~a thin man stepped into the cafe~
~neat & snappy~
~stiff of gait he stopped~
~his head hardly turned~
~as he took in his surroundings~
~marked a table & went to it~
~straightened its four chairs~
~place settings & napkins~
~took a step back & scrutinized his work~
~a waitress stood behind him~
~arms akimbo, head tilted to the side~
~he sat down in arm & leg stick units~
~set his hat table center~
~touched its brim in precise movements~
~unaffected by the impatient woman~
~when the hat was positioned to his satisfaction~
~he nodded to the waitress~
~his thin lines of lips did not move~
~she poured him a cup of coffee~
~set two bottles of Tabasco on the table~
~fixed him with a one-eyed stare~
~shook her head & walked away~
~he fiddled with the coffee cup~
~lined it up dead center~
~his side of the table~
~between the bottles of tabasco~
~he squared his shoulders~
~proceeded to get down to business~
~he drank his coffee black~
~half a bottle of fire in each cup~
~much as I wanted to watch the final act~
~the crescendo of his virtuoso performance~
~surely an introduction to a grand finale~
~I had to answer nature’s call~
~a man’s weaknesses cause him to miss the best parts~
~the thin man was gone~
~the waitress refused to say a damned thing about him~
~but I was sure~
~he was not glad in his cups~
~he was sad in his cups~

~actions speak~

~suicide is a dream~
~all beings keep~
~the weak ones name it nightmare~
~the strong ones~
~who are they~
~whose name is a whisper~
~a jane/john doe promise~
~an acclimation~
~investigators decide~
~whom peek under the pall~
~voyeurs & fools~
~which is which~

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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

~it very nearly breaks my heart~
~every time my brother goes to prison~
~the first time was the worst~
~he had a wife & baby son on the outside~
~we were young & I wondered~
~how he would survive that place~
~face the days alone in that crowded cage~
~all our lives I failed to protect my little brother~
~I wrote songs about how he must feel~
~sent him a couple bucks when I could~
~for zoom-zooms & wham-whams in the joint~
~sang my heart out in the band~
~the songs started out like this~

~A Vanishing Face~

~if truth were a sparrow & I learned to fly~
~I would never again walk to catch a lie~
~if moments were forever & days could be years~
~love was a rainbow & happiness fear~
~I would drown in a moment of fear every day~
~color my love with your smile & say~
~I love you today & yesterday too~
~only tomorrow will know what to do~
~I’ll hate you never, love’s kindling feeds the flame~
~I’ll always hear whispers of your sweet name~

~my clothes may be ragged, these shoes may be worn~
~my shirt may need washed, these underwear torn~
~only the sparrow knows of the seed~
~dropped down from heaven, our love to feed~
~clothes do not matter, the heart tells the tale~
~success is not beautiful to those who fail~
~my love & your love, two hearts as one~
~summertime breezes, summertime sun~
~remembering touching, the softness was real~
~no words to express how it made me feel~

~blue eyes turned hazy, a vanishing face~
~I reach out in vain to be back in that place~
~I don t really blame you, these bars I can’t climb~
~& I’ll never forget the last time~
~no, I’ll never forget the last time~

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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©
A Vanishing Face was published by
Flesh from Ashes

~the bell rings~
~we march off to church~
~momma said get on the bus~
~the bell sounds~
~we turn our spoons over~
~the screws count them before~
~they return us to our cells~
~toot-toot goes his horn~
~the bartender boss~
~bouncers ready~
~eager to bounce you out on your ass~
~last call you crazy bastards~
~it’s been a hound’s age since I used an alarm clock~

~time lords~

~hell~
~ain’t that easy~
~who are you woman~
~your batman face~
~runnin’ down your eyes~
~I went to bed with a queen~
~woke up with a prisoner~
~you never know~
~who you’ll wake up to~
~when you close your eyes~
~mirror~
~you are a liar~

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WordWulf
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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

~I saw a bunch o’ citizens~
~doing “the crawl” on a downtown street~
~it was skid-row when I was rockin’ & rollin’~
~now they call it lodo~
~cops erect chain-link barriers~
~to protect the rich drunks~
~firemen spray their puke off the pavement~
~what the hell difference does it make~
~who wins a baseball game~

~fell victim~

~once the big city night~
~travels your veins~
~you are prostitute~
~slave to its unions~
~no jesus~
~no mary~
~to save you~
~to enslave you~
~your appetites fuel~
~a destiny~
~a compulsion~
~to self destruction~

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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

~the problem is~
~well they are numerous~
~but the man who comes to save us~
~is the one momma lies to daddy about~
~the one we lie to momma about~
~hell he touches us all~
~in every private place~
~he is a devil in our flesh~
~a parasitical worm in our brain~
~a spirit devouring energy sponge~
~death cannot be so dark as this~
~he rode a tall horse~
~until it bolted & ran away~
~I saw it once in a cloud~
~he won’t let us look up anymore~
~all he wants us to see~
~is down here~
~is right there~

