Return to my kiss, my sweet
for I have not erred
a crazy fling, though consensual
intoxicated, shrouded in a fog of lust
no fault of my own
I implore comeback
I will eternally bemoan
foolish act of ignorance
leave me not
in my ocean of guilt

I caught a snapper
belly white as sea foam
puff white clouds above

DARK MAGIC
Listen, the owl's hoot
a glance at his yellow eyes
wonder if he dreams

OUCH
A night in the barn
all swallows flutter about
screech, shrills wound my ears

CATCH-EM
Bats have widespread wings
augmenting their rattling speed
unless they are trapped

Gray angry ocean
white caps slap the seaweed beach
one brave surfer falls

Red flags flutter mad
as wind blows off tourists' hats
one lands on the dunes

Dusk calms the cruel sea
beachcombers hunt for shells, *****
sandpipers, gulls peck

Gray angry ocean
white caps slap the seaweed beach
one brave surfer falls

Red flags flutter mad
as wind blows off tourists’ hats
one lands on the dunes

Dusk calms the cruel sea
beachcombers hunt for shells, *****
sandpipers, gulls peck

Ghostly night creatures
stir in the thick black forest
a high screech echoes

Dawn draws the day star
as chilled night immortals sleep
roosters crow, birds sing

Radiant aqua skies
and butterflies
roll down hills
and high fly thrills
water splash
giggles and laughs
sand castles
no hassles

Jump puddles
teddy bear cuddles
truly curious
at times furious
bundles of wonder
treasures under
smell the flowers
sense the showers
warm and dry
ready for cherry pie

Blue gray eyes
midnight lashes
long and thick
no wonder
you are seen
by others
but please
keep in mind
no lovers
may you find

My dignified knight, **** of armor
shapely bodice illuminates my eyes
strong muscular hands touch mine
long bony feet curl over my legs
hairy chest warms my *****
blue veins protrude form his enduring arms
angular face, bearded chin, gray eyes
plant me in a trance

When apart, I yearn for my knight
I still see his comely shadow
sense his smooth corps against mine
emptiness creeps into my mood
I ache from quarantine
others fail to catch my glimpse
though a wink or two has no purpose
I wait uneasily for my kindred spirit to return

The lake remains still
until a  bullfrog leaps in
the water is clear

LIFE STORY

My tenuous wings
persistent wind blows
weakens my spirit
lazily slump
into a warm
wrinkled hand
my ***** forego
demise awaits

Stranger’s kindness
induces my second’s dream
wings fortify to fly
once again
kiss the flowers
hop the grass
hope

This day
my life’s story
edges towards
the earth’s abyss
where my fellow
extinct butterflies
belong
in this totality

My last love lyrics
are in your teardrop
mine has little rain
I sink to the mud earth
but always remember your pain

I follow you through my mind’s eye
When I awaken to sun’s greeting
When I slumber under moon’s wonder
always

My mood dampens
as the short winter days advance
my inner spirit sinks low
I bury myself with covers
lethargy, loneliness seeps in
darkness stabs me
my patience diminishes
as does the day's light
if I could hasten
this frigid world
my mood ought to soar
to higher ground
as long spring daylight
elevates hope
to those
whose blackness
is hell.

Each warm summer eve
When the moon peeks from a cloud
I gaze at his face

When his lips pop up
I'm convinced he views my grin
It causes a giggle

When his lips sink down
I wonder about his mood
Do I change him so?

Eyes shut late at night
I see the moon in my dreams
no clouds to hide him

He glides cautiously toe to heel
on slender orange legs.
The Blur Heron renders silent ripples
in the grassy wetlands.
His stature *****, graceful as a ballerina.
A pointy beak projects over a long narrow neck.

Reserved and confident
he dwells beside the Egret,
whose round white frame, curved neck
and skinny legs resemble sticks
from fallen from a dead tree.
The Egret peers with his beady eyes.
Still water snatches his reflection
and mimics his own torso.

