floating gossamer shimmers
on heavy sepulchre air
lying dormant in the dark
patiently hibernating in
long-suffering carnivorous wait

white spider-threads echo with
last breath wing-beats and
choking moth-wing dust flies
as they silently pronounce the
rhythm of the timeless dance

this one dies
that one lives
this one lives
that one dies
forever and ever and ever

leaflets flirting with the warm breeze
sunset orange-coral nestling into grassy valley
             universal rose-colored lens half-hour
flower buds swollen with anticipated arousal

impossibly long shadows veil canyon walls
breaking rank, ducks' webbed feet descend
             glass-calm river pool flock-shattered
invisible trout shadows streak water-polished stones

butterfly-fluttered stomach flies with her touch
lightning-flash eyes shine under dark-forest lashes
             full lips birthing angelic-wit phrases
her room-lightening smile erupting with laughter

the greatest generation
are only kids now
i pray they do better
than we

in my sons' eyes burns
a brilliance unmatched
my hope for a world
gone astray
 
my daughter's heart's full
of compassion and peace
my hope for a world
full of hate

the mountain that is his heart
core of lava-basalt pressured granite
crumbled limestone shattered shale
clay pockets eroded sandstone
blowing in stinging swirls
taproot stabbed grassroot captive
rabbitbrush sagebrush cheatgrass
climbing to spruce fir and pine peaks
stony outcrops penetrating
her bluest-pale vaulted sky heart
he and she forever entangled
in life's beautifully rhythmic dance

the thing about the world is
it never stops spinning
it never stops it never rests

the day of all days
begins right away
it begins now it begins today

gathered clouds scatter
among the four winds
together forever never again

like a tunnel with a retreating exit
he felt his life slipping away
tightly held with his hands
loving hands that had never
ever caused pain
life became a lightning bolt
here and gone in an instant
only memory remains

and as the darkness gathers
all light and life into a pinpoint
he looks to his left
(it's always to the left)
and his angel unfurls her wings
and through her eyes he receives
the strength to hold on
and **** the unbearable thirst