Act II

We were scratching

at places that

no longer itched

Habits went down

in the last round

hard, and vita-

min E could do

only so much

for the scarring

Trust was dimming

when lightning struck

our second act

awake, alive

electric, like

Frankenstein’s child

more flexible,

fire-proof, god-

like this time

© 2012 Barbara Moore
The Weekenders Magazine Issue 3

Penny

Penny always knew

her own worth

so she kept

turning up

like any

Penny would

bad, good

shiny, scuffed

determined

to draw interest

© 2011 Barbara Moore

Red Fez Issue 37 

After

Short leashes just kept getting shorter,

necks no longer bearing brunt of pull

Orbed severed bowling ball heads tumbled

over unkempt heels of unlaced shoes

© 2011 Barbara Moore
take-it-to-the-streets poetry volume 3

Celebration

Let us make unmitigated joy unto the noise

rising up with offerings from our lungs

cranking the music louder than lions

playing unfettered beneath egyptian

stars and moonbeams bright with bits of

powdered particles of  pyramids

showering down on sphinx’s hint of smile

holy as any mona lisa’s laugh

© 2010  Barbara Moore

Vending Machine: Poetry for Change Anthology 2010

Dead Boy

Life spilled cannot be unspilled

drawn back into the hypodermic

labeled always just one more

The belted arm will remain belted

for coroner capitulators

who by accepted definition

arrive after the race has been run and lost

You, lying there so quietly

will not be trick or treating this year

or buying helium balloons on your birthday

and talking like donald duck

or racing around the roof

proclaiming “I am a golden god”

like billy crudup did in almost famous

You, lying there so quietly

will never be more than what you are right now

© 2010 Barbara Moore

Gutter Eloquence Issue 12

Wayne I Never Liked

Wayne I never liked

but you, you saw the good in everyone

You had his back

until the night you didn’t.

We were in the city

112th street, visiting Pops

who went to cop

while we watched his son

eat dust from the floor.

Our eyes were glazing over

right around the time Wayne must have scored

His first time without you

His last time without you

His last time

© 2009 Barbara Moore 

 heroin love songs 2010

Catharsis

Relentlessly  

You freed me 

Tipping, turning  

Tugging, tapping 

You tunneled  

Underneath the pain 

Not once retreating  

From the breadth  

Of it 

The depth  

Of it 

The wet grave  

Heaviness 

Of it 

Until it could  

Be named 

Made lighter  

Smaller, drier 

Something  

I could  

Cough up 

Spit out  

Stomp on 

Walk away from 

Leave behind 

© Barbara Moore 2009

The World According to Goldfish Vol II - Sight 2009