ONLY DOGS

GO TO
HEAVEN
A selection of poems from 2011-2013
Ken!ll S"!rpe
Ne!r t"is Spot
!re eposite t"e #em!ins of one
$"o possesse %e!&t' $it"o&t V!nit'(
Stren)t" $it"o&t *nsolence(
+o&r!)e $it"o&t ,erocit'(
!n !ll t"e -irt&es of .!n $it"o&t "is Vices/
T"is pr!ise( $"ic" $o&l 0e &nme!nin) ,l!tter'
if inscri0e o-er "&m!n As"es(
is 0&t ! 1&st tri0&te to t"e .emor' of
%o!ts$!in( ! Do)
- Lor %'ron( Epit!p" to ! Do) 213034
This collection is dedicated to the memory of Valli and Ralphie and
every other dog, too gentle and kind to live forever.
Leaving
Spe!5ers cr!c5le
! minor c"or f!lls
mo-in) col&mns of !ir
* s"ift(
from fort"
to fift"/
T"e cl&tc" 1!ms o$n
t"e 0e!t 0&ils &p/

A r&m roll
$it" ! 6&!rter note 5ic5
re!s7 +A8T*ON 8NEVEN
9AVE.ENT/
So&n s"!5es t"e cit'-im!)e in t"e re!r-ie$ mirror !n
! f!mili!r fe!r f!lls
into t"e pool of m' stom!c"/
t"e cit' is still t"ere
e-en $"en * le!-e it is still t"ere
)ro$n &p$!r !n o&t$!r/
Drunk
An !pp!rition
5eepin) &p !ppe!r!nces/
*:m !s tr!nsp!rent
!s m'
!r)&ments

ie ! t"o&s!n times
0&t onl' once i * e-er tr'
! moel of t"e moern m!n
! fortress of stoicism
;it" onl' one rin5 o$n/
*:-e )ot ! "e!rt so "e!-'
it 0ens t"e tr&t"
! con-e< lens to reflect
t"e li)"tness of 0ein)/
Sober
Li)"t 0ens !n
0re!5s into prisms/
Yo& c!n slo$ it o$n
eno&)" to see
t"e m!ss of li)"t
c!n s"ift ! sc!le 0et$een
!0stention
!n
cle!r li6&ors
in t"ic5 $!lle )l!sses
t"ro&)" clo&e "e!s
conensin) noise
into tro&0le t"o&)"ts/
*t:s t"e m!ss of li)"t/
*ts inform!tion(
)r!-it'(
! &ni-ers!l const!nt/
*t:s ! cert!in t"in)
T"!t:s ne-er re!ll' cert!in/
*t:s somet"in) entirel' ifferent/
Maintain
,or "ope !n tr&st
! c!)e( t"r&st in
to cont!in( not
correct/
A st!)e( m!5e it 5no$n/
*f t"e son)s ce!se
$e "!-e )one too f!r
!n lost o&r $!'/
Carlile Crawl
S"o&te intro&ctions(
pieces of con-ers!tion
o-er"e!r/ I have
a boyfriend.
%!sement 0l!c5ness
0ro5en 0' t"e li)"ts
0' t"e 0!n
"e!-' 0re!t"in)/
S"e s!'s( I was only
having fun.
s$e!tin)= 0oies
!re met/
Orange Juice & Toothpaste
Spit s"ine m' 0! t"o&)"ts
till t"e' sp!r5le=
#e)rets>
S$!p spit to si)n!l
! 0r!n ne$ !ftert!ste
t"!t lin)ers- not lon)/
Lon) eno&)"(
lon)er t"!n t"e ni)"t/
t"e mornin) t!stes li5e
Or!n)e ?&ice !n Toot"p!ste/
I've Seen The Creeper
T"e s"!o$ cre!t&re
$"o $!l5s
or cr!$ls
on t"e $!lls
*:-e "e!r t"e $"isper
! ir)e( fleetin)
repe!tin)
t"ro&)" st!tic
li5e "!ns on m' c"est
0re!t"less
*:-e seen T"e +reeper
A solit!r' li)"t
o0sc&re/
I Becae a Boar
felt t"e f!n)s te!r m' )&ms
&p t"ro&)" m' lips/
* )ore m' friens
tore t"em lim0 from lim0
;!tc"e t"eir 0loo r&n/
s"&ttere silentl'
!t $"!t * "! 0ecome/
!s )r!-it' force me
on !ll fo&rs/
* 5ic5e in m' 0e
st!rtle( $o5en/
* $!s still ! 0ore/
Sun!a"s on the #ve
T"e' $!it
At t"e "ospit!l on Gir!r
in t"e mornin) !ir( s&spene
Occ&p'in) "!ns( c"!in smo5in)
Hopin) to )et t"ro&)" t"e !'
T"e' $!it
At t"e pi@@eri! on t"e corner of A
t"

