Conation

Have you tilted the axis
on a new tomorrow
Have you changed with intention
— the direction of time

(The New Room: February, 2024)



Round Peg — Square Holes

The poetry of mathematics
— oxymoronic at best

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)





Robert The Bruce

War is won
before the first battle fought
Willful intention
the enemy caught

Decision a crossbow
empowered by choice
The spirit retracting
— a conquering voice

(Stonehenge: March, 1987)


Apate

Captive of emotion
— prisoner of deceit

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Crossing Over

Attending his own funeral
no tears were exchanged
No grieving or mourning
— but memory remained

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

In Memoriam

People won’t remember you
because of your money
The human spirit bereft
by your dollars in vain
History won’t revere you
because of your tokens
Your legacy built upon
— prescience ordained

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)



Blood Trail

Don’t get ****** into choosing
both sides are bad
The Left or the Right
their massages sad

The Right tries to promise
what Leftist’s sublate
Two sides to a trap
— where lies are the bait

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


“What Simple Folk Do …”

Only inside ordinary things
is the extraordinary released
Baptized new day after day
eternity unleashed

Only by embracing what’s common amongst us
as Arthur knew so well
Can we move on to where it starts
beyond heaven — beyond hell

(Memories Of Camelot: February, 2024)


Making Our Bed

The silence of death
lives in the future
Sleeping with memories
— of yesterday’s past

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Rays Of Light

Information contextual
never absolute
Naked in isolation
relative and moot

Inspiration celestial
gifted from the throne
Sending rays to light the dark
— truth to stand alone

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Science

One step
forward
two steps back

Look around
you
see the facts

Sky scraped
cities
health care gods

Obese
on drugs
gender fog

Ghetto
masters
children ******

War
a plaything
religion owned

Information
but a mask
to hide us from the truth

DNA
and quantum theory
— kills the Golden Goose

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Dreamsleep

No words into boxes
all Muses set free
Not quatrain or sonnet
or limerick for me
The feeling’s unleashing
the verse as decreed
Whose words birth inside me
— unspoken in dreams

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Feelings

They come to
me vacant

No plans
to deceive

In silence
they wait

My words
— to conceive

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Mors Spiritualis

Spiritual *******
who is to blame
The prophets the poets
lascivious shame

With prurient verses
stark naked their prose
Defaming what’s ******
their lust to impose

And when they have finished
exposing their ruse
They choke on its meaning
and die self-abused

(Rosemont College: February, 2024)



Divinity’s Pew

The truth stands in contrast
to only itself
Once mentioned eternal
when thought and then felt
It lives in the ether
past fortune or fame
Conscripted by conscience
no praise and no blame
The truth beyond reason
beyond lies or consent
The lucky among us
to follow its scent
Its trail leads to faith
divinity’s pew
Transforming the moment
— you first say I do

(Rosemont College: February, 2024)



Freezing The Moment

Are you the
lead actor
within your own myth

The script
ever changing
the past in its crypt

Can you freeze
the moment
with only one word

The Angel’s
applauding
— the devil unheard

(Rosemont College: February, 2024)



Salt Lick

Politicians
endow a sword
to the few
— to command the many

(Rosemont College: February, 2024)


Modern Education

Learning more
about less and less
Feeling torn
in great duress
Faith attacked
we hide from myths
Real love scorned
— ourselves we kiss

(Rosemont College: February, 2024)


Marx In Hell

Political salvation
the god of failure
Beatifying the collective
— on the devil’s throne

(Rosemont College: February, 2024)


Gnostic Dreams

The brighter the glare
we discover around us
The darker the light
stays hidden within
Secular salvation
a digital failure
God’s imminent nature
— indistinguishable from ours

(Rosemont College: February, 2024)


‘Sage To The Court Jester …’

God’s truth — Man’s truth
bridging the difference
trust in the Muse

(Rosemont College: February, 2024)

Living Well — Dying Well
precepts of destiny
bookends of fate

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

+  —  

Patience and time
Courage or fear
Pleasure then pain
Smiles and tears

Future and past
Joy or remorse
Vision when blind
Blessing or curse

Borrow or steal
Praise and then blame
Life unto death
Loss or a gain

Reason and anger
Random or fate
Plussing the minus
— open the gate

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)



Body & Soul

Disease …
robs you
of your health

Dementia …
robs you
of yourself

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


\

Politics and war
twin pillars of conflict
“Charge into weakness
retreat if there’s strength”  

High in the tower
dividing to conquer
Fate looking down
— as your destiny waits

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Closing his eyes
one last time
a man can finally see

Opening his heart
time undone
feelings Joie de Vivre

Moving beyond
future and past
returning to the source

Hearing that voice
bathed in the Light
—  love his Tour de Force


(The 1st Book  Of Prayers: February, 2024)

The quicksand of anticipation
— the fire below

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Chameleosis

A changing experience
— is not an experience of change

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Dark Feelings

Captive of emotion
— prisoner of deceit

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

He died
the day before
his birth
the curse had worked again

Generations
in the womb
their feticide
a last amen

The garden path
a stepford trap
whose fruit trees
bear the scorn

Enoch built
to hide the curse
the Mark of Cain
— damnation born

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Running off with tomorrow
divorcing today
The moment left orphaned
— all time astray

