vibration incubation brain scattered fogged
retina fabulous phantasm prairie dog eaten
same result blackout stone-faced emporium
answer: primary resources
remain uninhibited
dictum: changes in the wake
so beware ye meek
example: organized labor
unlikely usurper
statistician indecisive patrimony yet advised
paisley moon iffy flirtation id elementary
peppermint twist rude instigators slack mojo
antithesis: please Jesus
suppress evil
objective: train withered souls
to rise above pain
moral: newest inventions
could be dangerous
lizards tango congas resound nerves twist
analysis paralysis preempts me just a guest
instead let dandelions spring forth aspire
lesson: astronomical gain
can’t be sustained
solution: disconnect from self
to avoid turmoil
truth: belief automatically
shaped by experience
— Thomas Piekarski is a former editor of the California State Poetry Quarterly. His poetry has appeared in such publications as The Journal, Poetry Salzburg, Modern Literature, The Museum of Americana, South African Literary Journal, and Home Planet News. His books of poetry are Ballad of Billy the Kid, Monterey Bay Adventures, Mercurial World, Aurora California, and Opus Borealis.