come on down to the Mermaid Cafe

				inadequate


i’ve lost track of the cities
and i don’t know their names
but they died in vain
	because some fucking guy with a gun
	decided it was a good day to kill
	decided that life wasn’t worth living
		and took out his anger
			         his frustration
		   	         his inadequacies
		on you
			and me
				and, most importantly, on those who died
					on the other end of his bullets
							        his gun
	he decided to play the role of death
		bringer of
			heartache
		bringer of	
			inadequate laws
		bringer of
			fights between family and friends
	because a guy with a gun 
			is a dangerous thing
		an angry guy with a gun who thinks he knows better
			is a terrorist
		fighting for might over women
			fighting for white is might
		fighting  because mental illness 
			is not the cause
		and guns just make every death easier
						     faster
						     ready for the B roll on the news
			because the A roll has become
				words about twitter and the inadequacy of the president

i’ve lost track of the cites
	i don’t know that i’ve even read their names

		as they cross over
		i mourn the dead 
we are all Cain

				release
					(for Jason Rasmus, aka J2)



life & death
      & love’s caress
      surround you like the air we breathe

brother, you are
	 	love & laughter
		frustration & fascination
		caring & carefree

you are mythic in nature
	oral tradition passing you on
	from person to person to person
	a way for your legend
		(your legacy)
				to live on in us

us, your family & family of friends 
us, those still tethered to life
us, crying here on a mountaintop
				because your breath has stopped
		
				& ours continues on
us, sharing, compiling 
	your life into stories to tell
			        to remember
			        to smile
			        & laugh
us, now family to each other
	made blood by the death
					(of a legend)
and we release you

we
	release
		     you

to the snow covered mountains and skateparks
	up the mountain & to the sun
	
	ride into the light
	cross the river styx
	be one with the spirit
	join the shadow people
	take a railslide
		into your future of haunts


just be sure to know:
		we love you  
		&   we   release   you

	
		        Isadora Duncan


tears no longer worked
	nor silence
	and dance was no longer saving her soul
rumor has it that          she begged
				she begged an italian sculptor for another baby
					another chance for that love
	 	for the streaming of wind against her mind
								her soul

barefoot dancer across the stage
	her movements natural
	borne of one another

	but 
      the child could not hold 
		its soul conflicted
			death hours after birth
				its soul streaming along ley lines
					her wishes and magic foiled
					leaving her childless 
						yet again

loss is so final
this child joins his siblings
	playing ring-a-round the rosie 
dancing with small bare feet in heaven  

there is beauty in dance

music moves through the air
bodies sway, skip across the floor
arms and legs akimbo
loose tunic streaming behind as she moves 
across the dance floor
		she is beauty and creation
		she is a force for change and joy

	three griefs weigh her heart
		
the world is cold and unforgiving
she danced for life
	stories told through barefoot movement
	
	her styled blossomed
breaking form 
toe shoes and leotards left at the ballet barre
grecian tunic 
	leaping, short hair streams in 

a gift of beauty
	a silk scarf long and painted
a gift of friendship 
	
freedom is always peeking from the next destination
	a promise of hope
		  of solace
she rides towards freedom top down
	the wind pulls at her skin
	long scarf flowing, streaming
		adding beauty to the invisible air currents

drive off towards beauty
	the past is streaming behind
		taking its tears
		          its loss with it	


	be careful, my friend
	all dances end
		be careful, Isadora
	you can use your scarf to swaddle your children 
                         
                                              in heaven