I wish there were some way

 some other way 

some day 

some other day 

when the streaked lines of tears 

blown like raindrops 

slanting across yellow street lights 

were acts of abandon 

tumult of tumbleweeds 

scattering of schools of multicolored fish 

notes from a flute 

chasing their tails 

like kittens whose yellow eyes 

closed with perfect contentment

 

I wish there were some time 

some other time 

some place 

some other place 

where cross-hatched shadows 

tallying absence 

were ballads of battles 

harvests of early spring 

straw laid down as bedding 

for weary travellers 

crescendos 

sforzandos 

fortissimos

laid end-to-end 

filling time with sound 

as a howling dog shares its song 

before it circles and rests 

at last asleep 

no longer hounded

 

I wish there was some words 

some other words

some kind 

some other kind 

of tears and absence 

besides these soaked sheets 

those empty bottles 

this sculptured memory 

idealized and immobile 

besides endless measures of minor chord 

this diminished self 

drained and draining 

 

but I will close my eyes 

this way this day 

this time this place 

without kind words

wishes or desire

perhaps at last 

sleep