there was a knot in this otherwise lovely piece of pine
and sometimes a squeal of a wheel when making a turn
odd little things that seem out of place...

or are they

like a sudden bang... at an unsuspecting moment
when a thing came apart from where it should stay
an errant word in a masterful speech

maybe it's really where the magic is

all things fixed and fashioned by us humans
are meant to perform intact for long
but nature too has bumps a plenty

so when a little thing goes awry

we could think more about the fullness of the world
those little clinks and clanks and fizzles and falls
could be the things set there, to make you stop and think

how nice when things remain where they should be

great to find an un-knotty piece of pine
stop and repair that squeak or squeal
or make more secure the things we hold dear
reread the tome your going to give
or more properly tighten up what we have too
reminders of our ever needing to set right all we see

maybe it's our sharpening stone where we can hone
our on-going quest to put things straight, find the perfect
thing that fits our fashion, and say what we mean
make loud quiet and small bold and sad happy
and old young, and young a bit older, and hate, more love
and words more telling of what we wish to tell.

what do you think?

i sat alone for quite a spell
looking about there was no one to tell
so i closed my eyes in a head back repose
and drifted slowly as a quite arose

now in a slumber my mind was free
to roam in memories filled with glee
again i embraced a long lost passion
dressed in fine clothes... all the fashion

frolic and jester came so plain
rolling over landscapes and dodging the rain
her smile so wide... face aglow
the air crisp and quiet after a long falling snow

we spun, laughed poking fun
i  hoped it would never stop after it begun
a thin tickle from a falling star
rustled my mind and sent me ajar

so here i sat back again
from there to hear... and then
i saw vapor that could have been a mist
it was surely her i had just kissed

going down to my last reserve
I've gotten sullen and lost my nerve
now cast out all curious friend and foe
my mind made up to leave, I must go

so close and structured a team were we
now a barren collection, the remaing three
friends lingering in a static mobile
hoping to keep steady the last appeal

once thinking that destiny was free
just moments flashing with joy and glee
now pats on the back and see you real soon
but certain am I, not before the next full moon

I alight fair maiden to bid
you good night

being sure my presence did entice
filled fully with your lust and spice

your redolent hair and lips so moist
heavy though... I lifted fully the joist

now pleasure and good moments flow readily
like an ocean of rainbows embracing me

for her now I have a place to remain
cogent and warmly ensconced in her plain  

a kiss to tidy up the last remnant of time
I'll carry  your essence now that it is mine

each step from here now will be loftier for sure
I feel it already as I pass through your door

sinking... blinking eyes now winking
sending rending never mending
things rings and nighttime flings
remorse of course... divorce
forget... don't fret or have regret
get going stop showing ... start growing
temptation... elation... emancipation
more to adore when you start to explore
it's life... with strife... and cuts like a knife

below the measure comes up short... kind of a sport
     of melancholy retort

aloof and breathlessly cold, defiant and bold
   wasting no time remembering what was told

a quiet but steady chime, sullen places marking time
    hastily sorting moments - so sublime

I touched a leaf... stolen by chance like a thief
   brought back to a place of no relief

bringing water to thirst, like an unearned prize... a burst
     thinking it was just another's place... but in fact, I was first

I sent up a fully inflated trial balloon
it drifted patiently past an August moon

though it fell upon deafened ears
the effort did not seem fraught with fears

but causing consternation soon thereafter
to my shock and surprise... I anticipated laughter

one never knows what some may think
you think you know, then it all changes in a wink

lads and dads and whoop dee do's helluva time and take a snooze
pick up your shoes and pay your dues, tinker around until it's found
what you've been looking for....
                             all around then sit down pat yourself
on the back hit the sack call it a day...
   then make your play and say hooray... hey, did you see that story
the other day... the one about the lads and the dads?

