Drink in hand
A place to brag
A child to boast
Or a tail to wag

With every picture
Vanity revealed
We also know
Came from left field

Evidence to gloat
And plenty of bluster
Hope for favors
In losing their luster

Plenty of them
To show their hubris
Of their perfect skin
And all its smoothness

We like or comment
Or maybe we shrug
Or we post our own
Just to be smug

The mad
do not truly exist
in our world.

They live in their own
so their madness
makes sense.

Thrown with all our might
From the surrounding crowd
By one hand threatening
To make a world blind
By shiny glass filled
With earth’s fluid fire
As it spins from screams
Only in anger meant
Striking the ground
And showering shields held
With rage and red might
Testing patience and duty
Of stained blue armor
And thus, no more waiting
As the race began
With one leaving
And another chasing quickly
To find a corner to turn
With barricades to change our minds
Since the smoke sting eyes
And throats left dry
We cower in wished pain
As all kindness burns away

She carries her basket
Through the cool market
Her sandals lightly step
On the seamless floor

She hums along
To music she hears
As he follows behind
Singing softly to her

No one notices him
As he walks close behind
Sweet lyrics rise above
And heard over the aisle

She feels the waves
Of sound touching her
In her ears and her heart
Without ever turning around

From the cashier’s aisle
She carries out her fare
He’s a passenger with her
And sings without a care

I read those same chapters
Before I go to bed
For there I sleep
And in my dreams
The story ends
I always awake
With tears dried
On my cheeks

Leaning onto a wooden ledge
I have leapt from many times
With shoes placed firmly
Steadily on a brass rail
With empty stools and chairs
Surrounding me for a while
Money burning in my pockets  
As I wave for service, again
My indignities have been counted
Only to be given the same look
My hand steadies the glass
Only filled with a stench
My breath can only share
As I realize no more libations
Will be provided this night
I shake my head for a time
Never believing this moment
But smile with understanding
That enough is measured
By those who have plenty
Never by those who need
And lack the will to stop

‘I love you so much’

He said so sweetly
In an empty bedroom
With the door open
To a barren hallway
Of a vacant home

From a sole house
With no other nearby
Not a single soul
In the region all around

In an unpopulated country
Of an empty continent
On a deserted planet
From a desolate galaxy

‘I love you so much’

He said once again
To a picture in his hands
And with a tear in his eye
Lovingly all alone

Finding that song again
The one that said so much
And says it over and over
Since we play it every day

Tasting the meal again
Prepared with care and skill
With favorite flavors
From each and every bite

Feeling the same again
When I am with you
Hold hands and staring
At those familiar eyes

Sleeping the night again
With legs entwined
And the certain warmth
Of your soft flesh

Dreaming sweetly again
Of all the certain things
That made sure I knew
Never to forget you

Thus there is no longer the longing
For a meal that my body craves
For a feeling my soul desires
For a meaning my mind comprehends
There is no spoon to my mouth
There is no love to touch my heart
There is no word to fill my thoughts
An emptiness I have started
With a promise to leave all good things behind me
Wishing that I only live in suspension
In this time and place
Only to know the here and now
Without all things that grant sweetness
For there is no sustenance for my well being
On this boat I drift along and alone

Fallen with a thud
And left for dead
It was easier that way
From what they said
With no supplies
Not a compass or map
Nor water or food
Not a single scrap
Only with will
And remaining dignity
It was time
To think differently
Shuddering with cold
By wet clothes
With passing time
One would have froze
Lifting to feet
Breath took deeply
Raising courage
From a place meekly
One step up
Was simply needed
To move forward
A purpose seeded

Walking back to the cabin
Arms filled with timber
Stepping in deep snow
And with steamy breath

Onto the porch
Shake the snowfall
Off both shoulders
Then through the door

Into a comfortable room
With dances of light
As he kneels to the fire
And places the wood inside

