Was Monday when some somebody said
someone else had some trouble
sticking out their neck.
You had a thing to get off of your chest
sent home walking alone, just as I suspected.
Had ears full of the tallest tales.
Sails deflated, drunk and jaded
spitting coffin nails.
From my seat on this dusty city bus
I can see a whole kingdom made of ash and rust.
...everything the bullshit touches...
Was Springtime when some somebody claimed
that they loved a certain someone--
"didn't wanna leave."
4 months later, you were taking your leave.
"We'll stay friends on social media--
I didn't delete you."
My gut's full of tales like this one.
Drunk and fading, still just wading
through the deepest ones.
Take my seat on this city bus,
Let this heart burn out and smolder down to ash and dust.
...All the things your friendship touches...
Dirty basements, then sidewalks under stars.
Zip these footfalls up to closure
Closing down the bars.
Outta lies? You're outta time.
And, so far,
that's all you gave and I'm the fish
who swallows that hard hook.
In the end, I guess that we'll be fine.
finding distance, finding form among the solid lines.
End-of-day, the only way out is time.
Guess you've got yours.
And I've got mine.
You've got yours.
And I've got mine.
An online repository for the poetry of Kyle Kulseth © 2014-2018 Party Fowl Publishing
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Wind Chill
Celsius to Fahrenheit
they took each other's measure.
While you walked half the distance,
I got lost along the way.
I succumbed to fucking frostbite--
it was not a point of pleasure.
Meet me at minus 40
if you've got a thing to say.
Hang icicles from buildings.
Hang a frown on one long face.
Hung my hat on losing hands
we'll
hang up halfway through this call
and I'll directly start to hate this place.
Heap reasons on these question marks.
Hot coffee, honey cruller.
Split the check, we'll split the difference--
Celsius to Fahrenheit
I fought through the conversion
Then I fought my way into a much worse place.
they took each other's measure.
While you walked half the distance,
I got lost along the way.
I succumbed to fucking frostbite--
it was not a point of pleasure.
Meet me at minus 40
if you've got a thing to say.
Hang icicles from buildings.
Hang a frown on one long face.
Hung my hat on losing hands
we'll
hang up halfway through this call
and I'll directly start to hate this place.
Heap reasons on these question marks.
Hot coffee, honey cruller.
Split the check, we'll split the difference--
Celsius to Fahrenheit
I fought through the conversion
Then I fought my way into a much worse place.
Ecclesiast
I think I'm fine with
kickin' over church pews
desperate to find where my rituals hide.
Ghost stories never taught me nothin' but runnin'
and hidin'--
Tonight they'll be exorcised.
By the end of this year,
I hope they won't recognize me;
all free and clear
from old, sour misfires.
Tired of sad sermons I been tellin' myself
so I'll shelve 'em and try to let myself debride.
I think I'm fine with
forgetting the words
to this tired parable I've spent too much time with.
Ghost stories never teach ya nothin' but runnin'
and hidin'--
from yourself and your best lived life.
kickin' over church pews
desperate to find where my rituals hide.
Ghost stories never taught me nothin' but runnin'
and hidin'--
Tonight they'll be exorcised.
By the end of this year,
I hope they won't recognize me;
all free and clear
from old, sour misfires.
Tired of sad sermons I been tellin' myself
so I'll shelve 'em and try to let myself debride.
I think I'm fine with
forgetting the words
to this tired parable I've spent too much time with.
Ghost stories never teach ya nothin' but runnin'
and hidin'--
from yourself and your best lived life.
Ghoulish Nostalgia
Blue screen
behind a snowy blur
Blizzard outside
cold silence in here.
Forgot
the weight of syllables
On channel 2,
I'm disconnected and numb.
With all the eloquence
of a bitter, frozen smile,
Let me draw a map
with mismatched memories
With all the subtlety
of a fumbled operation.
Let me trace the tale
down unstitched avenues.
This year
I'll try for something like real feeling.
Ghoulish nostalgia's only eating me alive.
And if I could only take my lumps and leave 'em...
...leave 'em far behind,
I might start moving on.
Onto something
current,
something warmer
that's enduring.
Let me try to trace my tale
down these unstitched avenues.
And I'll get back to you.
behind a snowy blur
Blizzard outside
cold silence in here.
