kaleidoscope

one eye open
to the world of actual people,
beds and carpets,
coffeehouses and cramped buses,
the other hearing and speaking
the language of
rainbow light in "tones of home,"
flashing blue moons
and silver stars,
Robinson Crusoe half-mad alone
on literary sands,
cans of chili,
Einstein's glistening sun bicycle,
Daniel Johnston sailing amid
mysterious lunatic isles,
erotic bright red hearts,
the language of Elliott Smith
and the bedraggled arts...

tome in brain,
melody in ear,
pen in hand,
constantly churning visions and ideas
till muscle and bone revolt,
and the empty light of depression
shines through thinning visions
on institutional walls...
till all is transcended into
the bright white of human love