Aspirations become crushed by life,
As the will to succeed hits a brick wall.

Hopelessness transpires through devastation,
Emerging a fractured outlook about fate.

When the dream becomes broken,
Promise is always an option.

By climbing out of that hole,
Hope is a possible task.

If greatness can’t be fully restored,
Alternatives can be proclaimed with honor.

Whatever course destiny’s tale will tell,
Success can win through decisiveness.

Strolling around in
our dear Old Paradise Street
I nearly swooned, my
love, yet, though, rose up into
your deep blue empyrean.

~
All of these stars have a reason.
A reason to shine,
A reason like mine.
~

Loud and arrogant,
a visceral voice
takes control,

green and purple
red and angry
fierce and ugly

cold like holy water,
but not holy
cold and white like frost
on the windows.

So cold - too cold to sleep.
Breathe under your blanket
curl up
hold your feet to your stomach
your hands inside your head.

The glow from the oil stove flickers
but
the heat from its distant flame
does not reach.
Its light only taunts,
reflects,
makes the frost appear warm.

Frost inside the window

I scrape the crystal etching
with ***** broken nails,

Soon morning will break
and melt the frost,
moving it along the frozen pane,

along my frozen pain.

Sometimes I see and feel
a whole poem
in my mind
all at one time

like a painting
a landscape of alluring
colors
and
form
a star-filled ebony sky
a perfectly formed blossom

or a spectacular instant

a burst of lightning
vehement rumbling of thunder
the fleeting glimpse of a rainbow

a moment of inexpressible
joy and love...

a child's delighted laughter
a new mother's glow
white-haired lovers walking
hand-in-hand

but...

I can't seem to take it apart
and name the pieces.

The fragments are dandelion seeds
blown to the wind
once scattered
not retrievable.

But the feeling they present
as they float freely about
is worth letting them go.