They told a story about a hidden glory... being plain as the day in
every way... no particular point of view just doing stuff like me and you... yes I heard them say in regular way
    whoop dee do's and how are you?

blithe and without obvious anchorage time will pass
moments to months to years and thoughts forgotten
reflect, retool your mind in deference and place markers
plainly to remember with smiles or tears
what seemed so important and assertive
now just flitters so lightly more air than substance
touch your fingertips and bow your head
recall and dazzle your memory so sharp
pointed things to come your way to stick
and **** your drifting soul make mention
to your quite inklings rushing past your
golden wash works of sultry limbs and
smokey sinewy lips that breathed an
alchemy of immortality and flame throwing
lust and rolling, twisting turning convoluted
instantaneous bursting silver sparkled raging
everything that shut the door to
vapid tundra of limitless landscapes now
pressed tightly into the eye of a needle

blue green hypnotic muses pass through
the spindles of time tightly squeezed to
minuscule bits that cast themselves so weightlessly
across our minds with recollections that
sputter to an abrupt stop

here in repose, motionlessly we arch our touch
to grasp any filament that can light our heavens
the ones we secretly crush on our pillows
as we usher in the peaceful times to journey
the dark crystal studded universe of our
nights seeing the wonders and urgings
of travels to mysterious contraband landscapes
and lush ***** paradises lined up in perfect
latitudes... tangents and twists and turns
solemn stirrings and lineages that have engulfed
all thought... all pleasure... all measures
and why not... check cashed... funds paid!.

we speak with a face of resolute absurdity
spit bullets of futile calumny
  hushed in silence bereft of theater
alluringly fresh when a newness is nearer

a rash of a tumbled tinkered mind
just having left her square body behind
  a **** and a pat, lips pursed no longer painted
ignored by the night so readily tainted

but you ask how can that be for you, for me
it was meant to surrender like an ebb tide sea
surely adrift her romp will soon flush back
like a swan song riddle or gold filled sack

Imogene, Rita, Ellen or Jane
bouncy full bloomed bosoms, in a ***** rain
more sorrows and spindles and silky skin
less time to make sturdy the morning's din

songs and sweet nectars to drink a splash
humming moans and heaving sash
eyes closed filled with a roaring constellation
memories ablaze filled with deep elation

what face we just talked about here writ
in previous verse not subject to theory or wit
just a mind's plainness as usual as can be
a moment casual as tweedily dah and tweedily dee

an open mind can see fires yet unlit
befriend those who are readily unfit
  stroll pastures moist with dew
   break apart and add many to few

cruise on pathways in pure delight
   sit quietly as day journeys into night
bump into walls sturdy and tall
seemingly steady but ready to fall

arise in passions so bravely met
win on a loser and lose a sure bet
flounder solemly at loves’ doorway
   put loss and revenue off another day

shed light on most pressing of things
place rainbows in stones and cast them on wings
embrace strangers’ sternest of glarings
    put things in places, in the most odd pairings

stumble through friendships with utter spite
hug a child tenderly to fend off a fright
  cast a pebble to a tidal wave
fall to forgiveness when failing to be brave

shout at a naive then honor a guardian
  knowing full well those clothes you have been in
remember how foul ideas can be
herald a compatriot, get ready to flee

for once opened all hell it can fill
    eyes, ears and mouth fashion its will
full of fantasies and wildest things to tell
         like a Pavlovian pup awaiting the bell

the mystical mythologies and cantankerous denizens
who color our worlds of chance and charm and breed the sinewy
allure of destinies and courses filled with adroit
memories and admonishments and forgiveness
replete with repentance and giving away of
fortune, fame, youth, and all endeavors of heart and mind
wherein we dwell as toilers of charity with humanities
highest escalations of power, meaning and forthright
values that permeate the ever present alacrity or miasma
that all existences are mere proclivities of the stars long
passed and the hallowed secrets of scrolls and spirit
that weaves the corset strapping all of humanity to
the lustrous, industrious penchant of a secretive smile
from the muse or satyr that has encased, enchanted and
left you no escape from your destiny... thankfully

trip, flip, quip, snip...
            be careful not to bite your lip...

mend, send, rend, amend...
             don't hurt your back when you bend...

close, repose, impose, doze...
            cover your face when you blow your nose...

fed, read, said, bled...
           be careful always, not to bump your head...

sore, bore, snore, adore...
           always stay ready to do a little more...

