Fresh Faced

" Fresh Faced "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Fresh faced
clearly labeled
after coming of age

becoming frozen in space
watching movie trailer clichés
like ill-dated prey
never turning out
in quite the same way

deceptively alienating
profoundly draining
poltergeist bracelets
on ankles speed racing
down tightly packed pages
of credit entanglements

choosing hair and makeup
for acting engagements
from cafe to driveway

being pushed backstage
lacking in education
even in the most
perfect of places

while ferrying around lakes
feeling carbon dated
during acid rains
falling between
Memorial Day
and Labor Day
way way upstate...

Casually Deranged

" Casually Deranged "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Casually deranged
from unusual angles
further and faster

with vertiginous
perspectives
as very much
of a team effort

in unwieldy sheer amounts
and few redundancies
going main stream more sharply

leading into abstraction
like emphasized,
" It's high time! "

primarily by new hires
in striking passages
of civilized society

with tastings
and demonstrations
going on both night-n-day

as movers and shakers
way back in the day
being shocked away
while wondering out loud
about next Wednesday

getting upset
by the nonsensical
not getting enough credit

for nicely realized
false impressions
from artificial intelligence

imitated by first graders
announced on Thursday
as cherished works

going under detention
and interrogation
being redacted
after second grade
blaring music recalibrated...

For The Love

" For The Love "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

For the love
of glancing
toward the sun

with the glowing
hopes of getting
a raise from flaring
galvanic scatterings

having originated
in the gravitational
collapse of a massive
cloud when matter
gathered at the center

then flattened out
into the orbiting disk
of our solar system
within the Milky
Way's inner rim

rotating while converting
hydrogen into helium
releasing neutrinos zooming towards us earthlings

joyously received
via nurturing fields
of spiraling magnetic energy...

A Remodeled Version

" A Remodeled Version "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

A remodeled version
awash in ad hoc
views of modernism

paying homage
to an auction block
of coincidentiality

like evenly spaced
colleagues and neighbors
portrayed in subterranean
mural paintings

as stylized seascapes
with the tides of life
yenning for lunar newness

from a pigeon-eyed
street perspective
across broken concrete

while playing realtime
video feeds of skylines
given over entirely
to the ceremonial sides
of everyday home life
as seen by warm lamp light...

In Transition

" In Transition "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Beings in transition
as " happily ever after "
becomes " now or never "

covertly being told
to " roll over
and play dead "

in order to best cope
with explosively predatorial
emotional overload

like coil-tailed marsupials
hunting for bugs snails and slugs
foraging beneath moonlit eves

rapidly collapsing when attacked
catatonically flopping
non-responsive to prodding

tongues extended
eyes staring fixedly ahead
until predators take their leave

reviving quickly ears wiggling
progressively sheltering
in well-insulated nests

birthing tiny offspring
tenuously crawling in and out
of protective pouches

firmly attaching to teats
then traveling by firmly grasping
onto their mother's backs

highly adapted as scavengers
generally gentle and passive
well after the danger passes...

Hacked Reality

" Hacked Reality "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Hacked reality
with the naïve security
of a highfalutin not exactly

as spooky synchronicity
like leaked top secrets
under the guise
of keeping the peace

radiating sweetness posthumously
with bitterness
seeping past
sodden trappings

imparting blunt drum beats
like arythmic full-tilt
cardiac manic tickings

gone unmonitored
over the top
becoming stuffily opulent

steering clear
of sentimentality
and unbearable whimsy
under condition of anonymity
and confidentiality strictures

mercurially tedious
political posturings
deemed victim free
after abandoning
magical thinking

fleeing fearsomely
while pulling the strings
with no hint of ecstasy

as audiences
standing in masse
warmly smooth sounding
along fanciful spans
of swapped fairy tales..

Scrapping Plans

" Scrapping Plans "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Scrapping plans
provoking
strong reactions
after being scaled back
to the less spectacular

yet extremely valuable
personal dynamics
from the quiver
of Cupid's arrows
while shouting,
" Woo-Hoo!!! "
upon impact
with abandon

after a targeted rematch
of narrowed shafts
for magnanimous
bows of accuracy

as pliant landings
shot through
candy-striped
hula hoops

while aiming heart high
dark blue over white
tumblers encrusted
with silver and gold

stamped and recast
blown into molds
glass protruding
through holes
of glowing
lamp globes
large bulging bubbles
of "blow-over"
tinted with rose

foremost exponents
of art nouveau
as scenic cameos
at the point of contact
pond lilies and grasses
trailing green...

