Spencer SELBY

COLOR SCREEMY

Interferes with itself
in blue green chill

Wide primal meaning
from all angles
the frame devours

Oblivious in excess
for milk monster cartoon

This gap thought relief
crossed body with
clairvoyance we feel
between lines of chalk

On Saturday Sunday
before paper creation
shapes street building cars

before method calculates
force by distance from
the timeless universe of
red yellow image or not

DENIED IMPORT
     for Drew Kunz

I not me but version
shot through pocket

Suffers exchange often
by letters illuminated
to admit a time I don’t

Black sky under
awakening from your face

Selected from pose dropped
in local fashion

Need sublime not
recognized as such

Punctuates city clock
obscured forever in rush
of late cars

Hear someone whisper
behind a nonexistent door

Over almost as we
address first nature

Twisted shaking bewilderment

A woman’s hand evoked
the luxury of your collapse

Either will death
confuse one who appears
to work the market

History taken personal
for a ride

The old game
and a normal day
nods at shallow end

Does love
sad ring I remember

So delicate that
I don’t have the strength
to acknowledge

Like this fragment given
the most attention

Envelops merciful cloth

No words want
to be here when
the ghost makes a choice

 

 

POETRY GATHERING LESSON

Perhaps you seek other memories

As detailed as smooth shade

Some moth-eaten starched tracing
Rubbed bones and catacombs

We cut them along edges
Labeling the stuffy classroom

With its maps of time lost
In branches and roots

Made possible by the bad secret
Reprinted with support not given

But implied by those who never
Accept unsolicited manuscripts

LATE BULLETIN

Always notebook vibrating
section of page eclipsing
arm next to funny lamp

Certain order within noise
graphic disappearing diagnosis
doubt behind outrage leading
to my room freshly tainted

Trouble released upon waking
from obligatory shadow world

What appointment forgotten
what desire propelled by
knowledge of something inert

Hypnotic blob or bubble
just now shifting focus

stubborn sly counterpoint
drawing each other deeper
while threatening illusion
at the bottom alone

BASIC BLUE (1)

Late comes escape from
self trusted own self
cut down by layered
anxiety into course
streaked with sun drawn
to employed rock, stone
and appropriate cement

Different origin discovered
bridge swimming below
mouth in distance
water earth fingers feel
body gulf across skin

amorphous clouds that
offer help identified with
time no time to make
a plan floating out
to sea when there is
no chance of spotting
another kindred soul

BASIC BLUE (2)

The light bed theater
divested lament whose
desperate need remains

Luminous upward
by thread staring
at letters scrambled
in a lucid dream

We chose experiment
over subject empty
from pressing allegiance

Posture alone turning
keyhole at birth

Trace of interest
which orb must situate
by controlling supply

Thin volume through
my bedroom window
with dawn as metaphor
causing laughter when
this story first appeared

 

 

 

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