Built on envy
and city lights
The vagrant actor
alone at night

In hidden alleys
with tinsel thorns
On celluloid
new lies are born

A big screen promise
of broken dreams
The waitress car hop
on Wilshire scheme

Drugged on stardom
with toxic friends
What footlight’s start
— the darkness ends

(The New Room: June, 2025)

The staff of my Father enjoining the past
futurity’s herding a bleating morass
The bloodline of orphans forever is linked
tattooing the flock with invisible ink
The first time the last time when nearing the end
tomorrow’s ungifted excuses portend
And times better nature is better untimed
beginning and ending forever conjoined
Eternity’s fenceposts hem in with disdain
all future inclemency fire and rain
But just as that last final sheep stays unsold
— my Father returns to re-shepherd the fold

(Dreamsleep: June, 2025)

It’s great
that they read us
a joy
when they say
“I loved your
last poem
the best one
today”

We post
and we thank them
for all
that they give
Refilling
our pens
with more reasons
— to live

(Dreamsleep: June, 2025)

The psychic tattoo
of paternity
darker than
fate’s blackest ink

The guilted knife
of maternity
cutting you
near to the brink

A prodigy alone
in the shadows
offspring of
scorn and disdain

Begging for love
and acceptance
from parents
— called heartache and pain

(Dreamsleep: June, 2025)

I said
what I had
to say

And did
what I had
to do

While asking
no one
to care

And seeking
nothing
from you

I went
where I had
to go

And saw
what I had
to see

To get
where I had
to get

And be
what I had
— to be

(Bryn Mawr College: June, 2025)

A Hall of Mirrors
ill conceived
With dark reflections
to deceive
From front or back
and side to side
Each look impounds
what time proscribes

Were you looking in
or looking out
When Alice voiced
her final shout
A dozen clonings
a thousand views
The glass your jailer
— in silver hues

(Dreamsleep: June, 2025)

Expressions
of spirit
the music
plays on

Beyond any
verbiage
or words
come and gone

At high
elevations
each note
takes you up

To reach
into heaven
where feelings
conduct

As harp
strumming Angels
with harmony
strong

Play chords
of acceptance
to guide
— you along

(1st Book Of Prayers: June, 2025)