Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Austin On My Mind



Austin is on my mind

in point 
that aloe vera I planted in the garden 
last week
the row of pansies and petunias 
pushing up and sprouting from 
a warming ground
Texas bluebonnets on my mind
the first I ever saw
in the haze of new romance
thinking I was fancy free
but my heart was in fact in a knot of confused 
friendship
a big hearty Texas girl
enveloping me in a hug of cheer
saying let's go for a drive m'dear 
catch the bluebonnets
bring the new puppy along
pretend you've got all the time
in the world to laugh and play 
and care not of what's left undone
at the end of the day

Austin on my mind 
specifically a triplex on Palma Plaza and Woodlawn
smiling dykey friends and so many others 
that I love
how I yearn for your voices and one of your hugs
Yes, Texas on my mind 
as I sit in fiercely cold Chicago 
facing another
day of toil 
grey wintry skies and 
maybe having to pull out the shovel. 

Oak Park, IL 2004 

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