there is no changing
the mammal formula
eyelids and muscles
screaming cognition
toilet soap towel spit
you and me, we are
the same, no matter
kids, pets, wife, skin
wallet, state, religion
rapidly chow fruit or
cereal, perhaps rum
car, bus, train, soles
there is no changing
the mammal formula
not even i love yous.

there is no changing
the mammal formula

Loved reading those lines both times, Lawrence. These too:

the same, no matter
kids, pets, wife, skin
wallet, state, religion

--Tom

tom right on.  good to know that the repetition serves well as i was slightly concerned.  appreciate the positive vibes! lawrence

Lg, I like this poem because you put your finger on something we humans don't like to face about ourselves--that at the heart, we are mud-slingers.

cheryl

Lawrence, reading again, appreciating your whole concept here even more, but also what the bumps are for me. This line:

all four kick the shin

doesn't kick in for me at all, and the final couple sells the rest of the poem short at bit, I think, a little too smartass for what goes before. Tom

cheryl very much appreciate your perspective here, and sometimes it is what is honest in our thoughts that makes us crack our front, thanks for the comments.  tom, took your sound advice and tuned up the final 5 lines.  on some rereads here, i think you were right on about the change in voice.  i feel the edit matches the somber attitude and tone much better.  thanks (been traveling in alabama and georgia, sorry i got to this a bit late!) lawrence

Thought-provoking. Is the mammal formula a worthy ideal to try to live up to? Yeah, why not?? Tom

Lawrence,

a lovely write.  all encompassing in a tight form.  well done.  also liked the 'mammal formula'.  also, i read mammal formula as evolution in a way, mud as the shit chimps would sling.  and, that we are no better, despite all the cognition, etc.

thanks,

tiko

silent thank you as always for your eyes and thoughts.  those humid and wet alabama/georgia mornings really facilitate saturation, from the ground the to people.  tiko thank you so much for your comments here.  very cool to read you looking in on the other, animalistic side of us mammals.  the primitive soil and subsequent actions are uniform across the board, glad that comes through here.  thanks guys, appreciate it.
-lawrence

I think "mammal formula" is brilliant here, and I'm in accord with the others who have said so.

rick very much appreciate your words regarding the "mammal formula", the tick tock of the morning can be doldrums for many.  always enjoy having you take a look in on my poems, thank you for the reassuring thoughts! -lawrence

Isn't this the human formula?  (Like those GE commercials except this, of course, is far less stupid.)  Mammals are known for hair and most give birth to live young.  Those could be added too.  Perhaps the last line could read "except for the radiation / of the falling sun."  This alludes both to the mutating effects of radiation as well as time.  Just a suggestion.

Otherwise beautifully written poem.  I love the "newspaper column" form.

I'm reeling from this one Lawrence...I'm a sucker for lists and you do this one so beautifully, the planned randomness...I'm moving it to the Editor's Picks.

very delighted to receive a notification email this afternoon concerning this piece, i thank you timothy!  appreciate your words here regarding the style, good to know this one grabbed you right in and took you for a ride.  tom also want to thank you again for coming back to this one and helping me shape it with your thoughts.  -lawrence