Video

Desire (Video)

This is part of a collection of poems accompanied by an AI generated illustration as a response to those poems. In the collection, “A Super Collider of Zigs and Zags” by Brendon Behlke, each poem was submitted as a prompt to an AI art generator and produced the artwork on display. To view them the way ancient peoples would have viewed them, you can order a copy of the entire collection, over 100 poems and art pieces, releasing on November 18th 2023 here: https://www.fontainehousepublishing.com/product-page/a-super-collider-of-zigs-and-zags-by-brendon-behlke

Trance

Thin words speak lengthy prose in the morning
each thread beset on both sides with lace
woven over of the threshold of this space
between one worlds end and another’s forming
contemplative clouds swollen and storming
one last gasp before they leave this place
with no more than a glimpse of what they face
just a glimpse is enough of a warning

On the other side the land is broken;
split asunder by imaginary lines
and named with words that are more than spoken
rather a label by which people are defined
beware the sleeper who has awoken
the world is a dream corrupt and unrefined.

Implode

I’ve had enough of me
the dreams that once would get me through
have drifted away and bent askew
floating past their apogee
I’ve had enough of me

The joy I had was misconstrued
and there is nothing left I want to do
I’ve seen all I want to see
I’ve had enough of me

Trapped in a puzzle room without a clue
forgetting more and more of what I knew
I just wish I could be free
I’ve had enough of me

The loneliness inside I can’t subdue
the stable moments are so few
all that’s left is debris
I’ve had enough of me

The Bounty

Charred wood and ash stirred to bright gold embers
violence begat flames that fold in tongues
crack like whips in darkness to inspire lust
the night takes the fire into its lungs

Thoughts are loud – though they remain unspoken
silence is where the sane call their home
the madness restrained surely dies inside
or there resides like eyes free to roam

The sounds of life are encumbered with death
all felt the time plundered as an offense
the cliff ending while they keep running on
absence becoming something immense.

But finality waits for tomorrow
they will travel no more after this
Three weeks to create a friend from nothing
one rope to end it all in abyss.

Horticulture

Let’s talk about
establishing healthy values
in yourself and others.

As for yourself
always be a work in progress
know your limits and strengths

There is a seed
inside all of us that will grow
if cared for and watered

There are weeds too
that will choke those seeds to nothing
if not ripped from the soil.

Growth is violent change
raging against the garden
within to find greatness

As for others
gardening is hard, dirty work
find the seed – inspire fruit.

The Confederacy of Dunces

“I don’t need a doctorate to know
that your facts do not fit with what I think is right”

“The wealthy want what is best for us
why else would they have all the money we helped them earn?”

“The disenfranchised are the real threat
they would kill us all had we not taken all they owned!”

“Poor people are the dregs of life
and when I get rich I’ll put them all in their place.”

“Not everyone needs a living wage
that will just raise the prices for my family to live.”

“Racism died many years ago
we even allowed one of them to be president.”

“Healthcare is a service not a right
Why should I pay taxes for your healthy life style?”

“God gives every cell the right to life
and mothers who abort should be put to death for it.”

“We need religion back in our schools
or else the Jews and the Muslims will brainwash our children.”

“Climate change is a liberal hoax
everything will cool back down once all the ice caps melt”

“They’ve said this before and been censored
but I know they’re right, it’s all over the internet!”

Static

The screams
The screams!

They rise like plumes of smoke in the air
shifting sounds of ardent despair
Without words they speak of horrors
of maligned intent beyond comprehension
that sends the mind reeling
with images that want naught else but to break it.
Those who are fool enough to care
will find their heart in disrepair.

The screams!

Their relentless cacophony
permeates the night constantly.
They’ve drowned all pity in endless noise
the corpse of compassion floats amongst the hate
misery picks away at the flesh
leaving only bone to bleach in the sun.
We have but one comradery
to loathe them for their oddity

The screams.

Those souls that have seen the outside
ever in torment will reside.

The Topography

The landscape is painted white with the snow
all the foliage is hiding
waiting for warmer days
to be admired
once more

Once more
the world retires
but the fauna will stay
their food and their will subsiding
navigating a space where nothing grows
finding death, famine and men trading blows
blood stained snow from soldiers fighting

On countrymen were they
ordered to fire
once more
once more

Wrapped in barbed wire
pulled behind tanks to flay
skin from bone in painful dividing
their faces would never again be known
a violence beyond describing
this is the way they play

occupiers

Once more
once more
our times are dire
while we thrive in the fray
the world around us is ending
once more.

Termination

There are many drops such as these
down flights of acute angled stairs
in hollow bubbles beneath waves
in pregnant bass lines at night raves
the errant shoe from a shocked pair.

But, honestly, who cares?
shadows on walls in caves
mean nothing once outside
if that’s where you reside,
though I am not that brave.

I can’t be saved
not from this ride
not to displease
but no one sees
what they’ve denied

So not one soul decried
despite my expertise
when they dropped me out there
without even cab fair
rooted out like disease.