When I was nine years old
my best friend died.
I didn't attend the funeral,
my mother did instead.
I cried because that's what your supposed to do.
Laying in the center of the room,
Labored breathing, clenched fist.

When I was thirteen years old
my best friend gave up on me.
She dismissed me like yesterdays news.
Sadness perched on my shoulder,
Lurked in every corner
of every room.
Stayed with me every night.
Wishing for tears but they disobliged.

I found comfort in the darkness,
faint music in the background.
No more Saturday nights creeping out,
only being crept on.
The blade's beginning  to whine.
Demons, demons come and play.
Red River Flood all over again.

You say, "Time erases all to dust,
                 Water turns all to rust."
"You are wrong" I say.
You say, "Time will one day dissipate
                   even the sun, bacteria in the
                  water turns all to rust."
"You are wrong today and always," I say.

You say, "What are you going on about?"
I notice your lip tremble as you weaken
with doubt.
"I am not going to riddle or ridicule you, "I say.
You say," Then what is your arguing about?"
"Water can rust only metal or wash away stuff,
there is no rust on plastic or glass or wood," I say.

You say, "Okay, you may have a point, but ...", you
pause in thought, then go on, " more than rust,
oxidization happens to all!"
"Generalizations are weak with holes," I say and then
"God will end it all when He calls all home."
I say as well.
You say nothing, thinking looking up at the sky.
"He is time, He is love, He is near more than above,
He cleanses with water and turns it into wine, He is
the Divine." I say.
You say," Fine, I know this too, but everything."
"In the beginning God,.." I say.

With that we say no more but run off to grab our hockey
sticks, "I'll be Parent, you'll be Orr," I say.
You say, "He shoots, he scores."
"Let's play some more," I say, "we will be called in for dinner soon,
we don't have much time left before the sun sets and leaves us in
shadow with the lights on the street."
You say, "We would play till dawn, if they let us."
"You are right as always, " I say to make sure I get in the last word.

©DWE032013

Her breath was short
Her body paper thin
Her face contorted
Body racked with sin

Sobbing in the corner
Looking pretty glum
This must be the horror
Of what we have become.

I do not want to be fat
(even though I am)
I do not want to be skinny
(that is a lie)
But I would be happy
just being medium.

Tears glint in the moonlight

In the old attic where I sit

The window is open

  Letting bitter air in

Yet no wind.



I flip through pictures

wrinkled old hands touching film

I remembered her clearly

  Even as we got old

We still laughed



I remember when we met

she had beautiful blue eyes

and curly brown hair



More tears roll down

I find her old dress

  It still smells like her too

I miss her so much

But cancer is a dangerous thing



a grandfather clock rings

  Just like me

a Grandfather, that is

looking for my comfort

I rub the dress against my face

She was so beautiful



I can remember everything about her

she had died in May.

  She was born in May too.

  I loved her like I loved nothing else

but God needed her more.



Bitterness spreads

then pain

   but I will be with Lily soon

For I too, am slipping away

  seventy five



I close my eyes and pray

I'm not sure what I am praying for

But I hope it is good

   And I hear angels

   coming to take me away

A gossamer wind blows away from the sky,

And creates an angel, dear.

As one aged man says goodbye

To the life he lived here

A child is born, and she will be called Destiny.



She gives

                       She takes,

                                                       She decides fate.



For the gossamer wind that once came from the sky,

Has become a subtle monster

Never listening to the children’s cry.

She sees herself as God

On a playing field of soldiers



She’s here,

                 She decides,

                                   She takes lives.





We cannot stop her

But we can try.

The once a gossamer child from above

Now a burly fiend from the sky

Together we can stop Destiny.



  She Gave,

                  She took,

                           She was only human.

Take it back, please
I do not want
Your gift anymore because
It lives in my sheets
Making it hard to sleep
Every night
I am thinking
About him
And whether or
Not
My gift hides in his
Sheets, or
If it is tucked
Away in a closet
Of embarrassing laundry
His mother will never
Clean