David Michael Jackson

there are these moments
I was maybe six
it was Christmas eve
night or early morning
it was dark
If I leaned over in the bed just right
I could see
just barely
the living room and
the shadow
of a tree
I couldn’t leave the bed
it wasn’t daylight yet
I could see shadows in the bit of light
that was given to me
is that a bike
that shape in the darkness
is that a bike
I’ve strained to see that shape
in the shadows
my whole life long

david michael jackson

Be Glad You Have a Job

there was a time
a long time ago
when my boss
said
are you happy
the big man is concerned
he thinks you don’t look happy

that was a long time ago

and then came

be glad you have a job
people are our most
valuable resource
we have a performance management process
close the door please

how did we go from
are you happy to
be glad you have a job?

When did the big man turn from
an old man to a young guy

and an old man into an entitlement

david michael jackson

I’m tired said the man

but you haven’t told me the story
of the dog and the honey bee

you have heard it before
but
okay

the dog was walking his
dog walk
along the trail
sniffing this
sniffing that

and the honey bee
landed on his nose
and looked him
straight in the eye

buzz said the bee
buzz off said the dog

or I’ll lick you dead with my tongue
I’ll sting that tongue
said the bee
and die doing it
but you’ll know I was there Mr Dog

So the bee buzzed
and the dog walked along
with the bee on his nose

Buzz buzz said the bee
Bark bark said the dog

I think I like you bee
You can be my bee

I’m nobody’s bee
said the bee
I visit the flowers
and make honey
Mr Dog

And I’m very glad
you got to meet me
said the bee

So the bee and the dog
went along
and got along

david michael jackson

Autumn is a beautiful wake
with the orange
and red colors it makes
a funeral of leaves.

Birds and
butterflies flutter south
away from the mouth
of the winter stream
of cold air

Leaf raker’s it makes
of us
and we pile them
and children
jump into them

and the leaves
in orange and
the trees in black
dance for us
against a blue sky

I am always a little sad in autumn
to see the summer go
like a friend leaving town for a year
packing his shorts
and the Bermuda shirt
and his sandals

Every Spring I say
I have made it through
another winter,
every Fall I wonder
will this be the one

It’s best to just
jump in the pile of leaves
instead

david michael jackson