It will not do a sin
to chat about
and languish in
having nothing, no clout

just ruffian disarray
flagrant derision
   falsely sternly facing dismay
what a boast and sad decision

going left and left alone
casting down a common strife
nothing found under that stone
so emptied of a stern life

but heaven’s sake and sure
a past is not common
   you most make, do make more
written in time a bright omen

moving fast, in fast form
  let it be known now to all
it is not heritage nor the norm
for getting *****, from such a far fall

vitamin d good
sit a bit under the sun
nature does it all


lift weights carefully
and everything works better
simple and easy


try hard to stay slim
small waist size gives big health boost
eat less live longer


take a walk today
stroll your favorite places
your heart will enjoy


smile everyday
happiness helps your body
warms peoples hearts too

a link to break away your thought
may not be found in everyday musings
look higher or lower... in dusty books
or secret places and undiscovered  nooks

your search as needed and wanting
could solve your days need
or even longer term desire
may have already been tossed into the fire

so be it, but just wait a bit...
more of it! comes to a determined mind
keep on seeking and making your way
before you know it, it could take just one more day

eliminate and profligate your endless sorrows
tedious trepidations reservoirs of hence and morrow
effortlessly esteemed and steeped in splendor
wrought free from inclinations what you render

passions aflame the minds needs and ignore
what stiffens and loosens your need to explore
delve swiftly aghast in times to forget
appease and set forth long after needs met

epiphany drones on with a deluge
more information you need or can use
step lively and stern of face and of mind
in justice and peace relevance you will find

task your mind with infinite visions
engrossed in urgings and misguided ways
ruminate over lost loves and dire wishes
wake up at night happy but still in a daze

think and speak ever earnestly
to troubles that brew at a steady bubble
imply your still listening
make haste a retreat when your smelling trouble

languish amidst happy and go lucky
telling friends there place is most secure
arrange your schedule neatly
admonish them sternly then show them the door

arrive on time to all that is privy
dance with aplomb when invited to
in all graciousness and sincerity
give kind people affection and their just due

what purview do you have left for me
my words, limbs or what I see
you've debased and taken all and more
now am I to be mopped across the floor

once with tender and caring concern
like an eternal flame that would forever burn
doused now with trinkets one by one
all that was cherished now blatantly undone

this journey to nowhere was never known
our blindness so complete and never shown
all those efforts, dance art and song
where crafted to make us permanent and strong

you said it your way, I mine
unholy they became in our faltering shrine
now a deep and distant haze
thankfully softens the sorrow in our days

Baton rouged
cheeks
aglow
four syllable, setting back in lyric repose
smoldering Gibson
curved
muse
flashing
dashing
clicking
eyes
wide open square-mouthed
head askew
laughing
pearl white pink... framed
lips
licking a pinched, closed
moment
in discovery... sensations wither on primrose
not
the clipped voice
kind
just plain, distanced
gazing
tight fingers folded neatly as
if in
prayer
swinging through
the misty
little
girl
remnant days
all cause found
in
the plundered calendars
jealously relinquishing
the shadows
to
the
sensual
voluptuous
light

out of sight, out of mind, out of your mind
come across, come away, come to play, come and find
in the mix, in the groove, in step, inconclusive
thrown down, thrown across, thrown away, elusive

heir apparent, up in the air, air it out, air line, line up
fill in, fill it up, get your fill, fill your cup
talk alot, talk out loud, walk the talk, talk is cheap
cry baby, cry a tear, cry for me, cry or weep

I've got an exclamation to add elation...'
   a comma, to add some more...
a period to finish it up and gently close the door
  a dash to keep it moving... a question mark to get you thinking...
and ellipses for additional linking
a parenthesis to keep it all intact... and arrow to bring you back...
   an ampersand holds it from coming apart...
and a cap... gets you going for a really great start!


  

.

her arms placed wide were met
by
a
firm
slow
embrace
her head rested quietly at peace on
his
shoulder
sore
from
relenting
defense
eyes closed she drifted into a quiet
place
free
from
all
fear
and
care
they clung to each other like dew to a petal
quietly
still
unmoved
alone
together
his war was now over her loneliness
filled
calmly
with
the
joy
of
eternity

torment and lament... drifting
stark disintegrating and sifting
leave now or stay....
either howl or pray

dust reclaims and hovers
the last pieces of broken lovers
you drew each other's air
now suffocating in lonely despair

unmatched... unmet glory
stilled and blind... a whole new story
he said it... you read... it's wrong
neither, now know where to belong

tattered and empty in disarray
deaf and dumb nothing left to say
last touch last breath... embrace
your final look up close... at her face

lay down
   shut your eyes
  drift...
into yourself, landscapes  
pure restful
  until you feel
the tickle
of sleep
then dream  
of lost ways and found worlds
   special places
and times
   cheerful ways
or mystical moments
of dread
  and confused running
to unrecognized
   memories
or unknowns that may come
down your path
  jump away

or stay and let it
  navigate your
destiny in
  long arching
slow turns
     the way the
heavens emerge
  deep into the abyss
of time
    where reality
giggles and smiles back
  at you...

