Ellery Stimulus

:: Poems under 140 characters ::

In the dark she made a move / he couldn’t see he couldn’t prove / A certain sigh & dark as night / she said she may, she said she might –

A sideways rain, sadistic thing, lashed out in drops (like tiny trains); then gone as if it never came — Is in this way like everything

I fell into you effortlessly; oh, you led me in / We laughed at the unraveling; we willed it to begin -

There was never enough time to make it happen;there was only time for a thousand other things that didn’t matter.Hindsight’s the demon now-

We tried to say it didn’t matter;love,you know it did.When lies are what makes one feel flattered,something’s gonna give–

When we thought we lost the Way it woke us shaking, convulsing, sweating from our sleep… Leaves one hesitant to walk it–

(Follow at twitter.com/ellerythepoems)

:: From the archives, What I Haven’t Said Out Loud ::

I Love Animals.

This is not much of a confession, except for its degree.

My critical self would classify my love for animals as pathetic.  But my critical self is after all rather harsh.

The point is, I’d watch animal videos all day.  Okay, not all day, because I’m really a workaholic (another confession for another day) and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.  But I might really enjoy thinking about watching animal videos all day.

When Justin and I are out & about, a significant customary stop is at the local PetsMart to see the cats that are up for adoption from area animal shelters.  This is not because we’re looking to adopt one.  This is because we want to see cats.

One of the ways I know Justin must seriously love me is that he emails me pictures of cute animals:  Ducks, baby hippos, rabbits, and especially kittens.

And okay, here’s the thing.  I particularly love cats.  I’m allergic to them, but I adore the aloof air, the playing hard-to-get, the arrogance.  It’s possible that I especially love the lack of neediness.

(Okay it’s not just possible; that’s totally one of their outstanding lovable traits.)  (I love dogs but I always wish they didn’t need me so much.)  I apparently love a small, mostly-self-sufficient furry animal that purrs when it’s happy, that stalks off without warning, and that won’t come when you call it.

When we’re at home for a longer periods of time, we often foster cats for a local animal shelter.  (We’ll bring a cat or kittens into our home and give them food and love until we have to take off again.  It gives them a break from small cages and helps them become socialized.)  Temporary pet-ownership for the working musician… We love it.

I’ve also accumulated a long list of neighborhood animals for which I routinely watch when out for a run: The bunnies in the neighbor’s backyard, the geese and ducks at the ponds, the dogs that are always lying in the front yard of that one house, the cat in the window across the street, and the turtles sunning on the logs…

Sometimes, I watch Animal Planet.

I’m fully aware that this over-love of animals may be the result of traveling too much to have a pet of my own.  One always wants what she can’t have.  The grass is always greener, et cetera.  Whatever.  Send me pictures of your animals, and I’ll be happy.

You may remember the fine name of Daniel Armstrong from this…  Well he’s returned the shout-out love in his own particular idiom:

Daniel does great work with his fine company Stringthink, and his equally-amazingly-talented wife Arian creates wonderfulness here. Thank you friends…

This may be the best (and funniest) fan-mail ever:

“dear tasha and justin:

“last night, i saw you at newport after you saw a movie. while i recognize that that statement appears completely stalkerish, i am feeling the need to purge my pent-up desire to interact with you. I struggle with the moral debate regarding the “cult of the celebrity,” and debated whether talking to you would be an action of worship or adoration. After careful consideration, I decided that i was actually a first-rate member of the cult by not talking to you- maybe i was buying into the idea that you are better than i am, and therefore too worthy of my presence. therefore, i’d like to share with you the transcription of the conversation that should have gone down last night:

“(AR will be me. TJ will be you.)

“AR) Tasha! Justin! OMG I’m your biggest fan!
TJ) o. umm. hello?
AR) dude! i first heard your single “Anna” on Paste and then i saw every concert you played in cincinnati from junior year until i went to college! I love you!
TJ) o. well, thanks, i guess.
AR) odeargoodness-do you remember me? I met you a couple times- I used to have long dreadlocks (for the record, my head is shaved now.) You were at my mom’s art show in december- i was so bummed i couldn’t be there- but she sent me a picture of you!
TJ) wow. security?!
AR) so how did the recording go? I totally pre-ordered my CD.
TJ) (i can’t predict the response to this one)
AR) you know, i just wanted to tell you that your lyrics have helped me a lot this year. I had a pretty low first year of college, and plastering my dorm walls with lyrics from “It’s alright” and “Anna” really helped me get through stuff.
TJ) well gee, thanks.
AR) yea! so i’ll see you at the next concert i can make it to! make sure you tour your new album up in cleveland so i can come see you!”

(Special thanks to Anna Risch.  You rule.) 

Double-checking spelling on signs is always recommended.
(Photo by Scott Bruce.)