Potent Symbols

" Potent Symbols "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Potent symbols
neither trickery
nor malice
as farcical reality

solely like
fantasy live
being greatly
influenced by
fears of firings

while self-funding studies
based on pure luck
bottoms up
on the up-and-up
double or nothing
left uncovered

becoming unhinged
by a finely tuned
rigged bidding system
full of back-stabbing
yet none of it literal

declarers ruffing
playing a trump
to dummy
leading a club
conceding
a ruff-and-sluff
the jig is up...

Something Akin

" Something Akin "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Something akin
in the vicinity
close in proximity

still infringing
loosely attributed
exquisite in miniature

intricacies deftly twisting
spiraling filigrees
listing separately

pressure and mystery
on the rise
especially troubling

possibilities
like threatening
fiery eruptions

put in harm's way
in fits and starts
like 2 billion
cubic yards of lava

effusively spewing out
in red-hot fountains
accompanied
by giant plumes of ash

as molten magma
cracks through barriers
causing vast floods
of deformation data

dense and harrowing
in between
bellows and shrieks

warped juddering
explosively playing
unaccompanied

all phrasing
and no melody
courageously
trailblazing...

The Rite to See

" The Rite to See "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

The rite to see
all of our modes
of spiritual thinking

as deep curiosities
built on dignity
and in principle
of resting comfortably

attempting to be free
with our trust self-worth
and personal integrity
sleeping calmly
over a long history
of prolonged
life expectancies

after lagging behind haplessly
during opening chapters
of intense practicality
sifting and sorting
distinguishing peculiarities
of universal character

not unlike ready-made answers
of unmasked invisible realities
by taking over our unsatisfactory tasks as controversial matters
like the sexuality
of animals and plants

frequently overlapping
both during times
of plenty and scarcity
propagating philanthropy
rather than supernatural wrath

being dampened by finalities
of theological language
after battling nightmarish giants
diverted by angels of the mourning

appearing on gossamer wings
as throngs of benevolent
messengers coalescing
on streaming crepuscular rays
as a hallowed dawn breaks...

Close to Zero

" Close to Zero "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Close to zero
fading to gray
in key plays
of muted shades

like standard navy
for policy makers
ruled by glaring mistakes
and narrow escapes

on the outer flanks
of gaseous landscapes
from the meltwater of elsewhere
as chief indicators
escalating in non-linear ways
after making mission statements

more often to blame
for spontaneous mutations
sounding flippant to say,
" Gone well beyond expectations! "
while bemoaning randomness at play

undercutting reputations
by questioning the causation
of uncontrolled growth
provoking volcanic correlations
to mere approximations
when devastating
earthquakes take place...

Taking Up a Measure

" Taking Up a Measure "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Taking up a measure
by paying last respects
to those being laid to rest

after taking standardized tests
as an assessment
of immeasurable intelligence

yet going on the defensive
by craning necks
and debating the merits
of single mindedness

in reams of self-taught
bedazzlingly pleasing selfies
like unexplainable brain waves
coursing over retainers

rounding out donations
solely on public grant making
becoming negated
by private foundations

strictly by invitation
when solicitation
brings greater fame
along with lessening acclaim...

Gazing Out

" Gazing Out "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Gazing out
preternaturally
spinning around
on a steam-powered
merry-go-round

seated on a bucking
putty-colored bunny
ears flopping
fur flying

as a heady profile
rotating clockwise
through strobing
white lights

swan benches gliding
bald eagles flying
ceramic palominos galloping
in cacophonous herds of horses

manically circling in rings
beneath behemoth big tops
tenting a flying trapeze
and hopping trained fleas

after exhaling forcefully
using hocus-locus
rollers and balls

unequivocally
tagging along
circling the wagons
with wooden nags...