there are in this place so many words
of wonder, regret, unbounded faith and hope
resilience and surrender... so much piety
and lust.... forgiveness and grace

they all fall perilously to their fields of purity
and offer the readers eye a ballet of sumptuous
journeying to all places remembered not
yet known... some simply discarded

ever sure we may get tripped up we
scale these walls these monuments of
other worlds and ways of navigation
in plain anticipation of revelation

or confirmation... how did I do that
would I do that, can I say that
how rich and clever or demonically
unnerving or so delicate a palette of

consonants and vowels stringing
along our hearts our minds
our landscapes our escapes
our bodies... our homes our desires

park your dreams steady your
innards zip your pants
tidy your workplace... make ready
your smiles and screams are waiting...

supper done
  eyes cast
here
   then
  there
cerulean rain... dropping violet

melodic
     piano tickles
and smoothed out bed sheets
soft serpentine
moves stretched arms
up high
      dried iris and begonias... fall

Sunday
        will also come
  filled with
turned pages
and folded things

songs of shepherds
sweet stark
nakedness
  honed
     soft corners...
   ruby red
places
shudder to
      think
not caressed and
  sweat, and breath laughing smiles and
lips
lingering  
   with eyes
            deeply set
as a rudder
on course
      to...  all purpose, the ancients
        and joy  

              the heart... a bottomless
                                                        place.

as a bough is mighty
  languished aloft
just prancing about
  so gullible and flighty

hers’, here taken in jest
prized and tendered
softly surmised
head facing north, breast west

sultry but forlorn
enigmatic sternly, stanch
arise mightly nymph
          heaven’s first born

allured and made red
  foaming in strife
murmuring, giggly tick tock
humming bird like, toe to head

I’ve given all but prize
hence forth rattled
pursued with delight
left flatly, left back in a sullen surmise

I think back I’ll go
for tenderness lingers
safely treading once more to alight
  minute by minute I remember and know

mark time
time out
out pace
pace yourself

take time
time in
in bound
bound up

come home
home spun
spun around
around town

promise broken
broken down
down spout
spout lies

face time
time due
due now
now go

i write at night
when the world goes quiet...
           the time is right

meanings, reflections
       all that's been acquired
flow to words keynotes to times...
      that have expired  

the comings and goings of
          things now a mist
soon take life's reckonings
              that seem to persist

a place, a face... bumps and clicks
clocks filled with daylight and
          slow-burning wicks

shuttered terraces ablaze
  in the sun
closed and forgotten
      march on a breathless run

i left behind an unsigned letter
knowing the reader will know who it was from
i packed a bag with useless memories
and stuffed it away with a carefree hum

strolled down a path that tripped up my pace
secretly knowing and avoiding
an upcoming disgrace

i parted ways with a mindful friend
easily and firmly
assured it was a final and fitting end

my mind fell numb at her tender touch
not knowing why or where it came from
but found out i needed her so very much

say what you want
want more than your share
share what you can
can you spare some change
change your mind
mind your manners
manners are character
character defines life
life is the all
all or nothing
nothing happens without faith
faith in yourself will guide you
you have nothing to fear
fear only your fantasies
fantasies create great art
art is the blood of spirit
spirit will guide your journey
journey to all you desire
desire will fire your destiny
destiny is not final
final is just a place
place your hands together
together we make our way
way not your fortune
fortune is in your eyes
eyes see the truth
truth sees the way

******* in a net
baby raccoon snarled loud
police undid her


snap I heard it clear
mouse met its end quick and sure
sad but wife is happy


deer me he's resting
in our wooded green back yard
a nice site at 6 am


two munching rabbits
I opened the door
lightning-fast they are gone too


a flock of turkeys
wanders our front yard often
not just on thanksgiving day

morning

the dew was frosty
looking through thin cotton drapes
the sun opened them


noon

shimmering heat waves
nice cold drinks all around now
play and giggles too


dusk

orange pink purple
put on a comfy sweater
eat under the stars

I marched... I made ready
my place in the crowd
the message was forceful
words so very loud

it takes on illusions
like cold air to ice
first thoughts are airy...
the latter a vice

the purpose was clear
as thought can be
infinite in wisdom
plain for all to see

it's absolutely like this
then turn it a bit
we tap it and bend it,
to make it all fit

then bright as can be
served up in delight
a host of assumptions
we sure are all right

i think i'll walk the beach and crush sand under my feet
or maybe ride the subway standing still while i bounce about
              i could walk the concrete walkway
or
         just stroll a grassy path
it's all just taking steps... look down or up
and watch the sun dance with the clouds... or trees whisper
     and bend... or rock and roll as you hold on to the poll

just so you are going
heading out, moving along to your beat... making haste
or a slow retreat.. who's looking anyway...
   if so, do they know ... where you're going or why...?
and tip your hat
  if you haven't got one, just smile and keep strolling...

