word, sound, internal rhyme, logic

This is my favorite poem of mine to read to audiences because it flows in word, sound, internal rhyme, and logic.

Alone This Train

I look to pain to gain
Sleep devoid of sheep
And master’s muster walk
Or talk of tinkers’ conforming will

Alone this train
I see you born
To breed
To die
Infected meat
You teach to cheat
Your fly from famine
Shallow matter
Decayed in safety’s slumber

You briefcased fellows
Bellow farts to follow
Hollow smells
Of high topped fashion
Passion fish not flesh
But flounder

Hurried waters sleek in sinning
Shower lies and cry forgetting
Licking compulsion’s flesh

This land is long, and lost in shadow
Her sweets succinctly sour

Here’s a video of me reading Grease Your Grill and Alone This Train in Detroit at the Beat Cafe last year — library.crisischronicles.com/2010/08/25/steven-b-smith-reads-2-more-poems-at-the-beat-cafe–15-august-2009.aspx.

Here’s the other one in the video — another of my audience favorites.

Grease Your Grill

I’m an oven cleaner baby
Come to scrub your grill
Yes this oven loving man
Means to steam your grill
Get the heat back baby
Flame and fire the thrill

I’ll rub your rust off lady
Get your grid to shine
Rid this mood of maybe baby
Lady let me lick your lime
Make much meat that might be
Moistened by munching lightly
Juicy, prime

Gonna grease your grill
Put the heat back baby
Then, send you the bill