The virginal moon shines
Amidst the diaphanous clouds
Like an ageless nymph
She hides from her lover

The gentle waves ripple endlessly
A hypnotic song they sing
Myriad shadows in her *****
And the Ganga flows on her way

On his tiny boat
A little lantern burns the night
The lonely boatman
Sings in the lonely night

A song of pain and longing
Of a child pining for his lost mother
And the Gentle Ganga
She cries!

With her three eyes and many arms Kali Ma leaned in to tell me the secret of this year.
She told me with regret and hate filling my life- I wouldn't be getting anywhere.
She said with trust and loyalty- one day I'll find my back again.
To a live that's full of love and hope instead of sadness and sin.

The Dark Mother- the Goddess of destruction and creation told me she, herself, was the bearer of contradictions.
She said we all fall apart and there are ways to get back up if we just open our eyes.
Instead of filling our self with doubt and questioning the truth instead of the lies.

So within the Ocean  of Blood I have been created by Kali Ma- and I will sooner than later be destroyed by her power.
But before the year is up she has given me the truth to rise up and fight her.
I will change for myself and I become one with the truth's that lie within me.
I will remember the good instead of the bad so it doesn't destroy all of me.

I will wear red as gypsies must do when their funeral is near.
I will let Kali Ma devour me and send me home without fear.
I will wear pride knowing I have found the truth and let the lies go.
I will be at peace when I have figured out everything I needed to know.

The right winter
for dope and ice
for walks along the river route
home

The right winter
for arctic pin-***** wind
holes in boots
turquoise dress coat
far too thin
for walks along the river

But The Merrimack couldn’t find her way
when fabric moguls migrated south
Fascinated by nylon nasties
they traded their silks and cottons
for those petro-polyesterdays

While she—
could no more manufacture life
than mint their money
So, they blamed her
Pronounced her—“Dead”
Decried her “*****”

Now—
She wanders sadly under bridges
stopping to eddy in an overhang of birches
In dank canals, I found her sleeping
angered only at the falls

Poor outcast!
with current edge she splinters light
from cities sadder still
retching her oily stench 
        past Plum Island
into the sea— into me

What’re a few warm tears
falling from someplace on a bridge
to the icy waters of the Merrimack?
Rivers get lost in the ocean don’t they?

Let them find each other there

hey, ma. it's been a while.
i don't know if you remember
the sound of my chirpy voice
anymore.
it still comes up, every now and again;
when i'm baked beyond my brains
when i had just cracked the rankest pun
when i'm tangled in a boy's arms, lost -
lost. just like you ma.

i wonder where your mind takes you
when the ringing in your ears doesn't seem to go.
when you dissociate into the otherworld, and
the lashes of your
third eye sweep me away from your vision.

i thought the power of the universe was
supposed to be
abundant.
yet i have lost you to the vortex of your gods -
the same ones that leave
only the wind
to rock me to sleep.

ma,
i am pockmarked with your bad habits.
i lose touch with reality
myself, looking for the warmth of your
recognition.

i guess space is too large
for me to find your meditative corner.
or perhaps
i'm just looking in the wrong spaces.

space is nice because you have
no weight on your shoulders.
i miss the feeling of having
no weight on my shoulders.

when i grow up, ma
i want to be just like you.
lost.

Ay ma
I just don't get it
Always about them ma
They ain't never asked you huh,
Never asked you ma,
Never cared to see
What you had to tell us
About this white mans world
How we are afraid
They **** us ma,
They don't believe us,
Or they probably don't care
I saw my man get beat ma,
Right down the street
By the corner store
Had his hands up ma,
He was crying, afraid of dying
Ma, he was so scared
And if they don't **** us
Then they lock us ma,
For nothing, just like dad.
But they don't care ma,
Same old story.
They ain't never asked
They ain't never cared to see
Whats its been like for you and me.

On this hillside where the homeless rest
The Song Sparrow bursts into psalm,
Reciting beautiful exclamations to the heavens above
For the forgotten souls that are concealed below.

In this place called Potters Field lay one million souls
Unknowns from 200 years ago....more & more arriving everyday.
Nestled thickets of wild trees hold these memories past and
Shadow the headstones with prayers inscribed.

How could one small place hold so many forgotten souls?
How could we have forgotten those less fortunate than us?
Saint Benedict's tear filled eyes scan the field
As he try's to to make sense of what has happened.

Lift up your eyes New York and make your voices heard.
Don't let their memory fade away.
God holds a special place for these children because....
In the Kingdom of God....
                                 The last shall be first.

K.E Carman 2016

As I peer across the Mountain range of my life,
I see a vast array of peaks and valleys,
Roads that wander near and far.

Some roads seemed unsurpassable,
Some roads were thought to be inconceivable,
Some roads I felt were unapproachable,
And I see them all as landmarks in my life.

The one road in the very middle of my lifescape,
The one that's known for being less traveled,
I so often avoided and I don't understand why.

Some roads seemed impossible,
Some roads were thought to be infallible,
Some roads lead to intimacy,
And I see them all, good or bad as milestones in my life.