Forgot
the weight of syllables
On channel 2,
I'm disconnected and numb.
With all the eloquence
of a bitter, frozen smile,
Let me draw a map
with mismatched memories
With all the subtlety
of a fumbled operation.
Let me trace the tale
down unstitched avenues.
This year
I'll try for something like real feeling.
Ghoulish nostalgia's only eating me alive.
And if I could only take my lumps and leave 'em...
...leave 'em far behind,
I might start moving on.
Onto something
current,
something warmer
that's enduring.
Let me try to trace my tale
down these unstitched avenues.
And I'll get back to you.
Dumb & Dumber Luck
You were leaving
with the first of the Springtime thaw.
I glued my feet and
now I'm stuck and you know that's all
we ever found
we knew how to do--
was just say fake "goodbyes,"
practice "I'll miss you's!"
We can sleep through our dreams
or die standing up
on the paths of same footprints'
same old sidewalks.
But the equinox came and you went nowhere
quick.
Sick of saying, "It's fine here..."
Think
I'm just sick
'cuz the healthiest ones hated us
and now they're all gone...
...I guess that's just luck.
Dumb luck.
I was leaving
we both knew that I wouldn't get far
before retreating
to you and to this asphalt
I've always walked.
We always knew how
to just fake fake "You're fine's."
Swallow fermented growls.
We'll just sleep through these dreams
of packing our stuff.
Write our hopes on punched tickets--
can't afford the bus.
When the equinox comes and we're still here--No
shit?--
We'll be convinced it's good here.
Think
we're just sick.
'Cuz the healthiest ones hated us
and now they're all gone...
...I guess that's just luck.
Dumb luck.
Stick together, squeeze the time in
with the snow falling down.
Do what we'd never get away with
when the Summer comes around,
When the cops patrol the streets
that the city won't plow
...I guess that's just luck.
Dumb luck.
with the first of the Springtime thaw.
I glued my feet and
now I'm stuck and you know that's all
we ever found
we knew how to do--
was just say fake "goodbyes,"
practice "I'll miss you's!"
We can sleep through our dreams
or die standing up
on the paths of same footprints'
same old sidewalks.
But the equinox came and you went nowhere
quick.
Sick of saying, "It's fine here..."
Think
I'm just sick
'cuz the healthiest ones hated us
and now they're all gone...
...I guess that's just luck.
Dumb luck.
I was leaving
we both knew that I wouldn't get far
before retreating
to you and to this asphalt
I've always walked.
We always knew how
to just fake fake "You're fine's."
Swallow fermented growls.
We'll just sleep through these dreams
of packing our stuff.
Write our hopes on punched tickets--
can't afford the bus.
When the equinox comes and we're still here--No
shit?--
We'll be convinced it's good here.
Think
we're just sick.
'Cuz the healthiest ones hated us
and now they're all gone...
...I guess that's just luck.
Dumb luck.
Stick together, squeeze the time in
with the snow falling down.
Do what we'd never get away with
when the Summer comes around,
When the cops patrol the streets
that the city won't plow
...I guess that's just luck.
Dumb luck.
Two Zero One Six
Got 2 fingers for this night
2 bloodshot eyes on the town's small size.
I'll take this walk on shaky toes,
take 1 more bottle for the icy road.
3 years, 3 months and countless ghosts,
some angry friends, a long walk home.
I stumble down Wyoming Street
and ball 2 fists inside my coat.
Stunted
I tripped while running in place,
bit my tongue and cut my nose up--
fucked my pretty, spiteful face.
And I'm just
punting
and slurring while I beg for pardons.
Forgive my weak and sour heart--
didn't mean it
when I said "Goodbye and fuck this place."
I'm a werewolf on nights like these--
popping joints and twisting knees,
yellow eyes and dagger teeth;
full moon makes my lungs freeze.
When memories claim my mind,
can't see through greyscaled eyes.
Sorry to waste your time
but I seem to have misplaced mine.
Hundred questions for myself.
Emptied 15, placed them on my shelf.
0 answers inside each 1.
Shapeshifter's sorry that I killed your fun.
3 years, 3 months. 1 long walk home.
I gambled with these dicey ghosts.
I spilled some drinks and said some things.
Grab my coat and hope you can forgive me.