Generous to a Fault

" Generous to a Fault "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Generous to a fault
paying homage
via soap opera proxies
as lingering feelings
within the beguilingly
soft-spoken dialogues
of bilingual compromising

while hoofing in well-adapted
ballet can-canning romantics
maintaining rhyming patterns
in loving passages
from back stories

good bad or middling
earthy gritty works
looking westward
eastward homeward
and inward

intensely personalized
versions of artworlders
blissfully squirm-free
ample gifts and abilities

receiving resources
well beyond the norm
shirting across
high-polished floors
of grand ballrooms

having been tiptoeing
since scratch
looking and thinking
convincingly
atop cutting-edged easels

mimicking ship prows
cutting through the waves
symbolizing spherical landscapes
like saucer-eyed waifs
striving to keep pace
while hand painting plot lines
topping out during flood tide...

In a Debut

" In a Debut "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

In a debut
of newly
streaming
opportunities

bending and turning
uncommonly
full of feeling

while miming
precisely
during quieter times

all grown up
rock solid
sensitive partnerings

after being given
a run-for-the-money
during close ups
of push ups

as allegorical
aerial acts
by affable
befezzed elephants

attempting to help
pelicans in distress
with giant rescue nets...

Newly Reconstituted

" Newly Reconstituted "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Newly reconstituted
prominent groups
swooping and dipping
into unsteady revenues

flubbed at the end
falling under the spell
of unlucky brevity
for poetic potentials
as newly gathered assets

packing punches
across mercurial
structures
swirling and sinking
with epiphanic
volatility

percussively
up swinging
tantamount
to pure theater

indiscriminately
perpetuating myth
at great risk
of last-ditch
contradiction

squaring off
over issues
after taking it
on the chin
by alarmed critics
with potent
concoctions
of stiff upper lips
becoming
lacking in tautness...

Slightly Memoirish Unique Finds

" Slightly Memoirish Unique Finds "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Slightly memoirish
unique finds
coming to you live

perceived as misleading
yet especially promising
judging from the response
of the avant-garde

against an everyday backdrop
kicking around
and angstily biting back
in a puckish act

crying, "Sacrilege!"
while rising to the bait
of a social media age

within jazz's ranks
while writing liner notes
for app essays

portrayed as note-by-note
composed appropriation
after going on a rampage
across the printed pages
of big names...

Entire Wings

" Entire Wings "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Entire wings
of 50/50
hindsight

wearily tallied
among dabblers
still hung in the balance
without grasping
the well meaning
of various reasonings

largely due to whispering
soft headedly while living
hardly picturesquely
being burnished by graffiti

all along all-year seasons
having been set up recently
as shortsightedly as a single-
stroke drumroll ultimately hindered
by thick-headed so-and-sos

going sonorously solo
as a baritone sounding tattered
in a last-minute cast unveiled
approaching stinted grandeur
while lacking palpable personality

with a disparate history
that came and went
from croon to rasp
along multiple paths
of the past
by file sharing
at first glance

sexed up
pared down
stripped away
out of touch
all oiled
from the waist up

puckering up
up close
face and makeup
abstract
from far away
growing pains
into coveted places

combining old old sayings:
"Behind every great man
is a great woman"
and "Behind every
great fortune
is a great crime"

being likened
to a drive-in-drive-by
steered by former
husbands and wives

coming to mind
both rambling
and disorganized
while running
for their lives
hands-clasping
bye-byes
to Auld Lang Syne...

Marchin' in Hi-Topped Galoshes

" Marchin' in Hi-Topped Galoshes "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Marchin' in hi-topped
galoshes
of the, " Oh my gosh! "

seemingly poised
for a record snowfall
in a recall
by storm trackers
all in the wrong

leading to
long-ignored
forecasts
sealed off
like unsurveiled
puzzle masters

after downloading
free apps
with satellite
info gaps

secretly clamoring
for covert handovers
of gross amounts
of snow shovel
leftovers
gone into overload

negotiated pro bono
versus quid pro quo
'til the faux pas
blow over
in post simulations
of snow blowers...

Already on Its Second Wave

" Already on Its Second Wave "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Already on its second wave
under a double bill
of used to be or could still be

keeping conviction alive
as the most probably alike
long-form improv drawn
on the stomp swerve and whipsaw
of a loosely written life story

neither an "auto" nor a "bio"
side show mock revival
barreling along
across a dance floor
where bands jam
with counter programs
of the before and after

in hard boiled soft shoes
and schematic tap-taps
of pocket-sized commandments
while tacking between
seamy streets and hushed precincts

with a taste for the hunt
becoming slippery and treacherous
by dipping in and out
of the still-in-print unwitting prowess

having been cleverly reissued
with a scholarly heir
hard bound colored by hand...

