Two Poems by John Patterson

Flit

flit – (v.)
To move swiftly and lightly
To lightly and swiftly move

When your wings hit glass, do you feel it?

flit – (n.)
An act of leaving one’s home or moving
Moving or leaving one’s home
An act
Typically secretly
Secrets are typical
So as to
escape obligations

When the glass hits wings, does it crack?

(the glass, not wings)
or
(his glass, your wings)

flighty flimsy flimflam fling

flit – (n.)
A 50s slang word for a homosexual.

Try to fly.
I dare you.

 

Concept Album 

Suck on cloves until cheeks hollow.
Swallow cayenne ‘til vein throb.
Squeeze lemon juice into wounds,
               Exfoliate with pineapple skin.
               (toughen up, boy.)
Sweat drops of honey.

Cry of agony, raise up an octave,
            riff a little.
Did you catch that vibrato?

Purple caves under eyes
Mingle with flesh
Abstract expressionism.

You
Mingle with flesh
Magical realism.

Tell me, baby,
Am I still your favorite?