Rulers of the World

This sunrise must be why some people
sacrifice late-night fast food runs
and midnight sitcom reruns.
This refreshing feeling that makes you feel
you can take on the world in a breath.
Knowing you're more responsible than mother nature
who is slowly rubbing her eyes and rolling her colors out of bed.

But I also know why some people don't think
about sleep until all the others are waking.
It's their time to rule the world. No interruptions.
They'll call it "studying," "cramming," "term-paper bullshitting"
when really they're in a room with their best friend
laughing uncontrollably, stuffing themselves with caffeine and junk food,
taking pictures with a webcam.

So it doesn't matter if at 4 a.m.
you're waking up or going to sleep.
Either you were just infinitely powerful
or are about to be.

You'll Make for a Perfect Rainy Weekend

One morning I'll wake up and you'll be beside me:
snoring, hair a mess, sprawled on my side of the bed, hogging the covers.
I'll rub my eyes and glance at the clock...
then realize it's the weekend
and neither of us has anywhere to be.
Pulling back some blankets
I'll wrap my arm around your chest,
interlace my leg with yours,
and sleep for another hour.

Finally getting up, I'll look out the window
and watch raindrops slipping down the glass
as I turn on the coffeemaker
and pull two black mugs from the dishwasher.
More cream in yours, more sugar in mine
(though walking back to wake you
I'll forget which is which).

Selfishly I'll gently shake you out of sleep,
you'll squint your eyes at me
and curl up with your head in my lap.
The coffee will get cold
but we'll be plenty warm without it.

Stairs

Seated in sweat pants and old shoes
looking up the wooden, ratty staircase
from a spot on a jagged concrete slab,
I wonder if anyone is inside the apartment,
listening as the wind occasionally stirs the chimes.

It'd feel more homeless if it wasn't for a dorm room,
storing more things than one person should own.
But is it really that different
when I walk the stairs to sixth floor
knowing that no one is expecting me at the top?

College Priorities

Once I was busy like you
(and, arguably, still am).
But when I realized
that four years
soon will seem four months,
you instantly were more important
than tests and free time and responsibilities
that walks and dinners and movies
will easily trump later.

My GPA is a low average,
and my bank account empties
into coffee mugs and gas tanks.
Some may called it life mismanaged;
but memories will be my success.

Back Alley

When looking closely
at a place you know well,
you question:
Did these bricks
always look so weathered?
Do those palates
move from beside that dumpster?
Don't these steps
ever get wet from rain?
Did they spell
"Shipping & Receiving" right?
Yup, they did.

Tackling Problems

Feeling grief and joy,
give it up to the darkness:
pillows solve it all.

On Watching the Space Station and Shuttle

When my dad rang, I answered,

Can I call you later?

When's later?

(something's up)

Thirty minutes?

Where will you be in an hour?

Not sure, why?

Watch the sky!

I hung up and smirked,

That's my dad.

Didn't plan to, but an hour later

I climbed the dam at the park

to watch two bright lights

chase across the Northern sky.

Which is the brighter one?

I dialed home to ask.

The line was busy.

Where are they going?

A minute later they were gone,

leaving the rest of us behind.

At least a few lone starts and the city lights

still hung around.

Home Alone

First item of business
after driving twelve hours home:
give brother a buzz cut.
He's talked about it since grade school.
With the parents out of town
he finally did it. No, I did it!

After American Pie
we end up outside at the end of the driveway
discussing his girl, future plans,
and the past contained in the house behind us.
I hope one of us grows old right here
with the other just across the street.

Up Past Curfew

7-24-09

Sleep isn't always a satisfying elixir.

For to finish some days requires

an out-of-bed experience

like sipping tea on an empty porch

watching the night fall asleep.

Two days off. Two poems.

Two untitled poems I wrote during my day off today and last week. Comment if you wish!

7-8-09

The Eastern Kansas road stretches out

then abruptly twists—left then right, repeat.

Oddly there's no rush or pressure

of people to see, places to go.

So down with the bass; up with the treble.

Under the speed limit instead of over.

Thumbs up to the bicyclist I just passed

instead of the finger.

What a different way to live!

7-15-09

Is it really so odd

that one day is warm

while the next brings snow?

That rain and clear skies

can swap spots in minutes?

Why berate the poor weatherman

when no one in the world

can predict my change of mood?