train to grand rapids

i'm a big fish in a small pond

 

a flushed face

little beads of sweat

bags and bags from Filene’s basement

i surrounded myself by those i love

Jendavi & Pandora

on my birthday

on my birthday suit

i got lucky with Lucky Brand

hoping the way my a*s looks in those Seven’s

will bring me more luck

a little rainbow on my chest

Buddha on my belly

someone can rub me for good luck

 

i wanna move to Chicago

meet more people like Estelle on the trolley

and the man shopping for ties

i wonder if that monarch was a sign? was my angel?

the hispanic guy has a tattoo with a halo and wings

the word “Dad” with his date of birth and death

i want to get one like it, in memory of my Mom

i wanna ask him to read from this Pablo Neruda book

on my lap

in Spanish, i want to stare into his eyes

pin him down on the ground in front of me

passionately kiss him

because there’s not enough passion in this world, and me

i am about to explode

 

i ate a king-size Snicker

tipped the average male

swallowed the Crystal Gyser by CG Roxane

and ask myself, what’s in a name anyway? i dunno

but i think my momma gave me a good one

 

i am the one with the ceaseless laments

how can i care so deeply

and not care at all, when the loves lie bleeding

at my back door?

my bleeding heart barely circulating blood

to my brain or toes

my optimism moving

in the same rigid fashion as this train

 

sometimes i let people know what’s comin’

what an extraordinary machine i am

they still put down their gates

or allow me to pass

i’m fatigued with this fishing in a small pond

fishing through scum

i’m enticed by the coral reefs

the outdoor jazz at the aquarium

the diversity of life in the ocean

i’m a lover of the mitten state

but i feel like i’ve outgrown the safety of my cage

my wings don’t want to be clipped anymore

they need more room to expand

my talons need to spread for a more desirable capture

my meals need to be less sporadic

 

pizza & pop

people at picnic tables, watching

the trains go by and the sun go down

and me

me

me

i’m rollin’

i’m rollin’

 

look out...here i come

Reviews

[Michael Lasalle]

Wow, colette, this
is breathtaking, the passion
you write with is truly amazing,
i found myself mesmerized by this piece,
peace, mike