The story of revolution
the glory of Che
The fury of wander
a doctor’s foray

Silver spoon of his birth
the high noon of choice
A tune peasants cling to
that force in his voice

Daring insurrection
then falling from grace
Each stalling acceptance
a rebel’s embrace

His legend in khaki
a friend to the weak
Unbending in spirit
— both joyous and bleak

(Dreamsleep: December, 2024)

Winning the
war

Winning the
peace

Divided by
victory

Joined in
— defeat

(The New Room: December, 2024)

Did you go
to the gym
the Poet asked

Or just write
weakened
the verse untasked

The vowels and
consonants
stay unflexed

With words
atrophic
— their muscles vexed

(The New Room: December, 2024)

Your voice
becomes a shadow
breathless
aft the fall

Whose words
deform in Satan’s grace
speechless
— yet they call

(Dreamsleep: 12-19-2024)

I stray
on purpose
my will
redeemed

When left
of center
to swim
upstream

Against
the grain
my future
hides

On roads
less traveled
past times
— divide

(The New Room: December, 2024)

The ending
hard
The ending
mean
Your future
soiled
But memory
clean

Your back bent
over
Your steps
misplaced
Your speech
a murmur
But one
last ace ...

A Robin
sits
Upon your
arm
And sings
of times
Forgotten
charm

And takes
your last
Begotten
breath
Upon its
wings
To fates
— regret

(Dreamsleep: December, 2024)

Fearing
that day
when the
music stops
My steps
remeasure
my soul
takes stock

Rueing
that moment
when time
is gone
My tea
resweetens
all words
— in song

(The New Room: December, 2024)