Once again I find I’m lapsing
My brain is not synapsing
quite properly, and still
(as life requires we will),
I must do family taxes.
No time for “poem-relaxes,”
nor room for fun with Wordles
My cocoa sits and curdles
as I, ‘sharp little’ in hand
do battle with The Man.
But… one real poem for the road, what say? I’ll be back soon! This will be at Poets United, where the math is easy… but the social studies can be a bit challenging!
TOOLS OF HIGHER MATH
The utile compass pinpoints
and twirls
Traces my brain
seeking sense in vain
Its sharp center
pierces a fold and
the golf pencil
circumnavigates
in search of principles
and edicts, only to find
bloody rivers of
flowing memory
Streams of unconscious longing
Thwacking rhythms of
a gutbucket blues
Tintype verses
Blowfly curses
Meandering forgetfulness and
a singular kaleidoscope
filled with broken shards
of a life
and a city and
things that happened
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Psychiatry, according to my former practitioner, is in fact experimentation. “Anyone who tells you otherwise is full of shit,” he said, explaining that the details lie in the psychiatrist’s ability to listen, to ask questions about how the counseling is going, and to be sensitive to the patient’s vibe. I imagined what it would be like to look at my brain from a clinical, almost forensic, standpoint… except the practitioner is Tim Burton. Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
seingraham
Oh Ames – I hear you whirling my friend … am so familiar with the sensation, are you okay? The poems – both – brilliant … am taking a dive myself but trying to make it a shallow one. Can’t afford the deeps any more. Be well. Think your former shrink was right about the experimentation angle, and the rest…do you have someone good now? See I am all over the place too … better sign off – sending you good thoughts and especially some peace. Love Sharon
Polly Robinson
Like them both but the second ‘Tools of Higher Math’ is stunning, the third stanza expecially ~ take care of yourself Amy x
vivinfrance
Higher Maths is a book I prefer to remain closed, so I was glad your poem didn’t require me to do any! How did you make that compass twirl? Your first poem took a bugbear subject and made it sit up and take notice: fun.
deanabo
ughh. Tax time. I need to do that as well. You have a wonderful way with words!
Lance
I like “blowfly curses” = perfect
Sara v
Enjoyed your IRS thoughts–it’s always taxing! Interesting mind poem, I liked the kaleidoscopic view, you are a colorful and wonder-full person/poet 🙂