there is but one
precise precision

coming when not known
or in glancing
past mirrors

eternal cry
smacked into the middle of it all
all
  ready
steamy
    unknown

soothed by
a warmed wrapped universe

stand you there now
you  
   a man of men
a progenitor of your time to be a sympathetic highly
regarded dully appointed

soon more gesturing
world commanding demanding
expanding
  
steady to the heed and call
of realms and vibrations of
  expectations
and grounding on anchored sea bottoms

tethered to the darkest of
nights causeways
   in finger tipped grasps
and tip-toed acquaintances

all shine to cheers afloat on the seas joyously
released then found, then gone

arrived here now
   dad I’m home

deride, deceive...
  your almighty dreaded crumbling path
escalate and receive
  momentary gifts unrivaled wrath

what stays straight
  ignoble, steadfast illuminated so bright
turn back now, ... or wait?
foaming clouds in darkest night

I heard tales of unmet joys
rivals of men and chances
   faced with anger and misguided ploys
far away passions, angry glances

thousands of days shackled together
pomp and passions unruly tools
lying in pastures amidst golden heather
all made and sealed for irreverent fools

her breath sweet and warm
eyes sultry blue half-opened
lips met and our hearts tingled

take two
then one  
  under and over singing

arched back to see the spotted
  stars... dankly clinging

in mist, hidden to rise
   forthright amidst
long awaited sighs

flagrant and steady
  lift stones and rocks
      unearth despair now
  times flowing to the eddy

how many in time
  lips curled with lust
snipped and clipped
   in tempo, in pace sublime

have i missed something here
  trash thrown across the mind
incoherent distant faces
   now lost, once thought so near

albeit, chance takes on a mighty go
  hastily... left gone, expired
vastly misguided, derided
  once breathless and fast, now deadly slow

supper done
  eyes cast
here
   then
  there
cerulean rain... dropping violet

melodic
     piano tickles
and smoothed out bed sheets
soft serpentine
moves stretched arms
up high
      dried iris and begonias... fall

Sunday
        will also come
  filled with
turned pages
and folded things

songs of shepherds
sweet stark
nakedness
  honed
     soft corners...
   ruby red
places
shudder to
      think
not caressed and
  sweat, and breath laughing smiles and
lips
lingering  
   with eyes
            deeply set
as a rudder
on course
      to...  all purpose, the ancients
        and joy  
              the heart... a bottomless
place.

flagrant failings remain so plain
like a swelling river in torrents of rain
you did it and succeeded
as if doing it was all that was needed

how boastful now do you want to be
talk over and under in your own reverie
I smiled curiously to see the effect
She stood motionless, head *****

Listen now how candor could rule the day
Was I amazed to see the utter dismay
Cast aside your insidious grin
Feel the sharp pain... I'm standing in

Better hurry then and get out of those shoes
You don't have much more you can afford to lose
Thanks for the tip and barb too
You snagged a real wonder, that's something new!

soon my children will fly from my firm embrace
to that worldly gaggle of spit, and fire and chance and
unleased all... opportunity, happiness, love, and desire

but for now, I'm holding tight to their smiles and stylings...
and petulance and arguments and laments... pitched battles
that end up soon in smiles and hugs goodnight

and dressing up.. posing and posturing for a tik tok
dance or feisty Instagram... silly but so now...
flippancy and admonishments roll out like a lucky seven

going out, coming in, that's up and then down
here's the doorbell being rung one, two, three times
fast, so fast... "open up Dad keys are in our backpacks"

a blink from diapers to destinations... on their own
with friends and futures in tow... be home soon
maybe midnight, maybe three... really not sure

time waits ready to treat the destiny for each one's
sonnet, symphony... jazz riff or rap synapse...
solely and uniquely fitted like a fine dovetail joint