~XVI. Galloping Sin~

~hunter gatherer~
~destroyer we~
~fall prey to gluttonous appetites~
~lust; the broken wing, desire~
~folds a stilted bone against~
~the breast of breast of~
~father provides~
~no succor to innocents~
~meet in low dim night spaces~
~earthen floor scattered about~
~dust motes lined down under the bed~
~tied to the butt crack adulterer~
~naked & throat full of blood~
~threatening gulp~
~sneeze denied~
~tied to the feet of horses drowning~

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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©
published by Howling Dog Press

~Quodlibet~
~The Hundred Bites~
~I~

~our communication stolen~
~prisoners & parents controlled by handheld devices~
~in the hands of schoolchildren & screws~
~what the hell you gonna do~amerikan family?~don’t ask me fat boy~
~you sold us out when the citizens voted you in~
~I didn’t have anything to do with that shit~

~I. Dead End Traffic~

~friday afternoon~
~it is a long drive home~
~woman on the telephone~
~dead animal in a pickup truck ~
~stiff legs pointing wrong way up~
~driven by an eater~
~of venison into the open~
~trapped at once~
~maybe she’s talking to her man~
~sure as hell can’t drive~
~that thing is stuck to her face~
~could be she’s trying to talk it off~
~ain’t no free rides~
~in a land of gypsies~

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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©
Quodlibet was published by Howling Dog Press

~Kathy & me~

~as a man working the soil~

~so I appreciate my daughters & sons~

~imagine a friend for life~

~that is a long time~

~& so the five of them are~

~imagine the harvest perpetuating itself~

~so it has~

~further gifted with a partner to share the love~

~complete the circle~

~family~

~so it is done~

~a joy to keep – a~

~treasure~

~I used to get aggravated on holidays~

~trying to choose the right gift~

~something special for loved ones~

~telling them not to worry about me~

~my agitation was sorely exasperated~

~if I happened to be broke at the time~

~never seemed to have enough money or credit~

~to cut loose & buy whatever I chose~

~I confess I was as excited as everyone else~

~{except the children}~

~wondering what was in that package with my name on it~

~my folks have long been gone~

~{is there anyone left who refers to their parents as folks}~

~siblings blown away/scattered by the winds of life~

~as if they exist in another realm of time & space~

~as do I in my tower of word~

~I have lived long enough now~

~experienced the big ol’ world~

~seen folks alone~

~all the way alone~

~yeah, those folks & others~

~in alleys & penthouses~

~islands adrift in wandering crowds~

~I ain’t easy to know & I know it ain’t easy~

~through all the struggles of this life~

~there has always been someone who cared for me~

~there to pick me up & know~

~when to turn away & let me go~

~my mother first & children~

~before & when she passed away~

~we held one another always~

~starving & laughing~

~feasting & weeping~

~round the family camp our fire~

~grandchildren~

~when they place a gift in my hand~

~are likely to see a tear~

~a smile visiting my lips~

~what greater gift is this love~

~I have always held~

~& a tear for those who don’t~

~a weighty pride to bear alone~

~that hunger to reminisce & share~

~the good love for the little ones~

~& their folks who were my little ones~

~I slept with a ghost who knew these parts of me~

~she listened & never complained that I kept her awake~

~she seldom slept & neither did I~

~I treasured her existence & promised myself~

~to always be loyal & true to her~

~that one day she would answer~

~hold my hand & kiss my face~

~be folks with me & one day it was so~

~this is for Kathy~

~my treasure, my wife~

~the unexpected joy~

~she has brought to my life~

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©artwork & words conceived by & property of

Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

~there is no recipe for love~
~when it starts & what it does~
~unique & specifically wonderful~
~it creates a glow within~
~that reaches out to transcend our being~
~we may see through the eyes of another what it means to possess…~

~a window & chalice & key~

~if we had a window~
~we could tie ribbons in the trees~
~hang a crystal mobile in its frame~
~enjoy a prism of colors~
~each & every time it rained~

~if we had a chalice~
~we could sip from it each night~
~fingertips meeting to touch~
~sharing the blood of our love~
~& daring to love too much~

~if we had a door with a key~
~we could lock away our sorrows~
~begin again & learn to be~
~lovers and friends as we were~
~if we had a window & chalice & key~

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WordWulf
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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©
A Window & Chalice & Key was published by
Skyline Publications

~the epic~
~reptiles & dust~

~with a narcissistic bent~
~if I don’t love me~
~who will~
~ponders the would-be philosopher~
~& there ya have it~

~these are a rage~
~& a sonnet~

~# nine~
~alfalfa dreams~

~in some pastures alfalfa~
~sweet scent of first love~
~& the death of reason~
~weight of passion flower scent~
~rolling in the haymow~
~old men on car trips~
~roll down the window & dream~

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WordWulf
Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com
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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

~the epic~
~reptiles & dust~

~when he was a boy~
~daddy bought him heelies~
~so he could smooth glide~
~through the last few years of his life~
~before he was a number~
~on the wrong list~
~before he was a soldier~
~gone before he was~

~these are a rage~

~# nineteen~
~one nation stands~

~trouble with politicians~
~when their women demand new shoes~
~they are apt to ask what color~
~choose a nation~
~a people~
~name them enemy~
~steal their skin~
~walk first on~
~then in them~
~to hell with penny loafers~

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WordWulf
Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com
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©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

~Reptiles & Dust~