Standing up after
And rubs his hands
Presenting his palms
To flames charity

Turning back
To the table
With a cup of coffee
And pen and paper

Sitting down
To his joyful work
As he leans forward
And cradles the pen

He thinks back
When there was company
Of a lady fair
And moments of joy

For that was living
During hibernation
And the nothing
That builds outside

But the inside
Is where all fires
Are kept steady
And burning rightly

Even if the times
Are lonely and cold
It is inside
That all memories roar

The same as the name
Add ten to four and two score
Is all and never more

The gray skies grew
As the drizzle begins
For what we knew
And our hearts felt
We sit still secretly
In our own places
For not expectedly
Filling empty spaces
With salty waters set
Our minds cannot wait
And our souls let
All of our emotions
Falling with the rain
To fill many oceans
And as it floods
There is no gain
Just as from drugs
The day does wane
Until we sleep again

Dreamt that if you miss your turn
You wander about
As if you are never truly awake

You will feel your ill
Yet always wonder why

You will feel tired
Yet never granted any sleep

You then just wait
Until your turn comes again

Just the trickling heard
Of the brook flowing
Interrupted by a bird
On the water floating
Surrounded by catkins
Falling and lifted on air
By the softest winds
As they travel in pairs
For both genders present
As they travel abound
To become resident
Landing on the ground
Both treks farther
By current’s might
As they fall like feathers
Orange, purple or white
Joined by nature
As companions made
Seemly so stranger
For their fate is laid
With the water
They go to their fate
Like no other
Like if on a date

Coffee drank with a pill
To get the rest so needed
Followed by closing eyes
And pulled towards the bed
Once lying on soft sheets
And head rested on pillows
The wave washes over me
And sends me away
Where colors warm me
To a kind of story
That entices my mind
And makes me think
Until you walk past me
And catch my attention
Then gray flows on in
A made black and white scene
As if my blood left me
And also from my dream
It is like a haunting
But I know you are there
Still real in my world
Yet visiting my helplessness
As you keenly do
Wandering in my dreams

Ink on the nib
Taken to note
Says all I can
As if I spoke

Prepared carefully
Been blown dried
Folded tightly
And then sent tied

Then one waits
Where its been
Only to wonder
If to be seen

If truly read
It would show
If kept closed
None would know

So the wishes
They were sent
Whether felt
As they were meant

I do not hope for the moon and stars to notice my awe
I do not wish whether the oceans and seas consider my admiration
I do not aspire for gratitude from majestic mountains for my reverence
I do not prospect for the beauty of love and yearn for its care of me
Whether it be sweetness or lust, fondness or yearning, proposed or reciprocated
Whether I stand alone, solely with my hopes and dreams or graced in enchanted company
Whether my hands attempt offerings, or secure treasures deep within me
Whether rewarded for patience and effort, or only a gift fallen from the heavens
I do appreciate the chances, random yet destined
I do cherish the feelings and thoughts, flowing yet restful
I do enjoy the time, both eternal yet fleeting
I do welcome its permanence, both joyful and excruciating
It educates my soul and urges for my salvation
It holds eternal tenure in my dreams and memories
It leads me to conquer each day with immeasurable will
It lives and dies, both along and within me

No affection but affirmation
No bonded lust or romance, passions or infatuation, or youthful ecstasy;
yet offered compassion and sincere devotion
Once believed as self appointed guardian and champion,
by the will to serve at no one’s spoken bequest, faithfully and honorably
One bears loneliness for the space needed by another in respect
One accepts indignities in sacrifice to remembrance of the once character in adoration and trust
One appreciates the memories of cherished moments, no longer forthcoming, yet never fading to the past
One hopes for another day, knowing no future holds any offerings,
that care and companionship be granted blessings
Only wishing for gracious favors and hopes, and any forgiveness offered to an old misguided fool who was simply misunderstood

Two can to be seen
With brightly plumes leap from trees
Soar on to warm breezes

I am quite aware
of the prison I exist in,
and that my surroundings
may look bleak and desperate.
Yet, others may never see
the paradise that the darkness disguises,
as I dine in certainty.
I am touched both by angels and demons,
hearing their whispers and cries.
I suspect they dream of their destiny,
and likely that their past,
no matter how sweet,
are masked as nightmares.
This is the judgement we all bear,
just as we sentence others
so we can tolerate our own guilt and regret.