Nearing the Limit

" Nearing the Limit "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Nearing the limit
of the poorest
and the sickest
all across porous borders

unconverging in hyper-
disconnected worlds
as slowed searches
for lessons learned

while daylight returns
earlier and earlier
to a whirling
northern Earth

long before the talk
of a thaw or the last straw
based on true-to-life stories
hurrying along like new life forms

garbed in pale mints
and diaphanous mauve floras
augmented by quizzically
magisterial faunas

tantalizingly plausible
like principle sources
of DNA crisscrossing
in spindles and looms

spun as strands
of balanced
rhythmic vitality
and creative intrigue

suffused with buoyancy
of folkloric cores
bobbing across borders
streaming with fulfilling discourses...

Every Which Way

" Every Which Way "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Every which way
more ambitions
and many-layered
multifaceted
considerations

small but rich
not just one
in particular

as silk summer renditions
of here comes the sun
immensely subtle
under cloud covers

in response to air currents
surviving in great numbers
as studies of shaded
blossoms and trees

famous for rich holdings
like golden pods of pollen
releasing into greening fields
below low vaporous ceilings

shown as profusely
coagulating dew
revelling petal
by velvety petal

given great attention
shadowless
perpetual effervescence...

Reset at Intermission

" Reset at Intermission "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Reset at intermission
after seeping up
from beneath
the orchestra seats

with squeegees
at the ready
as special effects
from rapture to regret

for a temptress
with a reticence
and uncloying
sweetness

as lashes bat
up against azure
eye shadow
with brain-
jarring effects

while binge
watching
boxed sets
of Mr. Magoo
and Mr. Ed too

faring far better
than open-ended
matter-of-factness
with a lineup to match

compressed and detailed
from shady pasts
in hardcore bands

pulling antics
of dark vulgarity
and open-bar packages

paid in advance
during a lap dance
in a giddy tangle
woofers a pumpin'...

Onward to the Utmost

" Onward to the Utmost "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Onward to the utmost
fragility in a dead
reckoning with history

blisteringly angry
with everything gripping
especially with the middle finger

engagingly wrapped
around a sweaty glass
gotten well in hand

grasped mug and handle
chock full of suds
bubbling like none other

yet holding its head
intriguingly unsteadily
after getting caught in a draft

swigged hit-or-miss
lose and absurdist
undisguised like
apocalyptic high jinks

so to speak
while tweaking
hops and barley

simultaneously sipping
brimming margaritas
rock salt on rims

spying stiff celery sticks
poking out of potent
glasses of Bloody Mary's

pouring over over shaken
Mimosas as makeovers
going going gone

removed from the roster
flipped over into the rather-soggy
after playing multiple
buttered-up roles old chum...

Ratings Bounces

" Ratings Bounces "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Ratings bounces
slapping spoons
on the bottoms
of copper
pots and pans

"Who's been
eating my porridge?"
boiled in milk or water
as well-received
legume mealy
encores for Goldilocks

conked out
with comedic chops
in a backwoods
one-room cottage
with acne
glasses and braces

showing off full ranges
getting hammered pregame
while tailgating as a teenager
behaving like a wild lady
after swaggering
to the free-buffet table
for some personal favorites

becoming overheated
overly long and kitschy
while hitting the sweet spot
of hilarity with quicksilvery
mercurial qualities

unsettlingly vivid
yet garishly downcast
after getting lost
in the slag
achingly unmannered
like fractured fairy tales
just bearly there...

Offered Presciently

" Offered Presciently "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Offered presciently
intermittently
as a romper
rather than a thriller

yet all-too-frequently
becoming casualties
of the way-too-scary
family entertainment

moving onto other
better things
unflinchingly
like voice teachers
reading Tweets

waking up early
like singled-out
garment steamers
fully acknowledging
senses of equity
assessing unexpected
wrinklings of full-blown egos
being pressed into empathy

after well-tempered
palate cleansings
minus bitter defense
mechanisms
from the assigned
taste buds

during free-streaming feeds
while spouting resolutions
on New Year's Eve
like synchronized falling balls
used as noise makers
pluck your magic twanger
froggie poof...

