KGJunePoetry

Scatter

scarecrow arms

dance floor blues

straw whisperings in my waltz wonderings

i feel the crows gnawing at the bit

wanting to cut in, defy the fear

gaze into the button eyes

turn their lust to crop dust

stiff upper lip, top hat tipped

in polite rebuke

letting the dark feathered insecurities

know i want to sit this one out

even though my feet are already moving.

Mattress Sale

i have eaten the darkness

spit out sleep for dessert,

munched on painful words topped

with whipped accent marks

a leaning for meaning,

i wake up sweating, napkin still in collar

choking on tears, i roll over but the past

is furthermore uncomfortable,

Ice cream veins, toffee wit

why do i have to leave the table

feeling so cold and hungry?

if i digest the light,

will morning bring me fresh appetite?

or will i find my reservation's

been given to someone else.

ken gilbert aka jacob "fog" erin-cilberto teaches English at

John A. Community college in Carterville, Illinios--

his work has appeared in magazines and poetry journals since 1970- His ninth book of poetry, titled "the Black Album" was released in early June--He also teaches poetry workshops for the Heartland Writers Guild and Southern Illinois Writers Guild and performs his poetry in a duet with world renown clarinetist, Eric Mandat. Their duet appears on line at www.opal-online.org. He lives in Carbondale, Illinois with his wife, poet and short story writer Laura DeMali Gilbert.