Pen and Ink

I can only dip my pen

so deep into the well

before it comes up dry

and thirsty for more.

Put me in a coma

Put me in a coma

relieve me of this sense

Kill me with the karma

you use in your defense

In this life I’ve been lucky

as quiet as a mouse

The 9 I’ve since departed

like kitten’s claw a blouse

This pine scented aroma

of Hitchcock and suspense

Pawing at the dharma

crows circle in pretense

For once I thought the nut house

a home to mice and men

This state of being’s smartened

this boy’s escaped the pen.

Some days

it feels

nobody cares

and then

out of nowhere

friend

gifts you

a space pen,

and, “yes Jerry,”

it writes upside down.