I’d gladly take
one verse
ill written
Than a tome
explicit
with words
unfelt

I’d gladly take
one moon
still distant
Than a sunrise
hidden
by rain
that pelts

I’d gladly take
one real
good tiding
Than a score
of praises
that slap
my back

I’d gladly take
one heart
on fire
Than a million
minds
no souls
— attached

(Villanova University: June, 2025)

The beginning
of the end
The end
of the beginning
To look
and not see
A desperate
path

To start
what can’t finish
Destroying
tomorrow
When eyes
remain closed
The future
— uncast

(Dreamsleep: June, 2025)

Politics & Religion
boneyard
of existence
Power & Corruption
misleading
in kind
Promising & Deceiving
legislation
and dogma
Politics & Religion
deathtrap
— for mankind


(The New Room: June, 2025)

A mouthful
of hate
A bullhorn
of lies
Dissected
infected
With terminal
pride
Conscripting
the fledgling
Embedded
in brine
Indicted
convicted
True felons
— of time

(Dreamsleep: June, 2025)

Ella sent the invitation
Louis worked the door
to celebrate between the lines
inflection served du jour

My heart was given freely
their phrasings lined my soul
beyond the words and melody
goodbye to rock and roll

The Saints Were Marching In
as Satch blew his horn with glee
(and Ella said)
No, No They Can’t Take That
— Away From Me

(Dreamsleep: June, 2025)

The Pride And The Longing

One man’s ‘Old Days’
another man’s ‘New’
Chasing a memory
the pilgrim is due

One reminisces
what one only schemes
The pride and the longing
— two sides of a dream

(Ardmore Pennsylvania: June, 2025)


Shades Of Gray

Mixing wheat
with the chaff
The good
with the bad
In shadings
of gray
The truth
finds a home

Taking shape
from the whole
When shunning
both ends
Polarity’s
vanish
And clarity
— shown

(Ardmore Pennsylvania: June, 2025)

*****
in tatters
Gomorrah
is ash
L.A. lies
burning
New York
in the trash

Cowards
run rampant
Weakness
endeared
Our heritage
shattered
With traitors
— revered

(Inside The Fire: June, 2025)