Wondering What ?!

" Wondering What ?! "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Wondering what ?!
well wonder no more
just a' sidlin' up to a whisper

in a line up of quieter
prior times like annual rites
before and after midnight

on again off again
after putting up
with being put down

armed exclusively
with ukuleles
and humor

no more no less
singalong and singsongy
whether I'm right
or whether I'm wrong

comme ci comme ca
pip-pip cheerio
stiff upper lip
and all that rot

as in semi-official lyrics
leading to unreason
entirely by third parties

while easy listenin'
within graying
legal vicinities
of inexperience

clownin' around
then escalating
into rough housing
in safe houses

as the walls
come 'a tumblin' down
over-n-out 10-4 chow...

May Seem Like Palm Reading

" May Seem Like Palm Reading "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

May seem
like palm reading
or maybe
even tea leaves

deciphering which
of the 43
muscles of the face
indicate seven
core emotions

happiness, surprise
contempt, disgust
sadness, anger & fear

becoming blind
to the findings
of clinical trials

said this/but felt that
as motivational tactics
like happy-go-lucky
versus give-and-take

equated like low-grade
frustration for the biggest names
by sharing credit card information

freely and playfully
in makeshift situations
while on location lately

as self-deprecating
as the better-able
with amazing résumés

being already claimed
during hunkerings down
on analysts' couches
after long raucous nights' out...

Set 'Em Up

" Set 'Em Up "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Set 'em up
primed with bubbles
being holed up
on both coasts
all for a toast

arguably the world's most
spruced-up consolation
glasses raised up to a clink
all for the relief of an angsty
up-and-coming New Year's Eve

as an identity relief
for the far-right-wing
abruptly swinging
far left metronomically
dipping pita into hummus
the consistency of peanut butter

conjuring up clementine struggles
at Sunday Brunch from a food truck
offering virtuous mac and cheese
served up with a bit o' virgin bubbly
kissed with raspberry touches
in a vain attempt to sober up
post going out on a bender...

All Fun and Games on Christmas Day

"All Fun and Games
on Christmas Day"

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

All fun and games
on Christmas Day
wrapped around
a bit of history
still remarkable today

like cabaret tables
as unpolished
yet spirited
interpretations
of the day-to-day

perfectly named
high-pointed letters
as slang on a "hard-
scrabbled" board game

advancing past
the early days
of "Chutes
and Ladders"
and "Candy Land"

onto the "Boardwalk"
and "Park Place"
after getting
out of jail free

while driving spiritedly
through the game of, "Life"
as a getaway from a "Twister" game

in full avoidance
of a "Trivial Pursuit"
proceeding without a "Clue"
neither dagger nor noose

yet scoring
a cumulatively
dicey "Yahtzee"
calling out "Uno"
as opposed
to laying down
a full house...

In an About-Face

" In an About Face "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

In an about-face
a face off
of lost rawness

turned off
in a stand up
of work
as yet to be done

during flurries
of re-construction
after being gutted
as comeuppance
for losing face

while standing
at the ready
post nip and tuck
plus double eye lids
of a once-popular culture

facing V-shapes
and punch lines
voiding stereotypes
like liposuction
and fat grafts

being left in stitches
from a face lift
feeling crestfallen
reading mean-
spirited comic strips

as unfulfilled
as wish lists
becoming
bucket lists
versus to-do lists

given a lascivious
wink-wink
replete with crow's
feet
spreading apocalyptically...

It Is Perhaps

" It Is Perhaps "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

It is perhaps
surprisingly irresistible
like Christmas grist

entirely fitting
as the spitting image
doing well to skip ahead

Tweet ready
arranged alphabetically
with rigor and readability

becoming narratives
using the pronouns
"we" "us" and "our"

like communal
linguistic patterns
correlated with carols

ancient grammar
musically detailed
quiveringly quilled

spiritual lyrics
burgeoning glee
on this joyous eve

humming buzzing
fizzing spilling over
fine and noble...

