I yell into life
an
echo
reverberates
back
I remember the
echo
and forget the
yell
is
this a mistake
or
an answer?

Understanding is about
conquering insecurity
small minds
need rules to be kind
graphs and math
show us a soft safe path
J. Evans Prichard P.H.D.
who are we to ask him to teach
because now there is
no need for students to reach
all poetry's merits are ***** and laid bare
to wake to such a world
would give me a true scare
instead show me a sonnet above my head
that I read and read and finally get in bed
how scary is an unknown world
and yet I still prefer the mysterious dark pearls

An hour ago
it was just a clang
barley a bang
a scrape
while we were eating our crepes
on the ship that could not sink
at least that's what they all said with a good natured wink
but now there is a lurching
and the floors are no longer listing
deep inside the center
you and I are members
the steward came by
with a sigh
and scream
he told us,...not enough life boats it seems
this stateroom is so far down
so many steps up to win the crown
could I do it
with this cane
and my knee pain
maybe if I fought
as my father taught
I could get to the moonlight
to see so much panic on deck what a sight
but you my dear with your hip
and this new ships tilt
you would never make it in time
But now I know I could
fly off this ship
and live
but without you
so my dear let me pour you some wine
as we retire to our stateroom
no reason to swoon
my dear should we sit in our lavish chairs
our best evening dress to wear
shall I brush your hair
both of us without a care
better yet
shall we both lay on the bed
holding hands
as the cold water creeps in
without sin we close our eyes
in the deep

To once again travel the roads of childhood
to slip past the knots of memories
and see once more
those old lanes
highways and by-ways
once so important
now obscured
by haze and forgetfullness
roads leading accidentally
to spilled secret spots
that magical fort in the tall grass
or that special sheltered port in a storm
those mysterious ruins of forgotten memories
to the old woods and streams
many are gone now
only echoes remain
condos and parking lots
mark childhood haunts
cold asphalt glazes all
and only earth and sky
last forever

When that was then
and the past was pure
when yesterday straddled oblivian
and hopes to futures tend
when dreams blew against the wind
and wild hearts did not know sin
  that was when
I did not know what to say
but moonlight and fireflies still lit our way
yes that was then
which then's were when
but still I was with you
and
that is all

The white chalk cliffs
stand guard over the riff
oh to be a hawk
and fly over all that is sought
but I am bound by gravity
and must live with this intensity
those white chalk cliffs
hover above me
now I see

Who would I be now
if I did that when

let me find a pen
and think of when

what measure a man
but the sum of his choices squared

what life we wear
is our choices striped bare

can you spare
a morality pair

bend to break
but never ever bend to lose shape

shattered pieces can be mended
thus it is as creation intended

but remember stray too far
away from your centering star

and you might lose your compunction
for form and function

some roads are only one way trips
and its never wise to book passage on a sinking ship

so go right go left
break good break bad but stay in step

Who would I be now
if I did that when?