"Paper Thin Walls," "The Lost Birds," and "This Is Me"

Paper Thin Walls

Sheltered in rooms with paper thin walls.
I paint them with the tiniest of brushes.
There are blackbirds, pygmy forests, and
light blue skies. The black cat at the
window keeps its eyes on the blackbirds. I
close the drapes out of fear it breaks
through the walls to feast on the blackbirds.
I am thinking of painting a giant black dog
to keep the black cat at bay. I have no
solution for the cold wind or the loud noise
which the paper thin walls cannot contend
with. When I bring friends over I beg them
not to lean against the walls out of fear they
will fall through the pygmy forest or the light
blue skies. I pour them a drink from a cheap
bottle of red wine and offer them cheese
and crackers. It is all I can afford these
days.  Friends come and go, the good
ones are hard to find, but easy to keep.

The Lost Birds

After Mario Trejo

Birds do not get lost--
they just fly too far away
and disappear into the sky where
they blend towards colors
that defy explanation
and sight's memory.
They fly into the sea
like a ghost's imagination
and its bewildered dream.
Upon the shore for a brief time
their songs echo, skip
through waves, cast reflections
into the distance.
I call them faraway birds,
sea birds, nocturnal birds,
but never lost birds.

This Is Me

This is me,
a former waiter
and coffee cup server,
a third-grade basketball champion,
and if you find anyone who cares, ask them
how many dishes I washed before I quit,
how many cups of coffee I served,
and how many points did I score?
Forgive me if there is no corroboration
for what I remember. I washed a hundred
plates at least, I served and washed
a hundred coffee cups, I washed a
hundred glasses, a hundred spoons, forks,
and knives. I was given two dollars in tips,
and so I quit. I scored 10 points, five
baskets, each more creative than the other
playing below the rim. There was no three-
point line in 1977. I stuck a half-quart shot
to win the game, 15 to 14. Another kid made
one free-throw, and two others made lay-
ups off of my behind the back dimes.
I’m going now.
I just wanted to let you know who I was.
That was me as best as I could remember.