antiguamente, tuya

you still appear in my dreams
unbidden
our interactions startle me
it's always surprising to see
a picture I took of you on some websites
recuerdo tomar esta fotografía
aunque ahora sí aparecen como un fantasma
de alguien a quien nunca conocí
es tan extraño
todas las líneas se cortan
pero usted permanece en el éter
I can't figure out where to put that...
quizás no es importante después de tanto daño
I digress
my translations can't save this from being awkward
antiguamente,
tuya

© e.e.stanley 6.23.08

Polaroid and Negative

with instant gratification
my face gleams seductive
in a frame of darkness
yet with patient waiting
i have made my being
dissolve into paper light
these views are desirable
bends in perception
the illusion of reality captured
an image frozen quietly
or quick and careless
i am pretending to be a vision of myself
modifying the creation of my memory
i become an apparition
moving like smoke in the street
in every kind of light only
solidifying when the shutter clicks
trying not to see myself
reflected in window glass

© e.e.stanley 8.10.01

a present

the most adult approximation
of childish content
a joy that brings simple tears
our decision small and easy
like baby girl fast friends
flashing our bellies at one another
we agree today foward
to share our juice
i am amazed

© e.e.stanley 9/21/01

magnet poem, untitled

my bed beneath a new boy
from some drunk courage dream
about a thousand red warning lights
still he and i rush to perform
less from passion than the struggle
and pulse of every urge to
be out of and yet near the body

© e.e.stanley

magnet poem, untitled

since my girl gone
tell me who is i to dance with
were she and i never together
only a moment’s white noise
something fragile barely there
stormy under the blood of language
work strong and black hot it
rips through us as if
these nights recalling our sad
rust love could long be over
but wait
is there not
place for my devotion
after the screaming stops will
we ache for one easy summer

© e.e.stanley

magnet poem, for seth

feast on my whispers
you smell body bright
use my legs dancing
work our skin like garments of light
in the sleep pulse symphony
of together music at night

The battle for the heart's content

My lover left for I was too much
And though I tried to phrase it well
Some gentlemen need excuse and such
When faced with truths the heart must tell

Words unspoken at throat’s full brim
Creep back and round envisioned in dream
And bring to night’s long hours some grim
Or lustful fancy and fevered gleam

Thus spoken and my heart did split
And showed a weakening of its fire
Look not to drown in such a pit
Nor lose thy breath beneath the mire
Of words so woeful they do sit
On the heap and kindle of one’s pyre
But find the means to keep it lit
And never allow that light may tire

© e.e.stanley 5/2000