The moment it happens
Where one stands there still
Their body rigid and exacting
With the world unaware

Inside them a tempest raging
Spun skies split by strikes
Of flashes loudly announcing
Earth breaking under their feet

Neither their mouth or voice
Foretells of a soul screaming
Failing to keep together
A heart from tearing apart

Yet with tears of grief
One can only walk away
So no one would notice
A consuming loss therein

As slow as one could leave
So does the heart tumbles
A downfall far inside them
Forever seems a dark abyss

All day thinking of you
Whoever you are
Dancing in my mind
Swimming in my soul
Surrounding me

After a day living
With dreams of you
As I toil the fields
Left to feel
Strength leaving me

I lay at the end
To a bed of my making
With a weak mind
And a broken body
Yet a hopeful soul

As I rise
The next day ready
To start a new
Again be with you
Whoever you are

As we look up
We notice this side
Sunlight goes by
Of the truth that we eyed

We see what is under
Of each leaf waving
And we wonder
Their designs and engravings

For their top side
Are bathe in rich light
Yet below them
Is left out of sight

As for each petal
Or for each portrait
And below each statue
Or under each fortress

Their worth is the same
For all had sufficed
Since they are of value
By nature’s full price

Those apparently strict rules
I am dependent on
Grant me my freedom.
Without, I would be
A hopeless slave to the fates.

Leaving the body
Faster than light
Does a heart leap
Finding another

Only first seen
Into gifted eyes
Sent to the mind
By lightning flash

Spun around
In a whirlwind
A struck spirit
Can only go

So the heart
Begins to burn
Lighting the way
Back where it came

Hoping for care
By one be judged
Not by the body
But by their soul

Lying low in sleepy day place
With warm socks to comfort my toes
And blanket to keep me calm
As I nestle myself to cure my woes
For sandman stealthy skills are triumphant
As he is known as a journeyman
And I fall farther in my hopeful relief
To abide by his careful plan
In my slumber, I make no landing
For crow’s feet I am cradled
And held high and flown above
For this beast is both read and fabled
It lays my sorrow away as I fly
For joy’s sake is filled within me
It returns me once I smile fondly
To the place I am relieved to be
Thus, I am hopeful in my night throes
Of travels with my only good friend
That this lasts for all future’s sake
That there never becomes a willful end

I once knew her
A wistful love  

She was defined
In a refined rhyme
That left my lips
Each time was spoken
A name whispered

In my mind
There was no wrong
For a strong woman
She was to me

Sadly, deeply hiding
Truths soon learned
Of a love given
By another earned

So, she is forgotten
And now replaced
By thoughts new
Not of her, I once knew

Seated at the end
With a full plate
Of meal made ready
And without wait

Fork and knife
And glass of wine
To complement the meal
Prepared so fine

Small portion
Of center cut made
Away from the bodies
And where they laid

Not from death
Or violence wrought
But trappings of love
And passions sought

For they live still
Not without
A heart of theirs
And love they doubt

Missing the part
That one would share
Now a meal
Made so fair

To love
the present
from the past

To love
the future
with the present

To love
the future
besides the past

To love
the past
without a future

She woke in the morning
Later than normal
Thankful for blankets
And wearing her thermal

Called for her husband
Listened for reply
Nothing is heard
And she let out a sigh

She left the bed
And down the hall
To the bathroom
Almost to fall

Ice she sees
From under the door
She pushed it open
Glistening floor

Careful to walk
She pulled back the curtain
In the bathtub frozen
Her husband, she was certain

Intensity of pressure and fire
With elements screaming in pain
Only to explode so suddenly
Showering the darkness like rain

Skipping across icy comets
Bumping against rocky rings
Pieces of a fallen sun
Flying speedily without wings

Past one moon or another
Routes turned by planets
Dark matter repelling bits
Hopping around like rabbits

Finally caught by gravity
Towards a blue covered rock
Speeding through cloud cover
Breaking through with a shock

Slowing before arrival
From a marvel that had to die
Only to be found, finally
In the gleam of a little girl’s eye

Slight space to look through
To see the outside world
By parting cloth curtains
A sliver of reality appears
In slippers and pajamas
Comforted by coffee cup
Sunlight seen only through glass
Bright birds dancing about
And squirrels absurdly playing
Looking at wet grass grow
So every so slowly
Noticing children’s laughter
Heard from all around
Not seen but certainly there
As if by hide and seek
The same hiding inside
But not for fun and joy
By lack of light imposing
A penance wished up
So no more pain and hurt
Can sneak up on him
To feed him lies and deceit