Standing at the base of the mountain top,
I feel a presence encouraging me to climb the summit.
My breathe becomes heavy, my limbs are numb but my mind is focused.

Advancing the summit, I pull myself above the misty clouds,
Peering below I find oceans of generations that have gone before me....but were never forgotten,
And one stands at the forefront, with arms outstretched, an unforgettable smile, and love thats unending.

There's only one road that leads us to an island universe where we live on forever past fatality.
All roads have the same waypoint which leads us to forever.
Close your eyes and imagine a place that does not judge and only loves.

K.Carman 2016

i remember riding shotgun
between my ma and pa
mom had on the radio
dad chewed on his chaw

I always rode the middle
Every time in that old truck
I could feel each bounce and bump
Somtimes I had to duck

Ma would play the radio
Jesus music filled the air
Daddy, turned and looked away
Just like he didn't care

Daddy was in Vietnam
He met Ma when he got back
He lost ******* in the war
From a sneak enemy attack

Ma grew up in Jamestown
A small town in Tennessee
Nothing there but the old mine
Nothing much for one to see

She went to church on Sundays
Listened to  WCLC
Jesus music all the time
For the folks in Tennessee

Each Sunday after service
Pa would pick us up at church
He never went inside though
He didn't quite like Pastor Birch

Daddy only owned one suit
He'd had it since the war
He wore it to get married in
It didn't fit no more

The sleeves had gotten shorter
The chest was far too tight
But, since he didn't go to church
To pa....it fit just right

Ma would sit and listen
And I would watch my pa
He'd make faces out the window
Never ever to my ma

Pa had faith, but different
He believed in what he saw
And what struck his eyes in war time
He could never tell my Ma

So, we would go to market
After church, each Sunday morn
Ma would go in shopping
We rush her with the old truck horn

She'd cuss pa when she got back
He'd just smile, enough to say
Let's get home, daylights wasting
There's still chores to do today

When I was nine, well almost ten
Ma got sick, I mean, real bad
She was being called to heaven
And I remember that my Dad

Took me into town to shop
To get a suit and shoes
Before we went he sat me down
And told me the bad news

I cried, for near an hour
Funny thing, my pa did too
I'd never seen this happen
To me, well...this was new

He said, you're ma's a fine one
She's the best person that I know
Now, she's wanted up in heaven
That's all...we need to go

Ma died three days later
Pa phoned up Old Pastor Birch
He told him what had happened
And made plans to use the church

In all my life, I'd never seen
My pa dressed up so good
He said, I don't look perfect
But, I done the best I could

Pa's been gone for thirty years
And you know, I've got his suit
Not the new one that he bought that day
But, the one...he gave the boot

It reminds of the better times
When Ma and Pa and me
would ride out on a Sunday
I'd be shotgun, just to see

I remember riding shotgun
With Ma and Pa, and it was good
Jesus Music on the radio
As I think back...it was good

आं उन्दैमोन गुदि फरायसालियाव
गोर गोर बिथ'राइ बिजाब फानोखंआव खिथेबना लानानै
हुरुद खुगाजोँ मटर साइकेल साखावलांनो हानाय।
निसिमा रायजो नाङैनो मुंदांखा नायल' जाल' दतमा गामिनि रनजिद माहाजोननि
"गैया मा खालामनो?" मुंनि टियाटारआ।
सानफ्रोमबो  नङा सम सम मोना मोनायाव जायो एबा दिन्थियो।
गोसो गुदुं जोँ गामिनि बोरायसा बुरैसाफ्रा सोरां बारां ओँखाम जानानै
मोनानाय लोगो लोगो नायनो हांखुर जालायथारो।
गान गोलाव जाथ्रा माबा माबि मानसि सावथुन होनब्लाथाय बारलायग्राखा।
आरोबाव सेंग्रा सिख्लाफोरखौ ओरैनोब्लाबो बुङाब्लाबो जाखासै।
आंनि सानै सनजिमा रनजिमा आब'मोनाबो बाज्ल' लायथारदोँ सानसेखालि
बिसोरनि सेर सेर आरो आंबो खम नङा।
आय आरो आफाया गावसोर नायनो ओँखाराखैब्लाबो आंखौ लाखिनो हायाखै ओइदिनखालि
"नाया मोना गुना,
देनां देरबा नायगोन होन्नानै।"
दैज्लां बोथोरा थांबाय
रावहाबो माय गायबावनांगौ दंब्लाबो बोथोर बारग'बाय।
अदेबानि  मायआ मोदोम गोरलै जासावनाय समसै।
मोनाबिलिनि जानाय लोँनायखौ थाबै जादोँब्लाबो थाबैनो मोनाबावदोँ ओइदिनखालि।
दतमा गामिसिम थांनांगौ जायोब्ला सालगुरि बालागारि मोन्नै गामिखौ बारना
आरोबाव दुब्लि मोनसे बारनांगौ जायो।
मोले मोले लेम आरो खायसे फाथि सिनजायाव अर ब्लाव ब्लाव लानानै
जोङो ज' जयै थांबाय लाफेर माहाजोननि माय दुब्लि गेजेरजोँ।
गाब्र' गुब्र आलि गेजेरनि लामाजोँ थाबाय लांनायनि सोरबा सोरबा गोलैगु लायदोँ।
गालुन गुलुन हाब्रुबो जालायबाय लामा (आलि) या।
जोँनि हानजानि सोरबा सोरबा लेवार बाजादोँ
सोरबा सोरबा गाहे गुहेजोँ हाब्रु गदा गदि जादोँ आथिँफोरा।
आंबो सेन्डेलखौ आखायाव लानानै थाबायदोँब्लाबो हाब्रुजोँ बोकथा जालायदोँमोन।
हराव थाबायब्ला गोजाबो खाथि जायो होन्नाय बाथ्रा दं।
जोँबो जेन' थाबैनो सहैनायसै रनजिद माहाजोननि सायनासालिसिम।
गोजौ जौसांआव दिन्थिनाय जायो
लान्दां फादां फैसालि बोलानो खोबनो थाखायबो जेबो गैया।
अदेबानि दिन्थिनांगौ जायोब्ला फावगिरिया गोजौआव गाखोयो
गावनि फावथिनाया जोबोब्ला गाहायाव ओँखारबोयो फिन उननि दिन्थिनांगौनि थाखाय थियारि जाना थायो।
सौहैबाय जोँ फालोसे मानि मिनि खुसि नायनो थाखाय।
आंबो नुफेरै गथ'ना
नुसिगोन एबार लोगोफोरजोँ सावरायनो हासिगोन
सान्नानै जोबोद खुसि।
नाथाय मा जाखो मिथिगौना?
"गैया मा खालामनो?" जानो गोनां फावखुंग्रिया अरजोँ खामजादोँ।
एसेयावनो थुंगेनायसै सिबाय फालोसे मानि उल्था मोखाङै
गैया मा खालामनो गिदिँफिननांबाय।

