a tenuous relationship to reality......................
little plastic toys lay beside me on the floor........a female mechanical doll with two bobbing heads........in order to avoid being crunched........Her two inflated faces........ at a console that displayed........kept running.......too many variables......."damage control," she whispered seductively........in the cracks between the keys........The sun began to shine on the screen of my Toshiba........ in search of gingerale.......in the slow moving stream........licking herself as the sun went down........ the lopsided smile that confronted me....... sweet small creature - pure heart of gold - Theadora........ glimpsed in the lobby .......on her sweet white feline face........in search of the missing components......... in other nightmares........I shouted at him across the table........a tenuous relationship to reality........ The dream was so vivid that I almost believed .......at night.......I had already played the song twice........Have you so easily forgotten?........ curled at the edges........still damp from a long series of rainy days........a rocky impediment........ I got up to get a beer........

the cabin where we were working................
pate chaud de poularde........ the stain remained........ to purchase more beer........in the area where the water meets the sand......... like a miner crouched by Cripple Creek.........crystal goblets unexpectedly at midnight.........open one and drink it.................new leaves hotbot green........the last login statistics........touching and yet separate........when the desert gives way to the mountains........listening for the sounds of his enemies........and at night, trailing their families......."We tender this premium beer..."........like the links in this screen........while the broken chair filled with snow........ to the woodpile four times...............touching and yet separate........when the desert gives way to the mountains........and at night, trailing their families........new leaves hotbot green........"We tender this premium beer...".......like the links in this screen........while the broken chair filled with snow........ to the woodpile four times................It was September........We called him Jerry.........as if she had never been gone........ if the location was changed........or so it seemed.......in the separate nests................on a blue enamel plate................ too many coats of varnish........a helpless passenger while they play opera loudly........ Talk endlessly of their adventures................another beer........a shade darker........imprinted with cacti and cowboy boots................the circle of light................unexpected woodland events.........traces of supernatural activity expected in other eras.........an otherworldly glass of beer.........set into a decaying tree trunk.........the cabin where we were working......... fresh cream, chopped parsley from the garden.........the calming circular movement of my wooden spoon........like picking columbine or wild blue asters.........the visual gap left by the departed beer.........before you drank it.........as if on the same server our minds were somehow linked.........forgot to note in the log.........open one and drink it................. his arm around my shoulders.........traces of a childhood accident........stalking an intruder on cyberwire.org......... Unconcerned by my observation.........Or, had he been there all along.........undecipherable on his otherwise soft brown face.........in the shadow of slowly leaching tailings ponds......... they scattered when I tried to approach.........Only a computer could fathom.........too close to the Interface......When I tried to touch them they always fled.........the aftertaste of fresh oysters.........In the old days, of course.........like Anchor Steam beer rapidly traversing........on a ledge above the trail.........the interplay of natural forces......... The eggplant and cheese on my cold pizza.........It was raining again.........remembering champagne, a newly mowed green lawn.........I watched him emerge from the red door.........He was wearing a white shirt......... in the early morning,.........and touched my hand as I talked.........the way my body responded.........The water glowed......... I think about you all the time.........I moved closer to him.........no clock beside our bed.........

hunting and gathering in cyberspace
............through the black earth of cyberspace.......no one had posted since Friday........have to log on........embodied on antique dot matrix printers........that afternoon........the first stone........lay naked and exposed on the system........the details of cgi scripting.......in response I pictured........probably extrapolating from Milton's online persona.....in the proper places, please....... dragging me under the funding found to preserve endangered species surface........ At that hour, she too would run @who........ at the core of my job satisfaction........ hunting and gathering in cyberspace........ extensive passages of discordant voices........ truncated dark days........ a pear shaped man with surprisingly bad teeth........ "Is she gone a lot?" I mumbled........ plastic cars and trucks of many vintages........ the heat from my just opened email........ as they furiously uploaded........ the latest upgrades,........ continually unwrapping them........ circled on miniature tracks....... Dogs barked in the background........ beginning with a bang........ merged with the screen for days........ the meaning of their names........ the daily in and out flow........

in the relentless heat
..................I lingered while he collected........so like each other as to be interchangeable........shone on the rows of aftershave.......the endless aisles of Home Depot........ around a small uneasy face........traces of toothpaste foam........his hands expertly opening.......in the relentless heat ........just outside the walls of Octatillo........the temperature of the bath water in the hotel........white enamel plaques with black lettering........in a crowded notebook........just outside the walls ........Don't bother me now ........while my files lay unattended........so as to hide my hips ........between shopping centers........the smell of the fresh asphalt........under the table........tortilla chips, bowls of fresh salsa........beside the tostada salad........etched in the center of the aluminum clip........the lettuce is limp........routinely melting in the 110 degree August sun........revealing white hairy feet........the flabby remains of once prominent muscles........on whom his gaze lingered.........superimposed on natural disasters........watched while I shredded the lettuce........the place where my finger was cut.......To be on the safe side, ........was running out of control........go out and look ........the defective water main lay exposed ........a prexisting peach colored sink........on the sidetable.......slammed shut behind him........"See if you can delay him."........ On the doorstep was the curator........taking with him the sound........under the bourgainvilla ........dumped his clothes out.......like the old song says........"Hot day, isn't it?"........

together in the places
.................. surrounded by ancient computers........ where the current was slow........ in perpetual motion.......The stranger from a town named Mountain View........(waiting to be organized)........on the pages of these irregular calendars.......the odor of spagetti sauce........hot water slowly........somewhere on Route 49.......the toilet bowl rim that only men see........(waiting to be organized)........on the pages of these irregular calendars.......and when my back is turned they steal my firewood........re: seeking continuous feed paper........the words with which the message began........ but their voices were not audible........the old kind - perforated........coming together like a man and a woman........ a matter of the past........something lying ahead........not always obvious to the emperor........together in the places.......bluegreen-backgrounded paths........

.......they whispered back
.................."Legalize this technology," they whispered back........... like blink-tagged phrases.......continually unable to connect to its provider....... making the motions of writing in my notebook........exposing its rusted underbelly........ bearing a brown bag ........his bitter watery coffee vicariously......'a space forever........was gone........"Little girl, will you get me some water?"........the raised red button........creating a twilight semi-darkness........the unmistakable clatter........ without a mask........ white animals of indeterminate species........against the wall........grown enormous on mice and human handouts........a lingering smell of urine........"You noticed that?"........ the water froze on the surface........to the still frozen ground near the river bank......... childlike cries of the hyena pack........like polished chrome........too close to the Interstate........a not exactly full stop........the sound of an unanswered telephone........uninvited guests swarmed........money for beer........so many mistakes........her hands on spinning clay.......the difficulties of acquiring hardware........imprinted with pink orchids........throwing up in the sink........I began to drink........