In common, they stalk the tide
while they search for their prey
among the muddy waters of the lowlands.
Small fish, tiny shrimp, *****, young mammals
tempt them to satisfy their appetite.

The pair fly, elegant wings flap
slap the thin air, tackle the wind
and soar into a light turquoise sky.

Humans suffer
disease, decay
waste away
humiliate
defecate
a sluggish blob
I ask myself
how do I confront death
with dignity

Summer storms thrash about
slants the rain
boom clouds, lightning bolts
abstraction in the night skies

When it passes
at the dim light of dawn
rainwater cuts deep ruts
into the hillsides
rocks and mud crash land
to their resting place

The sun all dressed for the day
shrivels and dries the earth
tidies up the setting
bushes and flowers, neatly planted
stand *****, raindrops atop
to enhance color and scents
ahead of the next blast

He jumps the train
as the wheels come
to a screeching halt
darkness covers him
he runs, legs flip in the air
he pants, looks back
the armed men sleep
relief
a chill in the night air
his skin reveals
the moon hides
he stumbles
powerful will to survive
sounds of the forest flourish
thick with brush
closer
the last struggle
it embraces him
freedom

A bird winks at me
while sitting on a thin branch
I whistle, he flies

A cloud carries me
up to a radiant star
rain blurs my vision

PEN PALS
I flip the pages of old letters
Across a dark ocean
Paper yellows, black ink pen fades
Words a blur, like the fog that hovers
Memories endure

She lives massive waves away
Fresh letters are crisp
exuberant, adventure, secrets
Just between us, in the clouds that pass us by
Mail is sluggish, boats ply rough waters
I await, my heart flutters, as an envelope
Flings through the mail slot
I slash it apart, pieces fly in the slight breeze
Impatience to read, her news is like the sun’s reflection on the sea
Her new boyfriend, budding romance, sensual stars
New spring clothes, picnics in the freshly cut green grass

I reply forthwith, though my words, are slack and drab
A glass half empty, all the same routine
As seasons come and go, naught of change
I compose words made from dreams and moonbeams
So, it will ensure our constant write

The last letter appears
My intuition bespeaks of evil tidings
She has taken ill
Scribble words in the main, blur to my eyes
I surrender a slice of my soul
Yet keepsakes survive

PIPE DREAM
Alone on a dark blue sea
I sit in my small wooden boat
ponder my being, my life, my demise
my sea life friends embrace me

Alone, I wonder if this emptiness
is real or a dream
I search for the moon’s smile
to lighten my mood
I fear the darkness

Alone, I wonder if some soul desires me
I scan the night skies
white, yellow stars blink
perchance some hope

Alone, tears roll down my weathered face
hawks and seagulls shroud me
attempt to absorb their concern
hear whispers nearby
to alter my fire
take a chance on one’s pipe dream

Your reflection
mirror of obsession
moves
like a slow waltz

Your spontaneous obsessions
of which I fall short to acknowledge
will assuredly provoke nightmares
upon my last meager reposes

I amble along city streets
skin to skin shoppers, fast pace
people watchers, tots wailing
car fumes, taxis swerve, screech, sirens
turmoil of the mind
I bear my moody thoughts with me
my brown cracked leather journal
copious scribbles, sticks to my hip
I jot down slivers of life

Couples smooch
biker delivers food
pregnant woman waddles along
two toddlers ride their bikes
homeless man, face concealed
slumbers on a rickety bench

The city unveils me
my cracked journal preaches
deep in my core
I fetch myself
in a silent universe
begs me to write
upon chaos around me
where I slip in to my inner self

A touch of sea foam
as it bubbles up the beach
covers my cold feet

A smokey gray sky
assists the calm of the sea
no ripples today

I smell salty air
the sea is so curative
I can float all day

Dandelion white seed cloud
ticklish to my nose, giggle
as it was when a young child
puff the airy seeds
whiff, only the stem remains
years ago, I rendered a wish
longed for it to come true