सोरखौ सोर मा बुंनो
राजा जानोल' हुरा हुरा
होख्रावो गोरा गोरा
मासिया मोनब्ला बावबाय
गारामाया थसेब जाबाय
सोरथो बुंदों-
सोरथो बुङाखैमोन
फोरजा जाना थानाय समावलाय
बयबोसो बुंदोंमोन जुजिदोंमोन।
बोरो माथो दिनैलाय गैला
गारामा देरगालायनाय हब्रानाया।
मा जाखो ?
बुङोल' बुङोल' बयबो बुङोल'
बिमा रावजों सोलोंथाइ होसो
नै माथो आदाराम,गयाराम,आयाराम
आलाइस्रि मैनास्रि गयस्रि बिबारि
फोरोंगिरि दैदेनगिरि थुनलाइगिरि दोहोनि
होसोलायदों मालाय गुबुन बिजोंआवसो
बिसोरनि बिबुंथि खोनासंना
गामिनि गोरिब दुखुथिया जामबा जामबि
नाब्ला मेब्ला हंला हालां मोनहा
सोमबे हंले नाब्ले गायदे मोनहा
हरबाय फोथांनो बर' राव
बायला-जिला फरायसालि बर' बिजोंआव।
बिसोरखौलाय दिनै सोर नायसनदों
बिसोरनि दुखु सोर मिथिदों
मेगन मोदैखौ सोर नायसनदों।
बिसोरनोथ'मोन नोंसोरखौ राजा खालामनाया
बिसोरनोथ' हारिनि खौसेथि लुबैग्राया
बिसोरनोथ' बिमानि मोदै हुगारनो सिगांनाया
बिसोरनोथ' हारिनि अलंबार नागिरनाया।
सोरथोलाय बुङा-
गुबुनारि हाबनो मोना
सोरथोलाय बुङा-
गुबुनारिजों भ'ट गेलेया
बयबोसो गेलेदों
बयबोसो हाबहोदों।
दिनै सोर भुगिनांदों उदिस लारोंदों?
बर' हारिनि निखाउरि फिसायासो।
सोरनि थाखाय दाङाबाजि हारियारि
नोंसोरबादि राजानि मासि सेलायनायावसो
नोंसोरबादि आखुआवसो।
माब्लाथो बुङा सोरथो
बर'हा खौसे गैया
बर'हा खौसे जानांसिगौ
अब्लालाय मानोथो अननो रोङा गुबुनखौ
अब्लालाय मानोथो निमाहा गैया
अब्लालाय मानोथो बोज'बना लानो उदायरोङा??
दिनै नोंसोरबादि अनलायनो रोङै
गावजों गाव गेजेन जालायनो रोङै
मासिनि थाखायल' सानग्रा दैदेनगिरिफोरनि थाखायनो
गामियारि जाम्बा-जाम्बि आइ-आफा आदै-मादै
आबै-आबौ,आमाइ-आनै बिदा-फंबाय गावजों गाव
गोजोन गैया जुगुमलायनाय गावस्रालायनाय।