pulsing modern technos
writhed within our minds
but there were no minds
this is why they are named minds

what’s in the backpack?!
tell us please!!

the top was already open
exposed to the elements

on top was a pair of hiking boots
bottoms scuffed a rusty orange
the filthy smudge of a railroad wanderer
sand clinging to the soles
the boots were wet, damp with water
was it recent?
but it had been raining for days
still, maybe.. one.. two days’ old?

under the mysterious boots
was a black t-shirt
clumped into a loose ball of fabrics
i pulled the shirt out of the backpack
and observed it was caked
with damp muds and sands
with a quick
..>SNAP!<..
i shook the shirt out
to cleanse its earthy contaminants

and the chipmunk
startled at the sudden motion and sound
vanished from view
a slight waver in the aires stilled over that rock
where the chipmunk had been just moments before

i grinned
i chuckled
i noticed the t-shirt was inside-out

the contents of the shirt were racy
sexual in nature
i’m going to spare you the details

and at the bottom of the backpack
was a collection of cans:
coconut water, orange juice, a single beer,
and an empty coffee cup
and i was puzzled because
this was not the abandoned backpack of an alcoholic

i looked about
but there was no one
no hobo
asleep upon the beach
no hiker
along that desolate path
no body
floating face down in the lake
no campsite
of some homeless saint
just the backpack
that wasn’t there last week
and i trembled
along with my chipmunk friend
at something new under the sun

praise
to the mountain
trees carpeting her fertile slopes

praise
to the trees
green finery’d by abundant springtime rains

praise
to the insects
within mossy branches interlope

praise
to that nameless, absent one
when wilt thou awaken from thy slumber?

and i went down
down, down
down to the sodden lowland waters
to converse with the nixie sprites

and the hanging diamond
spun shivering in the sky
everyone feels lovely
and they don’t know why

you want an investment idea?

diapers
baby formula
coconut creams
to ease the stretch marks
9 months from now
what consequences
of the boredoms of corona lockdown

shut up!!
these judgemental voices in my head
i need to write some stuff down
without your vocal pollution!