coffee table

ashes, roaches, tweezers, matches

our hands a foot apart

not touching until

you pass the heavy book of

Picasso paintings

tapping the cover telling me

without telling me

the days grow shorter

a candle burns slowly

security in its perch

atop the bottle of cheap wine

(a pair of feline eyes stare

through the glass top sharing

perfect secrets knowing what is real)

"who believes in love anymore?" you

say, a provocation? an invitation?

"maybe," i reply, "maybe!"

if it is you

who is of

love and secrets perfected by scars

but!

you feel untouchable heavier than

this table carrying

questions that burn, that smoke

that penetrate us, but

why?

i'm alive enough to know i'm

near you

not near enough to you to

know i'm alive

douglas brent smith

Comments

You Can Be Positive

You Can Be Positive - collage by douglas brent smith.

Transporting The Message Keeper

Transporting The Message Keeper -- collage by douglas brent smith

Spotted Off The Coast of Jersey

Spotted Off The Coast of Jersey -- collage by douglas brent smith

Selecting Changes Using the Logical If

Selecting Changes Using the Logical If - collage by douglas brent smith

Examination of the Numbers People

The Examination of the Numbers People -- collage by douglas brent smith

scrambled dreams scattered schemes ideas flashed on the mezzanine the balcony's crowded with narrow scenes colorful dreaming liquid sleep poached eggs dreams wet and fried homage to the dreams that died rules that flutter into melted butter dreams design their own red line fried dreams my dreams your dreams ours evening slips and then devours sheets around us lights dimmed black shadowed visions on our backs your dream is my dream is our dream complete.

Attention Paid to the Spiritual Side

Attention Paid to the Spiritual Side -- collage by douglas brent smith I think I've used some of these images in other collages. That happens, sometimes. The context changes the meaning and justifies the redundancy. Or, at least I think it does. I gave some thought to coloring this collage and decided against it. Maybe later, with time on my hands, I'll decide to color it. Probably not though because that process takes many hours and there is so much new work to do. This piece is from 1994. I was a completely differently person then and so were you (presuming that you were even alive then!) We're changing every day. What color do you think that floor is? -- dbs --

Levitating a Small Guitar

Levitating a Small Guitar - sketch by douglas brent smith (probably 1991). "Do you think that he could levitate a large guitar, that is to say, a normal sized guitar as well?" "No doubt. It might take some practice, though." "Does it come naturally?" "It comes with practice." "That is more like a ukulele than a guitar." "Nope. It has six strings. Guitar." "Small" "But he could also levitate a large guitar. Maybe one wasn't available." "Well, you've got to start someplace." "Yes." - dbS -

Worldview Built In a Day

Worldview Built In a Day - collage by douglas brent smith, 3 January 1988

Crashing The Space Camp

Crashing The Space Camp - collage by douglas brent smith, 13 February 1994