Evolve

~ browncashdollar ~ 4 Comments

when did we first hold hands?

was it that time we ran outta the playground
to compare the rocks we found
at the edge of the woods

was it on the way back to your place
after coffee went way-longer
than we expected

maybe it was the walk through the cemetery
overlooking the creek in the fall
you whispered, we could do worse

or was it 
when we first came down from the trees
and startled by the saber-tooth
I grabbed your hand to pull you to safety

Diesel

~ browncashdollar ~ Leave a comment

by ship they came
Italy to Lovejoy
breathe in
the fuel of work

rounding the corner
the sweet heavy cloud
of hauling

wheel spins center
clutch, shift, release,
accelerate

motor rumbles like grampa 
before the steel mill
heart attack took him

moving product to market
Nakuru to Mombasa
Montecristi to Santo Domingo
Bay of Penty to Auckland

transporting me
and once exotic fruit
to port and home again


© 2012-2022 Brian Brown-Cashdollar

Diesel

Sweet Summer Dukkha

~ browncashdollar ~ Leave a comment

June Yard Work
only seven days into summer
yellow sumac leaves fall

the sharp smell of cut grass
warning surrounding plants

keep mowing!
plenty of time left
plenty of grass to cut


July at Lake Erie
the warmth of noon sun
tempered by the lake breeze

suntan lotion everywhere
usedta be just for the beach

usedta smell
just like sand
 

August Light
summer’s fleeting
on the Niagara Frontier

half this childhood season
just to tell us — almost done

nights creep towards fall
whiles breakfast retreats
from sunshine
to dawn
to dark


© 2013-2022 Brian Brown-Cashdollar

Sweet_Summer_Dukkha

Cool

~ browncashdollar ~ Leave a comment

/* May feel a little rushed, but I like the image of the physics of fear. */

light clinging to snowflakes
snow sticking to everything
a perfect squall
a travel ban
the roads were ours

swerving across medians
spinning through intersections
a high school thrill ride
me, Marty, Red

tires skating under street lights
boys hurtling towards snow banks
instinctively I palm the wheel
in the back Marty squeals

You’re so cool!
as I try to control the physics
of rubber, steel, flesh and fear



© 2014-2022 Brian Brown-Cashdollar

cool

Trauma

~ browncashdollar ~ Leave a comment

we’re not supposed to say it
but, when you’re damaged
you don’t get to be
undamaged

scar tissue
is weaker
than intact skin

sometimes though
life is stronger
than injury


© 2015-2022  Brian Brown-Cashdollar

trauma