ocean walk

the cold wind blew uncut

as ocean waves kicked stone gray jetties

large gaping cracks between the rocks

long suggestive pauses in our dialogue

steps away a homasote haunted castle

beyond a secret mist two blocks

in the distance a single

block between what we said and

what pooled below the surface

moist light beach sand crisp night air

a buoy on the horizon this is your turf

your haunting ground the smells salt sweet

gulls and mussels and popcorn blended

inseparable from that late summer visit

our individual yet tethered travels

returning each of us again to us

in our own ocean so deep we may not swim

beyond the mystery

of the tingling unhinging phrases unstrung

broken guitar strings a chipped boardwalk

recollection

stunning afternoon thru evening tones

incidental sublimations consequential

quirks of fate probing endless questions

colored by scattered sighs barely audible

experience unsaid unconsummated ties

that clouds cover us and the moon

that night one of our full moons

stalking us the jangle of atlantic city

fading in the distance

your tales of dancing on the steel pier

hints, whispered non-sequiturs, double entendres

glimpses ? wishes ? desires ?

a circle of sand around your blanket

endless conversation smoke inside

my eyes around your eyes

(should we touch) (should we try ? )

we did not and

wondered why...

-- douglas brent smith

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Note to Self 20230423

If you keep working your craft you will be amazed at how much you've learned and how much more there is yet to learn. -- doug smith

Back Inner Cover of Journal #33, Life In Progress, by Douglas Brent Smith, A collage that's not exactly a typical collage. It's what I often do with the back inner covers of my journals -- simply randomly put stickers, stamps, name tags, and other sticky objects.

Sketch in June

Sketch in June, from Journal #61, 14 June 2021

The Country Table Museum

The Country Table Museum -- collage by douglas brent smith

Cloud Posing as a Pipe

Sketch: Cloud Posing as a Pipe, from journal #10, cry Wolf (1977) douglas brent smith

Poem: who we are

who we really are is a frustrating secret locked in chambers dark. filled with echoes repeating what we've been told, taught, and sold clicking away - vibrating in a pulse of rainfall that we do not feel. Sopping, sobbing, wet. who we really are eludes us every corner ghostlike, shadow shrouded wispy drawn sketched on page prepared but torn, tearful, and faded dropping away - ringing in tones of tools we can not carry. We touch nothing uninvited, withheld. who we are is right there in front of us. don't you see it? (c) 2017 douglas brent smith

Machine Work

Machine Work - collage by douglas brent smith, 1980-81 Note: As a part-time security guard, I sometimes would read books to pass the time. One night my job required me to guard and observe a location from my car -- a black 1966 Volkswagen beetle. It was night, so I brought a kerosene lantern to read by. It was almost like camping out, as long as I kept watch on the construction site and reported anything out of the unusual. Nothing was out of the unusual. That has nothing to do with this collage, except for the one line on John Updike. Run, Rabbit, Run.

Sketches: Balancing Topper

"Balancing Topper" by Douglas Brent Smith, 1976

Song: Run Away!

Run Away! (Douglas Brent Smith) Don’t go to the basement in your underwear Maybe you can’t tell but there’s a monster down there Do yourself a favor and turn on a light Pay attention if you want to live thru the night Did you notice that the kitchen knives are missing? Now is not the time for teen age lover kissing Did you notice that the lights are blinking? Why head for the danger? What are you thinking? (chorus:) Every scary movie has them: brainless fools Walking into danger as the monster drools Zombies and slashers love ‘em, they taste so good And never do the one thing that they should: Run away! Run away! Are you an idiot? Run away! If you’re smart you’ll avoid that cabin in the woods the one with a history of evil up to no good If it’s Friday the 13th you might want to stay awake Dreaming on that night could be a really big mistake (chorus) (c) 2017 Douglas Brent Smith

Density

Density by Douglas Brent Smith

douglas brent smith

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