The Petruding Head From A Turtle Shell Poem by Justin Tallman

I

on a stable street
tongue and cheek
gather for a smile

but sick for mystery
way beyond the concrete
my medicated face
sings a song
for a distant style

II

Just for now
I say

I'll be calm
and still

Looking forward
to dreaming
everyday

In between
living a number's
tragedy

III

ears aching
for the songbird's infection
walking deaf

eyes staring
at the smallest
hallucination
or what ever
is left

meanwhile
the chest burns
boiling the blood
cooking a recipe
for intoxication

IV

Finally
the mind starts to blank
no words
no sights
no sounds
not even the pain
of scraped knees

Nothing
is left to plague
no strings
no overwhelming voices
no nonsense

Suddenly
the idea of wings
doesn't seem strange
nor the idea
of a tall building
high above the sidewalk
collapsing
on the 'sane'

V

when the window shuts
the rain is visually
enjoyable
even the snow

fiddle with the thermostat
let's get warm
and cuddle on the couch

my eyes
into your's
our eyes
feel

in the warmth
hearts beat
and wake
to an awkward sun

VI

Shall we
try this again?