T"e f!er st&m0les o$n t"e !-en&e
in t"e mornin) !ir( s&spene
B*:-e 0een tr'in) to 6&it rin5in)/C
He s!'s( st!nin) on cr&tc"es
T"e' $!it
T"e s"!5es !n t"e -oices
;e !ll "!-e o&r -ices
*n t"e mornin) !ir( s&spene
A little "ope )oes ! lon) $!' 0&t
Somet"in)s 'o& c!n:t tre!t $it" met"!one
T"e' $!it
In the morning air, suspended
$isk" %ill
*n m' f!t"er:s tie
* st!n( $"ile t"e
p!stor perspires
!t ninet' fi-e
e)rees
f!"ren"eit/
%' t"e )!tes( ! fo<
c!rries somet"in)
in "er 1!$s/
,e!t"ers f!ll/
An * remem0er t"!t
!n o01ect !t rest tens
to st!'/
A fifteen min&te f&ner!l
followed by lunch.
#t &'&( $orth Diaon! there's a
0!sement s"o$( s&enl' f&ll of cops/
Someone says, Dude, we're totally fucked now.
C)est La *ie+ *icariousl"
Al$!'s p&t 'o&r 0est foot for$!r D
Ne-er le!-e t"e "o&se $it"o&t 'o&r f!5e !ffect(
9orcel!in smile7 p"otos"op teet"/ +onst!ntl'
!fr!i of $"!t> Di some0o' s!' *
seeme more interestin) on t"e internet>
*Em 1&st s! m' i9"one ie D * c!nEt
t!5e ! selfie $it" m' -e)!n s!n$ic"/
* 5no$ e-er'oneEs "!-in) Ff&n some$"ere else/
* nee ! ne$ set of friens * secretl' "!te D
someone !ttr!cti-e to tell me $"!t to o/
;"' c!nEt !n'one &nerst!n
itEs t"eir f!&lt * c!nEt 0e "!pp'>
,ain Breaks -or Case" & I
To!' t"ereEs coffee( p!r5in) tic5ets( fl' fis"in) 0' t"e
colle)e/ A t!n)le c!tEs cr!le of t"e in-0et$eens/ Vi0r!tin)
strin)s to tie o$n e-er't"in)/ Li)"t )ets 5notte &p in life
!n t"e fleetin)( fleein) im!)es of !n !fternoon t"!t onEt
6&ite si)n!l tr&t"= li5e s5' 0l&e in 0et$een !mnin) storms
t"!t l!st 1&st lon) eno&)"/

.e are
T"rillin) in e-er' sin)le $!' $it" i)nit' D cl!ss/ ;e come !li-e(
!mplifie/ .&sic in o&r footsteps/ Yo& 5no$( t"e 0est p!rt of 'o&r
f!-orite son) pl!'e completel' $ron)/ Lo&er/ ;e:re ! riot
!)!inst o&r pri-ile)e( D pri-ile)e to !mit $e:re "'pocrites/ T"e
$!' $e ie is so e<citin)/ T"in5in) not"in) of o&rsel-es D
t"in5in) of not"in) 0&t o&rsel-es/
Suer+ (/&0
G&een +it' streets c!&tione to !n'one t"!t
co&l listen/ G&een +it' streets l!&)"e !t me
li5e ! $o&n t"!t ne-er ce!se/ What are you
doing in this town what failure brought you
home? Don:t !r)&e ! $!ste s&mmer spent
c"ippin) teet"/ F2H ci)!rettes !n concrete/
G&een +it' l!&)"e !t me li5e * $!s t"e onl'
one in t"e room/ 8ncomfort!0le ! 5nee 1er5
ner-o&s loo5 !t ! cellp"one screen to !-oi t"e
clic"I7 Life:s ! m!r!t"on not ! sprint/
J
D&rin) t"e !' !erosol !cceler!nts propelle
spr!' p!int on r' $!ll re!ms !n * 0rooe
o-er p!)es in t"e corner 0&rnin) !$!' rie
le!-es( rin5in) ice te! !n st!rin) !t t"e s&n/
* remem0er f!llin) in lo-e $it" mon&ments to
s&icie= $e )leef&ll' s!crifice o&r 'o&t" to
s&mmer spl!s"es in l!5es !n p!$ns/ T"e
sin)le i)it sn!p of ! rope s$in) )one $ron)
pro-ie t"e 0!c5 0e!t/
J
+"!r!cters pop&l!te ! $inter of $e!5ness/
Loneliness on ! le!s" or ! le)e epenin) on
t"e position of t"e s&n/ Li-in) li5e -!mpires
presente ! 0lool&st !)!inst 0oreom/ Here
ci)!rettes fell fo&r stories/ T"e c"err' 0o&nce
on tire 0ric5= s"o$ers of or!n)e !n !s" floor
me fo&r stories to concrete/
J
AK too5 t$o trips to t"e "ospit!l( t"e first time
* in:t e<pect to c"!se "im !ll o-er to$n/ He:
r&n off $it" ! o) !n )ot lost in "is min/ A
steel tr!p r&ste open/ After rel!pse re&< $e
lost to&c" 0&t * in:t min t"!t too m&c"/
J
At ni)"t( )&it!rs cl!s"e m!c"ine )&ns met
m!rs"!ll !mplifiers !n 0ro&)"t
&ncomfort!0le lo&ness( ! terror o&t of
not"in)/ All f&n !n )!mes &ntil someone
t"re$ ! co&c" into t"e cro$/ %loo !n s$e!t
mi<e $it" 0l!c5 m& c&t eep into t"e )r!in
!n "ell 'es * r!n5 in t"ose fe$ mont"s more
t"!n * e-er i 0efore/ ,ort' o&nces !t ei)"t
9/. !s ! me!ns to $!s" !$!' t"e t!r= !
lin)erin)( me!nerin) licorice st&c5 to m'
teet"/ A t!ste of s"!me !n sentiment= !
reminer of efe!t/
J
.' )o t"!t:s 1&st ! lie/ * 0ro5e m' o$n "e!rt
0&t onl' in 1est/ * )&ess 0ec!&se * still left onl'
to pro-e * co&l/ ;ell * pro-e it to m'self *
c!n &no 0etter t"!n !n'one else/ ,or t"is *
$ill 0e f!mo&s( !n 0' f!mo&s * me!n
o0sc&re/ Or * $ill ie tr'in)/ Or * $ill tr'
'in)/
J
AK onl' fell in lo-e $it" $"!t $!s $ritten
on t"e $!lls/ A-- fell in lo-e $it" ! poet/ S"e
in:t f!ll in lo-e $it" me( 0&t on ! c!ncer
co&c" $e 5isse $it" lots of teet"/ Lots of t!l5
of t!l5in) &p !n t!l5in) o$n/