A Turntable on the Sidewalk

" A Turntable on the Sidewalk "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

A turntable
on the sidewalk
78 45 33 1/3

as fictionalized
versions of everything
turn turn turn

skipping needles
warped vinyl disks
of misassumptions

filling in the grooves
with noir movie music
spinning inextricably

arms lifting and lowering
glancing over rotating notes
worth lingering over

pigeons wheeling overhead
dogs dozing dreamily
across the street

with uncanny intimacy
while peering down
at the ground glass

a hand-held camera
down a two-way avenue
partly groomed by the viewer

in a before-and-after
schematic flipping back
to smoldering anger

almost too much
to take in off the record
and then some keynotes struck...

Coming in Handy

" Coming in Handy "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Coming in handy
like unpursued
unalloyed happiness

traveling on
automatic pilot
while cruising
over periods of time

almost like
boxed hobbies
shrink wrapped
in clear
plastic packages

escaping the charades
and debasements
when coming of age
in a myriad of ways

minus the means
of profiting royally
from carefully
anachronous sales

like paying a king's ransom
for toothpaste ads
highlighted by sparkling
pearly whites

being likened
to monumental
dental archives
with over bitten
toothy grins
on scantily clad
magician's assistants

doing card tricks
and pulling pigeons
out of handkerchiefs
while making rabbits
appear and disappear
in top hats

right after being sawn in half
with the music blaring
from an oompah band
slight-of-hand, "abracadabra"...

Crossed Oceans and Valleys

" Crossed Oceans and Valleys "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Crossed oceans
and valleys
peering out
at the not-yet-
encountered
detractors

as purveyors
of strictly nomadic
wayfaring
hackneyed
and played out

but no matter
like unapologetic
infatuation
for snoring
passengers

inexorably dreaming
along rural backwaters
heralded at predawn
spinning off
without second thoughts

in lieu of posh resorts
reeking of boredom
from international airports
whisked off to dilapidated
cabins in remotest Alaska

caught napping
during ill-conceived
secrecy
for the extremely naïve
beaming
with trivialized psyches

seemingly so
much more
innocent abroad
after nodding off
without warning,
"Wake up
Little Suzy
Wake up" ...

Offhandedly Over-Curlicued

" Offhandedly Over-Curlicued "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Offhandedly over-curlicued
lifelong nicknames
of, "all-this-and-more
for good-ol-boys"

direct and to the point
more clearly
than the eye scan see
while gatekeeping
at galleries

being anointed
by a lack of talent
as incrementally
hand-held
pathbreaking members

tellingly in dizzying detail
famously displayed
in disarray
as minimal exaggerations

printed indistinguishably
within raw ditches
mimicking late-life
metamorphoses

not as searchingly
as they may have been
like conflicts of interest
for instance,
"alley oop boop
boop boop boop
alley oop boop
boop boop boop"...

Edited Excerpts

" Edited Excerpts "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Edited excerpts
at the ready
for the community-
centric stylish
references

as far as investing
in the impressive
kid-friendly
quintessentially
family remembrances

soft and pleasant
high overhead
whooping and swooping
down steep powdery
mountains

with smoke-signal clouds
from cafeteria chow
well down the valley
after heading out of bounds

snaking for hours
across wakes of gravel
scaling famed passes
followin' arrows
while comin'
'round the mountain

whoa back
wipers slapping
'gainst floating powder
tip/waist/tail
added power and dampness
heated mitt styles also available

plus easier slope access
with tubing lanes
berms and banks
for moonlight
snowshoeing
during guided tours

going straight
for the salt-water taffy
sold by the pound
for the frugal traveler

staying
out of town
becoming
snowbound,
"Let it snow
let it snow
let it snow
let it snow
let it snow"...

Cosmopolitan Charm

" Cosmopolitan Charm "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Cosmopolitan charm
not an oxymoron
where trails are the stars

just getting started
by skipping the lifts
uphill downhill
while hiking sky high

becoming subject
to availability
like transit tips
for the intrepidly
twisting and bendy
in yoga adventures

floating in poses
that topple over
offered off the slopes
soaking in mineral-
rich springs

based on double
occupancy
in a one-horse
open sleigh
lined with bouquets
from both bob sleds
and dog sleds

where synthetic
socks are essential
especially by the end
of the fourth lesson
in snow pants

after navigating
a flaky fracas
throughout
the holidays,
" fa la la la la
la la la la "...

