Poetry Volumes

Yesterday's Makeup Poems

Back Row Flavor

I see you on the back row.

Curried skin.

Sweating like you swallowed the

Entire bottle of tabasco.

Shakes like a wild sage leaf

In West Texas wind.


"Caraway!"

You say, scoffing.

Play on words.

Try to bury the tiny

Mustard seed of faith

That brought you here.


Nutmeg cantaloupes,

You think we are-

With our laughter

Over our own

Tragic antics.


Lemon grass does not make

Lemonade

In your pickled life.

Overflow with

Dill and vinegar


Oh No!!

You nearly faint

As I reach out to you

With cinnamon smiles

Of a child who escaped

Disaster.


Clung to cloves of

Ancient history,

You watch us mingle

In unlikely mixture

Of vanilla and peppercorn

Above the oil and water

That will not mix.


Won't you

Release your poppy seed

Romance and

Let us walk with you

Through the

Fenugreek bitters

To Recovery.