In youth
the words were
loaned to me
from others
as their source

Till that day
one refused
to leave
and camped
on my front porch

It said ...
“I have
a lot of friends
no need
to be
alone”

And one
by one
they climbed
my steps
to stay
— and call me home

(The New Room: August, 2024)

Verbal Foundlings

Free or blank
tomato
tomatto

Without rhyme’s link
there’s no
bravado

The verse left orphaned
all kinship
spurned

As unconnected
words crash
— and burn

(The New Room: July, 2024)


Death Grip

The tighter
we hold on
The faster
— it slips away

(Dreamsleep: July, 2024)


Now Is Now

Freedom in the moment
the past is the past
Throwing off chains
— tomorrow recast

(Dreamsleep: August, 2024)


Reaching Back

Closer in the distance
than what endears my touch
I focus on your memory
— reclaimed in fated lust

(Dreamsleep: August, 2024)

He wanted to be
around clowns
but never wanted
to be happy
He wanted to write
great melodies
never wanting
to sing
He wanted to stand
on the mountaintop
but never wanted
to fly
He wanted to read
every book
never wanting
to speak

He walked in
the twilight
of tragedy’s
sunset
He loved several
women
only after
they were gone
He called to
his dog
who was stuffed
in the parlor
He answered
every question
that couldn’t
— be asked

(Dreamsleep: August, 2024)

Knowledge of the future
memories of the past
Caught within a final vacuum
dissipating fast

Wanton disbelieving
eyes are liars still
Perception changed then rearranged
sensation thrice distilled

The philosophy of physics
logicians burn and melt
Time but smirks as gravity flirts
judgment prior dealt

Memories of the future
knowledge of the past
Once you slow the ebb and flow
— the moment is recast

(Dreamsleep: August, 2024)

Apology
not good enough
Intention
still to blame
The road to hell
left burning red
its deviance
in flames

Excuses
rolling off the tongue
with lie
compounding lie
A higher power
judgment bound
the devil
— in denial

(Bryn Mawr College: July, 2024)

Loneliness
trumps anger
as love
wields its sword

No shielding
or armor
will lessen
or ward

Loneliness
a prison
its jailer
within

No ire
or fury
compares
— to its din

(Dreamsleep: July, 2024)

Abeyance

Raging
against the machine
Dying
in the light
Counting
the hours till darkness
Waiting
— for delight

(Dreamsleep: July, 2024)

Storm Clouds

I wanted to speak my mind
until I changed it
I wanted to write a book
without the critic  
I wanted to fall in love
until I lost her
I wanted wealth and fame
— without the thunder

(Dreamsleep: July, 2024)


Cosmic Shelf

A Shooting Star
In A Mason Jar
Preserved And Waiting
So Near — So Far

(Dreamsleep: July, 2024)

The Weight

Some carry the burden
early
Some carry the burden
late
Some carry the burden
deep inside
Some carry the burden
— of fate

(Dreamsleep: July, 2024)


Circuit Bard

Neurons
are mindful
And fire
as healers
Defying
the symptoms
Igniting
— the cure

(Dreamsleep: July, 2024