J
AK:s mot"ers "ome 0ec!me "is o$n $it" t"e
prefi< of e/</ S!n$ic"es !n s$immin) !n
st!rin) !t t"e moon/ ,ree flo$ in5 !n ! neele
0&@@ lo-e le!s me to 0elie-e one !' *:ll "!-e
t"!t fore-er/ ;e stretc"e t"e s5in( t"in( on
e-er't"in) t"!t $!s fit to fin)erprint !n one
!' * s$e!r * s!$ t"e ri)es in m' p!lms rise
!n f!ll t"ro&)" ! telescopic lens/
J
#e $ine( ri)i spine !n t"e st&m0lin)
st!irc!se fire in m' stom!c" 5ept me !$!5e
$!' p!st !n' esire "o&r/ %et$een 0&rnin)
!lmost e-er't"in) in si)"t !n le!rnin) "o$ to
0est repe!t p!st mist!5es/
J
,ift' o$n T"ree O" Nine A-- !n * re-
collie/ ,!r from min( Yo&t" c!n:t rest for
e!t"( !n ! slipper' slope of le 1&st to one
solit!r' c!&tio&s 5iss/
J
T"e s&mmer $!s ! 6&een * co&ln:t c!pt&re !n
t"e pin * !l$!'s misse/ ;e mo-e from c"ec5
to c"ec5( ne-er finin) m!te/ ;e c!me close
t"!t 5ni)"t in t"e fiel )ropin) $it" $ors o&r
fists "olin) on to 0l!es of )r!ss !s if $e: f!ll
of t"e roc5 0&t * ro-e "er "ome( t!5in) onl'
t"e 0!c5ro!s/
J
An e<periment $it" e<pecte res&lts= poetr'
0orne from miser' isn:t !n' more s&0st!nti!l/ *
s$!llo$ imes from time to time( 0&t o * rise
in -!l&e> T"ere:s $orse t"!n $ort"( lest * !m
pro-en ri)"t/ 9le!se cr!c5 me open( r!in me
)r!' !n t!5e me to t"e 0!n5/ *t:s t"e onl' $!'
*:ll 0e reeeme= 0ec!&se if t"ere:s one tr&t" to
tell t"ere:s still ! li)"t insie of me/
J
D,I$1S #-T2, .O,1
Am&se !n !m!@e( * $!s t!5en 0' t"e "!n
o" * s$e!r( * s$e!r( * s$e!r t"e' !re cle!n(
*t:s m' ton)&e t"!t c!&ses tro&0le for me/
!n m' l&n)s( !n t"e slipper' tenenc'
to o $"!te-er t"e f&c5 * ple!se/
* on:t remem0er $"!t * e<pecte
!fter t"!t s"ot of He!-en Hill
!s $e !scene t"e st!irs
* $!s 5isse/
!n * reciproc!te
0&t !t o&r ne<t meetin)
T"ere $!s simple silence/
PHONE TAG
;"en * c!ll
$e con-erse on
t"e s&rf!ce of t"in)s
The cats fine,
school is great
I got your letter
thanks for asking,
;e s5im
!n s5ip
li5e smoot"
stones t"ro$n
into t"e l!5e
$"ere $e spent
o&r s&mmers/
Ac6&!inte $it" !0sence( $e isconnect/
O&r stones sin5 to ! m&r5' 0ottom
$it" e-er't"in) else $e c!nnot spe!5/