At present I am an aging arthritic
As I walk routinely about colorful fields
near my house, I pick these featherweight belles
say to myself "Am I too old to realize wishes?"
I ponder, and given that I am a sentimentalist
I go for it!
Blow and tiny seeds flutter and alight on me
I believe it is a good omen

While I walk I discover a bench, slightly hidden
behind a broad oak tree, all the while I hold the stem
sit, eyes close with ease
breathe the scent of freshly cut grass
slowly submit to a space between wake and sleep

I am in France, countryside, by a river
Ornate chateau, vineyard close by
stocks our bon vivant taste
acres of hillsides covered with
yellow **** and purple grapes
ancient road edges up to the chateau
garden of green, yellow and red vegetables
presents to table
freshly cooked by chef Henri
the pool is cool and refreshing
just as I approach my dive

I wake up!!
what a lovely sojourn
medicine for the arthritis
,

Opposites entice
surge of the season
heat scorches the golden sand
swim towels scatter, soda pop cans astray
smell of suntan lotion and seaweed
trickles of waves bubble to the shore
last idle days of summer

Culmination
sun's energy pales
beaches hollow, beseech sunbathers, walkers
footprints of Sandpipers scamper
scents of salty waves swell near the beach
bright red faces fade, scabby skin

Brand new flavor bursts in
muffled breath of cool air
slight breeze swings one's hair
refreshes the core
hints of red, yellow, green hues
alight on leaves
sun glowers
fall beckons

Though the shades are drawn
upon my eyes
I forever sense
the spices of your sweat
cumin, cloves, mint, nutmeg
heightening in the murk
of my globe
so stimulating is your corps
I merely imagine your beauty
even more

SHADOWS

Fantasies of a mermaid
on a cloistered island, candle lit
she emerges from the cold abyss
slithers to my naked torso
electrifies me
flesh to flesh
musing as one

An intense painting
comes to a life
abstractions of intimacy
patterns of flirtation
hues of iridescent bronze, cobalt blue
washes in white

Muted whispers
she forsakes
plunges into deep shadows

The moon has a face
two bright eyes, nose, smiley mouth
a cloud smothers it

I ride the waves of sorrow
to join eternal bliss
I await a kindly person
to plant a gentle kiss

Hues of warm and cold
spirit cleaves
dark and light, blue and white
spectacles of sinister clouds hover
viscous rainbow lips
bespeak intensity
lukewarm beard
defines the divide in desire
though in dreams
torments in the halo
images of sorceress enclose
scents of rapture breeze in
awaken in sublime void

Steady chants outside
draws me to my small window
I am an ancient

Large colorful signs
I squint to find just one word
I limp to my chair

Why do they walk, chant?
young people don't trouble me
except a shooting

I think they mean peace
I am told they are harmless
I say let them be

Maudlin face, head tilt
blood shot eyes
robed in black
she stands with tremor
before a cold gray stone
epitaph wilts

An anniversary
in the absence of celebration
scrambled sentiments bolt through her head
guilt, loss, anger, emptiness
temper that persists
to the cold core of her bones
despite the blistering sun's potency

Worst of all
a child's grievous capture from life
dreaded spectacle that no parent need behold
spears the bedrock
by no means overlooked

All that prevails
skeleton dust
beneath the dark, dank earth
endearing sentiments stretch through the years
laughter, cries, togetherness, family love
trappings of life she holds tight

You, the peerless one
who strokes my nose and cuddles
my top pal ever
we're entwined in our love fest
our cores match a knot
we grab each other's giggles
and muse the dream thoughts
we move beside as one

Years pass and we age
but our lures refresh our flesh
life is a tussle
we smack it with coupled srrength
and bond as glue sticks

Earthquake of sound
cackling guffaws
plunges my hunger
into an abyss
pointless to omit
ignites fire in my brain
I shall depart
seek quiet
turn to drink
in a cool neighborhood cafe

