Shane Taylor

Waiting for the Phone to Ring in America

One small blanket for man,   
  10 million crickets to hear kind.
When will they smile?
I should speak for myself.
I could consider the frown upon my face   
  as I wait for the phone to ring. 

“Is this not America?” I think to myself,   
  a dozen arms raised in my head.
“Does she not wear the American flag for panties?” 

I’ve recently been cured of a zit. 
If the phone rings now, no one even resembling me will
answer it.
It’s late.
The message machine is a distant relative, initials
M.M. 

Even in America, why so blue?
Even in a state of love making, why so blue?
The answers, they are a jiggling in my face.
And the ones I don’t want, I just push them away.
Analyzing, thinking, considering, plucking...   
  Does she love me, does she not?   
  Does she love me, does she not? 

I’m writing what has nothing to do with what I’m
writing that has nothing to do with       
    what I’m writing and it has nothing to do with
what....well, you know. 

I believe I could keep myself occupied for good,   
  writing, nothing, thinking.
I could compare time to the length of my boat.
My boat is as big as it looks.
Any bigger, and I’d have to do more looking.
Time can be quite painful.Any longer, and I’ll soon be sleeping.

The NRA is Here to Stay

 Get a pencil and write down these interruptions.
When confronted by game, shoot! Shoot! Shoot!
The NRA will save the day,   
  much as it did during past revolutions,   
  making us who we are today. 

Without guns, how will I fight off 13 year old boys?
With knives and an erection? Certainly not! 

They crowd all around my residence, cowering and
aroused.
They’re at the door now, knocking, and waiting for my
reply. 

Without guns, forced sex will become a thing of the
past,   
  eliminating the pro-creation of future great
leaders.
Give me guns or give me death   
  then give them to someone else.
I’ve never shot the fucking things. 

But without guns for people to try and shoot me with,   
  how will I get them before they get me?
It’s all a circular discussion really and I’ve got to
piss. 

If you put your safety goggles on upside down at the
shooting range,   
  you’ll get a laugh.
Anything to avoid the real issue.


The Most Wonderful Christmas Card Time of the Year

The morning is heavy.
This morning is so heavy,
the steam from my coffee and rum cuts through it.
It could thaw the world if everyone would just sit
still. 

Sit and mill in coffee and rum. 

I’ve got these Christmas cards to send out.
Cards for me and cards not for me hang on the wall.
I don’t really live here, I’m a rental agreement.
Warm sentiments, warm coffee and rum,
this world doesn’t have to be so cold. 

Why so cold?
Why so blue?
These are some of my questions.
I ask them of my friends and strangers in cards I send
to them.
How’s the leg? How’s the kids?
How’s your car accident injury? 
How’s your 9/11 anxiety? 

I’m fine but my dog is dead.
I’m a big drunken disappointment in bed.
But still, through it all, we move ahead.
These holidays aren’t going to stop for anybody,
right?
They are a steamrolling machine of cheer and gladness.
Happy holidays and have a happy holiday,



**Copyright 2007 Shane Taylor, all rights reserved

Send us your comments on this article