Woke within a dream,
amidst dense forest.

a tree stood,
older than time,
casting its shadow.

a touch of it,
showed all it had lived—
bloodied sword clash,
clouds that wept for years,
flora it wore,
wildflowers it shielded,
the warmth it once kissed.

yet it stood still.
as I faded,
back into the dream.

We can be strangers if you like
We can talk about the weather
Our silly plans for the weekend
Or how life has been kind to us
Trust me, I'm a terrific actor
You'll hardly be able to tell

We can be strangers if you like
Or at least we can pretend that
It doesn't shred us to pieces...

Lawrence Hall
Mhall46184@aol.com
Dispatches for the Colonial Office

                               A Failure to Practice Caritas
                         for a Certain Fellow Human Being

                            "I have never wished a man dead,
           but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure."

                               -attributed to Mark Twain

When God's good time puts an end to that snake
And obsequies are read over that foul mistake
And the interment prayers are reverently spake
Oh, let us not forget the wooden stake

On the door of my heart,
Love is not allowed inside,
Love smiled and said,
"Sorry I am blind."
10/4/2025

A warm sunset
Captivated the moon
To set it ablaze
In fiery hues
Blushing it's light
Across twilight sky's

A black rose
A mystery
Under dark skys
It's beauty striking
In shimmering light

Beautiful is the bird song
As pure as morning dew
A longing for his mate
Awakened by the dawn

Humbled, yes, a child
-a way of being
led by the hand.