Kurt Philip Behm

Laura\'s Fault (+2)

What is the age

of reality itself

Older than

a metaphor

Unreferenced

on a shelf

 

What is the distance

unmeasured from within

Spoken of

but never seen

A poets

dying whim

 

What is time uncounted

as numbers lose their clout

The hourglass

returned to sand

An abacus

in doubt

 

What is love ungifted

but feelings’ last excuse

To roam unlinked

between the chains

And blame it

—on the Muse

 

(Dreamsleep: December, 2023)

 

 

Ashes To Ashes

 

Only the dead

see an end

to war

 

Ashes to ashes

dust

keeping score

 

Only the living

revere

the dead

 

The past

in exile

—the future in dread

 

 (Dreamsleep: December, 2023)

 

 

The Napkin

 

God took a vacation

when time had run out

Rethinking his opus

replanning devout

 

His Angels in limbo

the devil on leave

Heaven a sublet

sin now reprieved

 

Faith worn and tattered

the bible debunked

Crusades a bad memory

the Grail marked as junk

 

He orders a cocktail

the waitress comes back

A napkin — her number

salvation highjacked

 

(The New Room: December, 2023)