Humanity i love you
because you would rather black the boots of
success than enquire whose soul dangles from his
watch-chain which would be embarrassing for both

parties and because you
unflinchingly applaud all
songs containing the words country home and
mother when sung at the old howard

Humanity i love you because
when you’re hard up you pawn your
intelligence to buy a drink and when
you’re flush pride keeps

you from the pawn shop and
because you are continually committing
nuisances but more
especially in your own house

Humanity i love you because you
are perpetually putting the secret of
life in your pants and forgetting
it’s there and sitting down

on it
and because you are
forever making poems in the lap
of death Humanity

i hate you

How did it come to this?
Sitting on a terrace counting how many
Ships are anchored in the bay.
I know most of the ships especially
The coastal runners, the big trawler has left an ugly ship
With a crew of the last chance saloon
No self-respecting seafarer would join a ship
That empties the ocean of life.
How did it come to this?
I am watching ships come and go in the bay of Cascais.
My plans for the future have been overtaken
By the veracity of the day

The forest blazes in a flash of light,
pines visible for only a moment.
Then shrouded again in the dark of night,
While the rain pelts in constant bombardment.

The towering branches creak in the gale,
tensing to snap in uneasy riot.
Like bones they rattle, so suddenly frail,
all holding a breath in dark disquiet.

One Mississippi, then two, three and four,
sound everywhere explodes, the axis tilts.
Restored as echoes fade to a dull roar,
the trees return to swaying on their stilts.

Standing beneath a sky torn asunder,
oh, what can I do but fear and wonder?

Cold breeze,
Torn sleeve,
Gray hair,
Tired eyes,
Weary soul,
Warm coffee,
Wise words,
Worn out hands,
Deep wrinkles,
Sunken eyes,
Everlasting hope,
Strong intuition,
Infinite prayers,
Endless love.