Coming to Mind

" Coming to Mind "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Coming to mind
past
the scheduled
starting time
of two-
of-a-kind recitals

rapidly widening
into wily
side shows
sticking
to the precisely
unrecognizable

daintily ill-conceived
as structured
uncertainty
giddily hazy
quietly radiant

dappled
by the faintness
of deconstructed
states

simultaneously
both grandiose
and mundane
during staged
pickup games

pitching this way
and that way
after being shot
high into the air
like a grand slam

smashed
like a splintered
bat becoming
dithery
and unhinged

as tattered flags
flapping
runners rapidly
rounding home
frantically panting...

Pivoting in Quiet Mode

" Pivoting in Quiet Mode "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Pivoting
in quiet mode
close up
in a collapsing
cloud of anti-matter

where radiation
is lacking
within the vacuum
of heavy atoms

being pulled outward
by a sorrowful past
where amnesty
was absent
and freedom invalid

largely free-standing
as footprints
and fingerprints
of history

stiffer than glass
and steel still jarring
in the offing
like misbegotten
lollipops
and hit-or-miss
firearms

consigned to oblivion
with bullets whizzing
while would-be
ass•ass•ins
are transfixed
by misfired
delusional wishes...

All Fairy Tale and Filigree

" All Fairy Tale and Filigree "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

All fairy tale
and filigree
indulge me

running fingers
reflexively
yet frettingly
over the length
of a hem

contagiously
fist pumping
with strangers
wearing pear-
shaped solitaires
on gold bands
on the second finger
of their left hands

bodies encased
in spandex
after hitting
the racks
in anticipation
of marriage

being staged
at a craft fair
betrothed
arriving
in a glinting
stretch limousine

neon hubcaps
a-gleamin'
woofers a-thumpin'
in speakers

as maids of honor
march in high-heeled
sneakers and best men
step in patent leather

loving trudging
through accumulating
fake snow flakes
while jingling
jangly bracelets

upon entering into a pop-
up chapel space
past newly tuck-pointed
brick-and-mortar walls

heads veiled in crinoline
waists circumferenced
by cummerbunds
open to the public...

Presumably Via a Back Door

"Presumably Via a Back Door "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Presumably via a back door
loosely attached
while tearing up in a chat

yet still a rarity beyond odd
grunts and wheezes
that no one wants to hear

beneath vaulted ceilings
plunging through trap doors
as pools start to form

swallowing up
patches of floors
in a full-court press
performed in drill halls

seen scrambling barefoot
beneath leafless trees
braying and barking

on and on and on
with a lot more at stake
than the mere
deployment of batons

with both subtlety and nuance
while vacuously and obsessively
repeating, "beats me, beats me,
beats me, beats me, beats me"...

A Wee Bit 'o' History

" A Wee Bit 'o' History

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

A wee bit 'o' history
found in the wilds
highly hybridized varieties

feathered dark
orange scarlet
carmine-red

yellow centers
brilliant edges
intense emperor

faint fragrance
star shaped
fern-red flames

silvery gray
luscious shades
often flanked
by the fully-acclaimed
in vivid re-creations

award-winning
glistening sheens
huge deep
Anemone splendor

gleaming essence
spreading luminescence
phosphorescent accents
deep dressed rich beds
well-balanced blends...

Full Uncensored Versions

" Full Uncensored Versions "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Full uncensored versions
one step removed
from bugs in hotel rooms
ordered by The Bureau
for national security

getting four movies
instead of three
out of a trilogy
without seeming grabby
while reaching critical mass

who needs a gumshoe
with little scruples
for old-school scrutiny
built on conspiracy theories
already obsolete

lamented early on
as the waning
of a beloved genre
like cops n' robbers in noir

clearly in conflict
with anything
unethical whatsoever
especially when
wagering on yourself

as a tossup to integrity
shaving points
and throwing games
in a win-win situation
of insider information

a pie in the face
demonstrating
finicky natures
while instigating
arms races
for fund raisers

with reputations at stake
at the donor station
" Please give today! "
without explanation...