A lobe between teeth
Gets nibbled by one wanting
More than just warm flesh

Sprawled on grassy plain
And facing the sky
With stained dress on
Where she does lie
As clouds bounced
On rays of light
And shadows flow
As they pass flight
Against blue shade
A black hue seen
By many wings flapped
From where that have been
Many grouped together
Flock by other name
Viewed the ground
Life has been claimed
As her breath leaves
And she lays still
So many crows
The sky they fill
A ****** seen
From both ends
To heaven both are
Yet a soul she sends

Shared tastes
From each other’s meal
Shared thoughts
Of how we feel
Hands feeling
The soft of our skin
Wiping away
Crumbs from our chin
Pulling on covers
A tug on each side
Changing the radio
While both on a ride
Lips licked
From another’s tongue
Deciding who
This time was wrong
Accepting fate
For time well spent
Memories kept
And what they meant
Small offerings
A cup or so
Keeping friendships
Of feelings we know

While wanting to see
Her bare long legs shook slightly
Kept him from leaving

It rang and sang
My ears begged for more
My mind tried to keep up
While I heard the roar

It moved and soothe
To words that sprung
As I moved my feet
To climb another rung

It shocked and rocked
My body to the core
It left me soaked
Like washing at the shore

It flew and grew
With air pushing out
The lyrics being screamed
Through the audience’s shouts

It lifted and gifted
My soul to the air
As I wet my lips
To sing, I would dare

With turned up collars
Coming in from the cold
All down to the cellar
Looking tired and old

At the table sitting
With steam rising from cups
Their circumstances fitting
Their missions in flux

They report their findings
While taking detailed notes
While secrecy is binding
While remaining in their coats

New tasks are issued
To discover the truth
With their nights continued
As they have from their youth

Tearing down the walls
Between the truth and lies
Waiting for the call
When the moment does arise

Coordination is the key
With subtle talk and letters
Speaking in coded ways
For it is all a secret, you know
Not for hiding from the world
But for our purposeful play
To see and be and join together
On sparring days of ecstasy
With strawberries and cream
For the pauses from our joys
And with a bag of toys
Filled with plastics and ropes
For getting back to business
But not without smiles
And with a little laughter too
Then, after a long day
We join also in slumber
To be still under sheets
Which were twisted earlier
And not to lie still
On the spot made together
In the center of our chamber
While outside, chaos swirls
We find even more comfort
In a cool, quiet room
And with each other

From far deep between
She soaks the world around her
With waves of sweet fire

Walking on slick tile floors
With caution signs around
Passing rich aging ******
Among crowds underground
Talking all to themselves
When the last dragon fed
On those shows about elves
From books we never read
While thieves on stage debate
On the crumbling public health
We are all licking our plates
Overwhelmed by hunger felt
Counting time for nothing
From all those lies told
Bosses ordered the shoving
That drove out the old
Finally to the stairwells
Up to brightly holy lights
Caught up in spoken spells
Of what prayers take our rights
Onto many more levels
Full of signs for us to shop
From charming packs of devils
On our journey that never stops

Toppled off their feet
Does a slow motioned float come
Before arrival

Funny how they try to save
So many before the grave
Without looking into them
To see if they could know
If they could take the trip
Before their way to the crypt
By how much baggage to take

While I laugh quietly
At the stupidity of others,
I howl hysterically
At my own madness

Plucked from a low branch
From where a serpent had been
Ate from her open hand
To his mouth it all began
Married by first sin

While in their kisses
Turn the sheets into a twist
Drenching both in bliss

Many seasons ago
Where I slid down
She winked my way
Like a faker would

Took hook and sinker
Then followed her
As she pulled me
By a fishing line

Into a white room
Feeling two hums
She spun me around
Falling into her

A red filled tub
That stained us both
Sent me to take
Into running long

Until this very day
She still remains
In my spotted skin
Like a memory

Only in one hand
do specks and flecks mix about
among grains and dust

Leaning all the way
Toes pointed and an arched back
Caught far in the sway
Offers herself as a snack
Sang sweetly that day