Stunted
I zipped my leaking lips up.
Bit my tongue -- I'd made no progress
Hung my petty, spiteful face.
And I'm just
punting,
but could you forget my infractions?
didn't mean it
when I said, "Goodbye and fuck this place."
I'm a werewolf on nights like these--
Claws bared and licking teeth.
So, please just don't mind me
as I walk out on unsure feet.
Sorry to waste your time,
but I seem to have misplaced mine.
2 bloodshot eyes on the town's small size.
I'll take this walk on shaky toes,
take 1 more bottle for the icy road.
3 years, 3 months and countless ghosts,
some angry friends, a long walk home.
I stumble down Wyoming Street
and ball 2 fists inside my coat.
Stunted
I tripped while running in place,
bit my tongue and cut my nose up--
fucked my pretty, spiteful face.
And I'm just
punting
and slurring while I beg for pardons.
Forgive my weak and sour heart--
didn't mean it
when I said "Goodbye and fuck this place."
I'm a werewolf on nights like these--
popping joints and twisting knees,
yellow eyes and dagger teeth;
full moon makes my lungs freeze.
When memories claim my mind,
can't see through greyscaled eyes.
Sorry to waste your time
but I seem to have misplaced mine.
Hundred questions for myself.
Emptied 15, placed them on my shelf.
0 answers inside each 1.
Shapeshifter's sorry that I killed your fun.
3 years, 3 months. 1 long walk home.
I gambled with these dicey ghosts.
I spilled some drinks and said some things.
Grab my coat and hope you can forgive me.
Stunted
I zipped my leaking lips up.
Bit my tongue -- I'd made no progress
Hung my petty, spiteful face.
And I'm just
punting,
but could you forget my infractions?
didn't mean it
when I said, "Goodbye and fuck this place."
I'm a werewolf on nights like these--
Claws bared and licking teeth.
So, please just don't mind me
as I walk out on unsure feet.
Sorry to waste your time,
but I seem to have misplaced mine.
Placebos Rebranded
I've been a feature here for four years now.
You're an armchair or a doormat
Once you've been around
awhile.
I wanted fresh breath and a brand new face.
Maybe a companion just to
take up space beside
my side.
But the "EXIT" light was on too long.
"Eventually, they heed it or they just become
fading notes in a song
that we forgot we sung."
Or at least that's what you told me...
Or at least that's what I'll write here...
And what about you...?
It's a tangling grid of street names I
keep
tangled on my tongue
3 inches under my eyes
(They ask directions).
An end result of a series of
hasty,
maybe-good decisions
I made 4 years ago.
(Seek validation).
And what about you...?
There's a comfort here we can't escape,
take two for granted
and call to cancel coffee dates.
There's an ease that breeds friendships like ours,
Convenient and seasonal;
Friendships that really aren't.
"Rose Park" names our neighborhood
A few blocks slant, we prob'ly shouldn't
talk today...
Similar coordinates
A useless map. Mistake by any
other name...
Second chances, we won't get them.
And I guess we don't deserve them.
The State's an acci-
dental sigh.
The town's a too-comfortable lie.
And you, I guess
are just another neighbor of mine.
You're an armchair or a doormat
Once you've been around
awhile.
I wanted fresh breath and a brand new face.
Maybe a companion just to
take up space beside
my side.
But the "EXIT" light was on too long.
"Eventually, they heed it or they just become
fading notes in a song
that we forgot we sung."
Or at least that's what you told me...
Or at least that's what I'll write here...
And what about you...?
It's a tangling grid of street names I
keep
tangled on my tongue
3 inches under my eyes
(They ask directions).
An end result of a series of
hasty,
maybe-good decisions
I made 4 years ago.
(Seek validation).
And what about you...?
There's a comfort here we can't escape,
take two for granted
and call to cancel coffee dates.
There's an ease that breeds friendships like ours,
Convenient and seasonal;
Friendships that really aren't.
"Rose Park" names our neighborhood
A few blocks slant, we prob'ly shouldn't
talk today...
Similar coordinates
A useless map. Mistake by any
other name...
Second chances, we won't get them.
And I guess we don't deserve them.
The State's an acci-
dental sigh.
The town's a too-comfortable lie.
And you, I guess
are just another neighbor of mine.