Orange sun descends
as red super moon prevails
darkness lures spirits

Hazy sun
struggles through a thin layer
of high gray clouds
treeless islands
relentless wind
whips through tall grasses
they sway like a drunkards dance
winters darkness lingers
in the North Atlantic latitude
gusts force slaps the rain sideways
batters all in its path

Undulating green hills
fresh water lakes
salt smell of the sea
sweeps the islands
rugged farmers tend their vegetable plots
and plant stubby trees
which challenge the fierce gales
summer’s sun intrudes cumulous clouds
begets luminous colors on the rocky coastline
flowers sprout, birds engage, fish skip

Blinking lights
spray the Tennessee sky
black night noise
disrupts the calm

Silver bullets dash
through dense dark air
one harmed
one dead

Sirens bellow
yellow tape
shrouds the scene
common event
in this hood

Police suppress the fight
drugs pay the rent
cycle persists
more harm
more deaths

I ring the bell
my step-mother greets me
she slaps me in the face
shock, dismay, anger, fear
“Your father died and you should have known.”
who is she to treat me like this?
I glare at her for seconds, she returns the same

Silence for a moment
“Where have you been these past years”?
far from the turmoil, I say
we hate each other
I retreated from my dad’s life
his insidious stare
his menacing mind
his crafty presence
“you have caused his death;
you drove him mad with your ***** tricks.”

I move closer to her face
to clarify
she shuts me up
no slap this time

I go to the morgue
heart attack
touch him
the last
she can’t accuse me
she has no one
I have a life

Whoosh, hiss
slow burn
murmurs
glides right
earth swells
slender clouds
flow by
silent saints
sun peeks, hides

Whine
bald treetops
glides left
thump
****
skyscrapers
heads bob
rumble
thud
breathe

She wakes with fright at light of dawn
lover is not beside
she yawns and whispers I do care
he'll return later in the morn

Their love has waned over the years
she assumes someone new
she yearns to search for this being
from this point she's dried out her tears

He calls her as the last goodbye
her breaths tight on the phone
no words spoken, silence
then begs him one more try

Flag-draped wood box slides down the ramp
drizzle slightly dampens its vision
dark, bleak early morning
my eyes blur, hours of bawling, heaving
dry tears on my face and clothes

My little ones hold tight
looks of fear emanate from their eyes
bewildered, blank stares
soldiers, soaked, motionless
never move, show no emotion
do their duty

Flag gently folds in perfect form
gives me a gift
though I pause
Stand, unmoved, frigid
vacuous, no one stirs me
thoughts ramble
why him?
I am a widow

The flag-draped wooden box slides down
a cold steel ramp
the drizzle slightly dampens its vision
It is a dark, bleak early morning
my eyes blur, hours of bawling, heaving
dried tears on my face and black suit
my little ones hold tight
looks of fear emanating from their eyes
bewildered

Soldiers soaking wet, stand like statues
never move, no emotion
carry out their duty
the flag gently folds in perfect form
plants in my shaky hands as a gift
though I pause to receive
whispers of thank you
I stand motionless, rigid, timorous
I am vacuous, no one stirs me
thoughts ramble through my mind
why did he go?
Why him?
I am a widow

Friendship is a distinct bond
a closeness that breathes
swathes us in deep shelter
embraces all of whom we are fond

It unveils a trust
forever to clutch
keeps our verve together
with or without a touch

Give and take
promises to be
stretches distant paths
across the deep dark sea

we nurture this link
and bask in each other's thought
if one of us should pass
our peace chain will be naught

Three jobs
home to my musty hovel
little sleep, weary, red eyes
three mouth to feed
husband took off
no time to complain
barely time to breath
government stinks
selfish, heartless
we live or die
no work, no pay

Heart pains me
seen rich people
think about them
I dream wealthy
sit on my lounger
by the cool saltwater pool
sip my margarita, indulge
but awaken to my reality
some day my dream comes true
rich people detached about us poor
need more money to survive
no hope in my lifetime
just wish my kids win the lottery