looking for direction from the rain

which way is it moving
does it chill the air or make it warm
is it strong enough to clean the body
will it last until tomorrow
does it go by another name
is it talking with the crow
is there lining in the clouds

why is the wind confused

--- e b bortz

(published in opednews.com, Feb 28, 2013)

earth note 229

between winter
and not yet spring
stand naked arms
     an interlock
     of the barren
     your eyesight
     transforms dust
     into mud
leaves become the trail
     they dodge but ultimately scatter
     into anonymous patterns
     with death
          a new beginning

--- e b bortz

(published in earth notes and other poems, Least Bittern Books, 2015)

talkin' carbon blues

in the middle
of the west virginia mountains
not far from beckley
an old twisting road
named polemic
wraps itself around a steep hillside
and i suspect
a cluster of houses
that might answer
these eternal questions
about whether capitalism
after grabbing a lot of coal
     out of its asshole
would consider a serious
redistribution of wealth
to cover the thousands of miners
broken by black lung and cancer throats
broken knees and broken hips
crying widows and children
company store and captive town
     thieves
and doing this
one hundred percent redistribution
just before shutting down
once and for all
     every coal portal
          gouged out mountain
     black dustbowl
          bought and paid for politician
          still telling us
          there'll be pie in the sky
          when we die

--- e b bortz

(published in opednews.com, Feb 21, 2013)

the pigeonhole

you've built
doesn't allow wings

--- e b bortz

(published in earth notes and other poems, Least Bittern Books, 2015)

cheap advice

surveillance video rolling
as we leave the mall theatre
in myrtle beach south carolina
just up the coast from old fort sumter
     maybe the best place to see
     the movie "lincoln"

then
just in time to catch
the last of the indian buffet
     but with no reprieves
next time
get there early
before the kheer is gone

and finally and most important
if it's the slow winter season
remember you need to see the room
     & look under the bedspread
before putting your money down
     avoid any place advertising
     "american owned" or "southern hospitality"

--- e b bortz

(published in opednews.com, Feb 16, 2013)

lost

between daytona flea market
and palm beach high-rises
are a couple of million refugees
of the great downward spiral
     creaking along
on loaded up beach bikes
carrying all that's left
     gone is the mystique of the artisans
     or the proud hands of the industrial working class
partitioned
beyond the sponsored walls
     daytona 500 incorporated
left behind
     like a two buck bet
          at the dog track

--- e b bortz

(published in opednews.com, Feb 10, 2013)
(published in earth notes and other poems, Least Bittern Books, 2015)

earth note 228

a lone pelican
on the halifax river daytona
must be a rock star
score of seagulls
     jumping
     bobbing over the dock
          pelican gyrating
back and forth and around
          little richard
          striking perfect chords

--- e b bortz

(published in earth notes and other poems, Least Bittern Books, 2015)

earth note 227

in spite of
the automobile stealing
a special pass
disguising itself
     as a deity        golden calf
a fully awakened
daytona beach atlantic
surges from the belly
covering the tire tracks
flushing over
a manicured packed-down shoreline
loosening up
some hardwired impressions
managing to leave
a body of shells intact
     whole
     integral
     children of the last high tide

--- e b bortz

(published in opednews.com, Feb 5, 2013)