If you use the word languish
I’m stopping my read
When you speak the word nurture
I’m far from intrigued  
If I hear you say milieu
I run for the door
Or when you spout genre
my ears to abhor
They’re chosen to impress
when the meaning is weak
Concealing the emptiness
of all that you speak
‘A labyrinth of dilettantes’
penning your verse
Can’t hide what is missing
— with these words you assert

(The New Room: February, 2024)

“Age but a number”
if only that were true
Yesterday reborn again
— memories renewed

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Moments Beyond Time

In search of fresh meat
the future will come
Hour predestined
the hunt zero sum

As seconds approach
impending attack
Free every moment
—time dead in its tracks


(The New Room: February, 2024)


Why

Why isn’t God
transcending
my doubt
Each day more distant
the louder
I shout
Why can’t the Lord
acknowledge
my pain
The light
growing dimmer
— the more I proclaim

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Innocent tonight
— guilt waits with the dawn

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

In a fantasyland
of their own creation
politicians spawn
Spreading their eggs of division
and lies
among bottom feeding pawns

Propagating treason
corruption and graft
to freely flow downstream
Carrying our destiny
over the falls
— of shattered broken dreams

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Life’s meandering journey …
mapped by a fool
Clairvoyant foretelling
the dilettante’s tool
Around every corner
the road twists and bends
A marble or diamond
— but choice to portend

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Present Unwrapped

Plan for tomorrow
live for today
the moment redeeming
future caches

Say what you mean
do what you say
the circle enclosing
— truth on display


(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Palace Rules

No worse enemy
than an ex-friend
No better friend
— than an enemy turned

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)




Empty Promises

Caring not much
for what I haven’t seen
Deaf to those voices
still trapped in between

Caring not much
for what I haven’t been
Each promise stays empty
— not kept from within

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)



White Buffalo

Can you …
Know
without thinking  
Win
without beating
See
without judging
Cry
without pain
Speak
without stricture
Come
without staying
Wish
without hoping
Share
without claim
Hear
without language
Curse
without malice
Hunt
without preying
Rule
without reign
Fly
without plumage
Dance
without music
Love
without taking
Die
— without shame

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Left To Wander

Confusion’s underbelly
frustration’s embryo
Orphaned seeds of black and white
spread where nothing grows
Choices wander celibate
new pregnancy unfound
Up or down left to right
— dubiety impounds

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Incognito

Thinking the worst
of people
life has cast a pall

To cover my
intentions
— and camouflage the fall

(Dreamsdleep: February, 2024)


Warring Words

Poets
are the bravest  
writers …
you know who you are

Scattered
among
the Johnny Come Latelys
battered up and scarred

Each word
proffered
born of pain
raised in discontent

Dying once
to live again
unwilling
— to relent

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Winning

First and foremost
success is an
entrepreneurial venture
— not a management exercise

(To Dartmouth Students: January, 2012)