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Camels in the
brush
Memories in the
fire
Voices in the
wind
Panic in the
mire

Messages
conflict
Enemy
conspires
First shot
breaks the silence
Last shot
— lights the pyre

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Future horizons
tomorrow in embers

Sparks in the distance
— time set on fire

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Adding together
numbers and colors
red + 7 sku’d

Living in another
event horizon
yellow + 1 = Q

Orange + 31
sweetness defined
Euclidian paradox

Counting + feeling
the universe prime
— nth truth outside the box

(Villanova University: February, 2024)


Sands Of Time

Memories in the hourglass
  tumble and fall
  feelings receding
— meaning recalled  

(The New Room: February, 2024)

The timid
find courage
in the well
— of another’s fear

(Valley Forge Park: February, 2024)


Call Me Ishmael

Mediocre writing
spawns editing
The Great Works
— born unchanged

‘Thoughts of: Bob Dylan, Laura Nyro, John Lennon, Steve Winwood, Kris Kristofferson’
(February: 2024)

Poetry
secured in beauty …
carved high in a tree
Branches
spread and offer cover
of your history
Winter
comes and bares the promise
Spring will shade anew
Seasons
in the bark awaiting
— progeny to view

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Real poets don’t make lasting friends
they shun fraternity
Their truth like gritty sandpaper
abrasive when intoned  
The reader may be gratified
with what the words uncover
More likely though the pain involved
— will cut them to the bone

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

No matter how many times
you set the world on fire
Never forget
— where you store the matches

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

One More Day

Always amazing
how well this life
goes right on without us
New images tread
where shadows have fled
old memories in the dust
Nothing left behind
but words to remind
we chased the Tiger sure
Out of the jungle
into the light
—hoping for one day more

(The New Room: February, 2024)



A Finer Point

Simplify
and clear

Simplify
and clear

Not many
years left

— simplify and clear

(The County Line: February, 2024)



Trapline

Could — Would — Should
poetry’s triumvirate oxymoron

(The New Room: February, 2024)



Goodbye

Walking the wasteland
tracking the miles
rumpled old notebook
pain has compiled

Closer to yesterday
lost to today
Voices of promises
I shouldn’t have made

Trouble ahead
troubles behind
Providence follows
in only my mind

My pen almost empty
eyes nearly shut
One word to write only
— midnight has struck

(Villanova University: February, 2024)



Free Given

It matters least
that when I die
What strangers say
what ladies cry

It matters more
the ink run out
My words free given
— whose passion shouts

(Villanova University: February, 2024)

A place though small enough to write
— still big enough to dream

(State College Hotel: February, 2021)

New Keys

Will I do it justice
will I find the words

Unlocking tomorrow
— with phrases unheard

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)


Counting Inward

It’s never about
the number of words
Only the meaning
— and truth to be heard

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

The world God’s illusion
deceiving Himself
Birthing a metaphor
sleight of His hand
Time as the smokescreen
veiling the folly
Escape our salvation
—transcendent Divine

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Poet’s see beyond the cosmos
that’s why they’re revered
Poet’s leave the final time zone
past and future cleared
Poet’s bow to one volition
high above the clouds
Poet’s live in love’s reflection
— beauty to enshroud

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

One choice and circumstance
set us apart
Forever divergent
forever two hearts

One lasting reminder
of what can’t be fixed
The eggshells lay scattered
the pieces all nixed

In less than an instant
the future was charred  
Most scarlet of letters
forgiveness stays barred

And now to requestion
the maybe’s and why’s
The Stone of Excalibur
— an easier try

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Touching beauty
if just for an instant
if caught by its magic
— if only just once

(Moran Junction Wyoming: August, 2021)

Like a boy in the wild
raised by wolves
my poetry is sired
Tracking the scent
of each hunted word
traps set for me most dire
Uncaught or caged
by academia
my trail still honor bound
To wander freely
beyond the wind
— alone to stand my ground

(Ronald McDonald House: February, 2024)

I have no regard
for other poets
how could it be other

As they conscript
the words away
of which I’ve not discovered

A battle royal
zero sum
as phrases block and parry

The winner left
his voice reclaimed
— the loser most disparaged

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Signs that might be seen as omens
send me on my way
the daylight waning for today
and luck still ****** on display
flying close to danger’s coven

The wind blows fortune’s empty cast
as trackless dreams setout
dispelling hope and bringing doubt
without a name to even tout
caught within tomorrows fast

I see each warning clearly now
they speak much like a friend
whose words as tokens try to bend
rushing blindly toward the end
captured voices left to bow

Those signs that led me all point down
the road is changing fast
no clear distinction first from last
my future ****** to be my past
— the devils fiddle calling loud

(Saint David’s Pennsylvania: February, 2024)

