how do I write about the beauty of the world
when barefoot people pass before my window
in search of shelter

how do I share my pleasure of the birds' sweet song at dawn
when I see faces etched with panic
from the deafening blast of bombs

how to rejoice in love and friendship
when meeting people who could barely save their lives
after burying their loved ones

how can I write with passion of the kindness of the human heart
when I see thousands fleeing from the ruins of their homes
only to face police   walls   barbed wire

true words are hard to find
as said a poet of an older war

    when it is a lie to speak
    a lie to keep silent

not easy

My words are but a shooting star
To be seen in all its glory
But as shooting stars fade in an instant
So do my words to be read once
Then fade into obscurity

DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO MEET YOUR GAZE WHEN IT MAKES ME SO VULNERABLE? DO YOU KNOW HOW INTIMATE YOUR EYES FEEL EVEN FROM ACROSS THE ROOM? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE AVOIDED YOUR GLANCE IN FEAR OF THEIR INTRUSIVE WALTZ IN MY THOUGHTS? DO YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS WITHOUT TRULY KNOWING THEM?
DO YOU KNOW
DO YOU KNOW
DO YOU KNOW
you must know
you must know the ache in my skin that your stare leaves
you must know

I remember jumping into the water without knowing how to swim
I remember pressing my hand against the kettle to check if it was hot, watching it blister red for hours
I remember pinching myself even if I knew I was awake
I remember running until my feet burned and my lungs collapsed

I remember crying so hard until my eyes were swollen shut
I remember not remembering the answer to a math question and everyone called me stupid
I remember gripping my own wrists so tight until it turned into a kaleidoscope of blues and purples
I remember letting myself get tangled in your hair and drown in your eyes

I remember destroying myself

the colors of love reside in you
i am black, gray and midnight blue
sun meets moon at daylights wake
yellow skips along ocean’s break
clouds of black soak waves of green
raise a rainbow briefly seen
my lover dreams in night’s caress
of flower petals and wedding dress
while in the shadows
i sleep content
the color of her love is meant…
for me

In the End, the Faithful were rewarded,
But there were just a few.
In the End, most screamed with terror,
As the guilty always do.
In the End, there was a final vote,
And we thought consensus ruled,
But in the End, the voting over,
We discovered we were fooled.

In the End, we ran for shelter,
There was none there to be found;
All the Faithful had secured it;
For they were Heaven-bound.
As the flames lept all around us,
We begged forgiveness from our Lord
In a Hell of our own makng,
With riches saved we can’t afford.

For the riches we were chasing,
Stole the goodness from our soul.
All the gold and all the silver
Melted into worthless coal,
And I stood and watched with sadness
Knowing I had had my chance
As the flames lept all around me,
Hell’s eternal damning dance.
PwL  3/19/16

Cosmic Consciousness

At the gas station
I offered to buy a man
A granola bar
He had returned

I thought he couldn't
Afford it

But he just returned it
Because there was
An ingredient in it
He couldn't have

I said I
Was embarrased

He said it was
Sweet of me

And that I restored
His faith in mankind

Well, that was
Kind of him

Just try to love
Your fellow man

I went on a walk
In the neighborhood
In the mountains

I met a kind woman
She complimented me
And I did the same

I won't say what was said
Some things
I keep only for me
And don't even
Type them here

It was a wonderful walk

I heard the birds

And I picked up
The conversations
As I often do

Dream time

I turned left down the street

As I type
I am listening to
A recording
Of birds

I cannot remember where
It was taken
There are voices
In the background

On my walk this evening
The parrots squawked
Four flew close together

"Feed the birds"
She said
She was giving them seed
On her front porch

Through the trees
Of a front lawn
A woman in her kitchen

And on the corner
A man and woman
Surveyed the small trees
And plants on their lawn

And I am reminded
That this is America

This is a beautiful land
A beautiful land
And these people
Live in peace

And in these beautiful
Mountain homes

And aren't they blessed

And I prayed
For these people

Just like I prayed
For the people
At the gym

I did not know them
But I spent so much time
WIth some people
At the gym

They are my brothers
And sisters

We spent time
Doing the same activity
In our American gym

And everyday
You have food
And shelter
And some friends

Well be grateful