman
Punch and Judy

It takes a village
to conduct a really good orgy

Will you stand vigil here
or will you run with the pack
into the black heart of the night?

Already you see the men are restless
and the horses nervous with laughter

The time is ripe
and you are no civilian
in this war

Assemble your brigade
we strike at dawn



33 comments:

  1. Wowzers! There is so much in this poem it is a FEAST! Pardon me while I rend my garments because I cant write like you:) Where to start? I. Love. It. All. The ride on a lizard's eyelid is freaking brilliant. The nervous laughter of the horses ditto. I love coyote waiting beyond the fire, the binary stars and the piece of your soul. HOL-EE cow! Could this poem BE any better?

    I love every line and word. A lot.

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  2. WOW what a story here!
    Great One Shot!
    :)

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  3. Wild and wonderful!

    My favorite part:

    Mata Hari
    Harry Caray
    Howdy Doody

    Peewee Herman
    Ethel Merman
    Punch and Judy

    I dig the rhythm and the willy-silliness of it all - what a gas to read! Your book could be a collection of wonderful blog entries like this... entertaining as hell!

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  4. I have never seen so much fabulous imagery in one poem...wonderful!

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  5. wonderful imagery in this..
    my favorite..for pride is like a ride
    on a lizard's eyelid
    the shutter clicks
    when you forget to smile.. wow!

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  6. Full of rhyme, I love a poem, the flows so smooth

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  7. yeah you are fickin brilliant...amazing imagery...amazing...going to go find a lizards eyelid...

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  8. There are so many wonderful images in this. It is truly an orgy... for the senses. My favorite?

    "Beyond the fire coyote waits
    eyes burning like binary stars
    in the morning he will escape
    with a piece of your soul"

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  9. AMAZING!!I'm sure everyone have their own fav parts.I go with Eric.I love the Mata Hari part ,too.Like a chant.

    So glad you gave me a chance to know your blog.Cool one shot!

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  10. so many great lines...."you are no civilian in this war"....the line that hit me hardest ...always a joy and journey to read your work....blessings...bkm

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  11. The sheer energy of this poem is almost terrifying. Good one.

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  12. I love this! It just moves so quickly with great rhythm. Great images.

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  13. life's a beach...

    was some procession

    Thanks for marching past One shot

    Moon smiles

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  14. SHERRY, DULCE, ERIC, SUZICATE, CLAUDIA, KODJO DEYNOO, BRIAN, PATTIKEN, JUNE BUTTERFLY, BKM, GLYNN, TERESA...y'all are great, and thanks for stopping by!

    SHERRY,
    What high praise...but rending your garments...isn't that a little drastic? LOL

    JUNE BUTTERFLY,
    Quite happy to see you here!

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  15. quite the orgy of images here timoteo! a sad feel though. you have hit the mark with your staccato rhythm though and it works

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  16. Wow! You are so good at the unique and mind twisting phrases. :)

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  17. well done, a little too extroverted for me...I never mix, I'm a loner

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  18. YOU are just AMAZING Tim! how do you do it..! every time you blow my mind off..GREAT IMAGES and extremely well built up story..HATS OFF POET..:)

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  19. there is always so much going on in your work that a second read is required to take it all in...this is a compliment by the way...a great visual piece..heck i wanna join the orgy!!!!

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  20. Timoteo this is simplly amazing...so many wonderful lines and thought provoking imagery....i think it is a favorite of mine! :-)

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  21. My utmost appreciation for your comments goes out to: MOONDUST, KKRIGE, STEVE, RIVER, LORRAINE, GUATAMI,DESERT ROSE, PETE, AND CARRIE!

    LORRAINE,
    I think you should try some of this...do ya good ;)

    DESERT ROSE,
    And to think, you're all the way over in Egypt and I can still blow your mind! ;)

    PETE,
    If you find one, let me know!

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  22. I liked it so much.. so nice...
    "Crumpled napkins with lipstick traces
    pedal to the metal
    heading for open spaces"
    What a beautiful imagery.. thanks for sharing...

    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
    Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com

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  23. that would be like telling an extrovert to stay in a cement room all by himself and enjoy it...I've alwas preferred the one-on one

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  24. The sheer energy of this poem is absolutely haunting!!

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  25. ... almost persuaded by this awesome poem, friend ... but 2010? ... move on ... Love, cat.

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  26. What an orgy... it's never to late for one.

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