Were I to explain
what then would I say …
That the moon loves its axis
that each dog has its day
That the question unanswered
most answered indeed
That each start an enigma
and truth often bleeds
That the mind unexplored
without mention at all
That from season to season
time stumbles and falls
Against my better nature
I’ll place this one bet
The answer you hoped for
— you’re never to get

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

When night
is your mistress
all wishing is gone
Espoused to
the sun
till divorce came along
Hope
your one offspring
lying dead in repose
Philandering
blindness
— your tryst ill disposed

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

They come to me in phrases
in couplets newly born

Screaming from the highest places
fitted but unworn

They come to me in dreamsleep
the moon recycled new

Time released in words immortal
—scratched into the pew

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Toby was special
beyond any words
His love monumental
for country and Lord

He fought to the end
accepting his fate
A legacy giant
— our hearts to embrace

(Tony Keith’s Death: February 5, 2024)

Abandon your party
stand up for what’s right
the partisan madness
a liar’s delight

Honor the founders
revolt and derail
the graft and corruption
— both factions entail

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Blessing
the last poem
I’m ever to write
My body
reposing
Sophia’s delight
With eyes
dimming slowly
each breath growing thin
My spark
to an Angel
— as light to begin

(1st Book Of Prayers: February, 2024)

The Christians
and the Gnostics
can either sect be right
Would God omniscient
have created
such violence and blight
To **** and maim
**** and burn
for scripture misconstrued
Defies the spirit
and the mind
— disproving Him anew

(Villanova University: February, 2024)

The playing field level
your words versus mine
A race to forever
embedded in rhyme

The score has been tied
neither side giving ground
Both phrases and couplets
inscribed to astound

It’s late in the game
when a stanza takes off
Outpacing the others
no images lost

As darkness approaches
but one voice remains
Returned from the heavens
— posterity claimed

(The New Room: February, 2024)

To understand
deeply
the one to the many

Salvation
unquestioned
the weakest in need

Your heart always
truest
when starting the journey

The sheep
that’s been lost
— where humanity bleeds

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Truth
a heavy burden
speaking loudest
from exile

The distance
and confinement
like a magnet
to iron

Imploding
within you
when ready
for travel

The weight
of
delivery
— the roar of the lion

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

What is faith
but a journey
What is time
but a moment
What is truth
but a figment
What is love
— but goodbye

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Speak the truth
at your own risk
Wager fortune
for just one kiss
Walk the tightrope
of joy and pain
No past or future
—the moment gained

(The New Room: January, 2024)

Satan hides
within the shadows
Among your thoughts
his evil trolls
His masquerade
beyond the body
  Feigning silence
inside your soul

He takes up space
at God’s indulgence
The part he plays
unscripted low
In brimstone’s fire
he finds acceptance
From prodigals
his demon’s flow

The battle royal
lasts forever
Cast in darkness
waits his throne
To live in shame
while unrepentant
A trillion souls
—one more to go

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)

Only when writing
do you become ageless
Communing with eternity
— transcending time

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

My spirit frost bitten
yet still the river flows
Mercy on the distant bank
my fate caught in between
Wishes drift across the ice
but this side holds me fast
Deliverance oh so very near
— in sight beyond my reach

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

You’ll never find out
where you might have gone
If you don’t leave
where you’ve been

You’ll never approach
who you might become
If you change
with every whim

You’ll never discover what’s
over the hill
With both feet stuck
in the sand

You’ll never discern the
right from the wrong
Indecision
—your command

(The New Room: January, 2024)

Complex thoughts
need simple words
The meaning foremost
verse to show

The mind expands
new seeds put down
Cross pollinated
left to grow

The soil fertile
just sun and rain
As fields once fallow
rise anew

The world awaits
each problem solved
In cyphers brief
— with letters few

(Rosemont College: January, 2024)

Intellectual larceny
the academic elite
Immune from indictment
inured and effete
They swing their false knowledge
like weapons to maim
The truth left in ashes
— their lies to inflame

(Septa R5: February, 2024)

There’s a well
in your meadow
only music can fill

It’s deeper
and wider
and calls to you still

With its bucket
overflowing
and rope fastened tight

Sweet melodies  
waiting
— to quench your delight

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Last night
I was able
to outgrow myself …
again
for the very
first time

Life was unspun
in the moment
relayed
where tomorrow
and yesterday
rhyme

Competing with
the future
the sky
and the moon
my wandering
complete

Turning my
destiny
inside out
my nature
expanding
—replete

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Better to reach for something
and miss
than to hold back playing it safe

Destiny in the intention
and choice
hesitance falling from grace

Better to be adopted
by truth in flight
than the orphan of a lie

Where words and music marry as one
on the highest mountain
—you climb

(The New Room: January, 2024)

The best thing of all …
a memory treasured
The worst thing of all …
a memory shamed
Blessing the one
cursing the other
To live on beyond us
— in praise or blame


(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)

Like a thief in the night
academia
wears enlightenment
as a mask
hiding its true agenda
— a stranglehold on the truth

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)

Monetizing poetry
— the darkest form of alchemy

(Villanova University: January, 2024)