All in One

" All in One "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

All in one
as old fashioned
as trial-and-error

exacting the expansive
"whereas" as a truly-rare
rambler never getting
talked about
or ever imagined

like common sense
having disqualified itself
from serious effort

while anti-science
and anti-intellectual types
become entrusted
with blockbuster big budgets

tragically riveting
courtesfully listening
seriously committed
to extraordinary convictions

yet electing to be unhelpful
during midterm elections
rife with misspellings
plus attempts at re-direction

re-written in suicide letters
vaguely redacted
in the last paragraph
having gone unchallenged...

An Occasional Winged Creature

" An Occasional Winged Creature "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

An occasional winged creature
soaring in a limitless expanse
beneath an illusionistic ceiling
of scant opportunity
however lavishly
challenged values

subject to canons on canvas
accompanied by swarming cupids
intimate in scale becoming cramped
with individual fancies

gaining vast misunderstandings
of hardly surprising facts
after remedying major catastrophes
and overindulging in narrative gusto

far more gifted and rigorous
as absorbed influences
of intrinsic wit and wisdom

through the subtle
subconsciousness
shifts of emphasis
reaching full expression

layered with amorous inventiveness
plus personal pleasures
radiating in every direction
generating emotional tension
without precedent

unposed and uncropped
phenomenons virtually beyond
the frequently startling
tarnished armor

behind a facade
of disarming neutrality
facing a sign reading,
"SAVE" in giant letters
of "S" "A" "V" "E"

displayed in a barren landscape
as cults vainly seek salvation
through the deep blues
of backup groups

lacking in compassion
cheaper and less demanding
petering out...over-and-out...

Here at Last

" Here at Last "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Here at last
the should 'a hads
and could 'a beens

nevertheless managing
foreshortened scenes
on portions of tapestries

strange as it may seem
monumentally picturesque
as growing tendencies
pinpointed exactly

while seeking to rally
eloquent details
by becoming dense
and fanciful
compact samplings

framed by a cap of curls
somewhat lacking
against a flat background

yet at long last
unsurpassed in practice
looming largely
like spiritualized ideals
being warped
woofed and weaved...

Taken for Granted

" Taken for Granted "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Taken for granted
too individual
for an ideal type

as sight and insight
blessed and damned alike
fascinated by light

evenly divided
pictorially rich
culturally solid

rhythmically linked
dissimilarly
dynamic figures

seen in convex mirrors
like the day-to-day experience
of healthy energetic beings

not disembodied spirits
evoking exquisite
voluptuousness

lose and flexible sanctioning
by ancient precedents
of the not-necessarily

comparability
in its brevity
soft elastic fleshy

pictorially didactic
coquettish damsels
as stylistic vocabulary

bravely faced
intensely humane
turbulently
painful assimilations

sweeping landscapes
centuries later
through pedimented
opaque window frames
of perpetual arcades...

Facing the Unknown

" Facing the Unknown "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-
Mom Suzán

Facing the unknown
boldly foreshadowed
as no such thing
becoming
increasingly varied
like artistic advantages
on a grand scale
of the far-more complicated
in character and appearance
with far-too-few reliable clues
being turned inside out
and upside down at the peak
of harmonious completeness
projected less incessantly
discreetly lessened
to the point of greatest stress
then upwelled by counter stresses
all to majestic effect
swelling with the softness
of a living body in high relief
further enhanced
by caressing treatments
commemorating victory
cast as intangible reality
strange as it may seem
into the light of history
coinciding with a vast
literary legacy
traced by amazement
made up of the psychological
nakedness of not knowing
how to behave
after staking a claim
on the faithful at the fate
of flux and fusion
while trying to trace
evolution
through a single oculus
replete with outer rings
along longitudinal axes
strung out
along U-shaped paths
of continuous narration
succeeding like edicts
for rapid recovery
extraordinarily organic
and graceful semblances
of spiritual three dimensionally
at the center of gravity
forming interlacing patterns
of far-more-lasting fascinations
that whorl and zigzag...

By the Narrowest of Margins

" By the Narrowest of Margins "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán

By the narrowest of margins
evolving into the monumental
derived from prophesies
uniquely still standing
with ornamental detail
as slender shafts setting sail
across scattered masses
of uninhabited lands
seen at first glance
like wide variations in scale
however incongruously
redefined during bullfights
of religious lives
for methodically
and mythologically
one-eyed giants
flanked by lions
in symmetrical designs
while mixing Doric and Ionic
Olympian gods
with Homeric sagas
culminating in very human qualities...