kindness bent its wing
to shelter those in need
in doubt of proper things
with speed of mending deeds

stones are smoothed by water's days
winds mountains do lay low
acts heroic pave the way
stem the tides of evening's woe

as sun does set to rise anew
these timely frets will cycle through
as night comes sure like morning light
so to eagles of our vision's flight

-cec

take this heart as ledger
for it only gave us pain
as though stricken on a stretcher
with a near to death refrain

was it love or was it fancy
was it loneliness on ice
we sought to raise the ante
as we planned to dodge white rice

was it lost among late hours
high above a city view
mining favor from the powers
as our lives were bent askew

busy days within life's traffic
and the nights dystopic frames
when our talks went stenographic
while our feelings missed their aim

take this elevator cardiograming
its sharp peaks and valleys black
forming ridge of road show blaming
as we say goodbye to jack

-cec

gesundheit!

"reflexive longing" says Charles
looking at looking as an end
time's tailored rust overcoat

back in that day ghosts lived
high and low road spiriting
pinned chronicles of osseous tissue

this hunger, thirst and yearning
for aging interstitial cartography
points our happy compass arrow

remembered like a dear friend
or a stuffed bear or rabbit tale
where familiar comfort comes home

-cec

waking morning comes home
arising to dawn's dimmer light
where curtained clouds roam
off maritime journey's might

rattles from tail's end of evening
penetrate this dreamer's calm
prompts morning's early weaning
from slumber acres balm

turn these covers open eyed
let soft fantasies vaporize
tuned to moment's assembling blocks
auguring dayspring's destined docks

-cec

within a postmarked envelope
sealed with a final red kiss
a blank sheet of white paper,
tear stained from glazed eyes
words having fallen short,
succumbed to folds of sorrow

-cec