EROS AND APHRODITE

it is for this love we are held captive as passion burns like a flame
we are both seduced with our eyes made eager inviting; unrestrained

let time be our keepsake no moment to spare, stoked by the fire
our bodies lay bare, tethered together in mutual hunger; desire

as two gods we remain, divine is purpose, fierce cravings feed
the lusting demand, some do claim, we alone satiate the others; need

By Michael Perry

PAIN

i have come to be through mine  
eyes open wide unable to see this
while my legs are held together with
needles and pins, as a feeling of lead
comes over me, the blood rushes in-to
and out of me, ready to cleanse my spirit
while seducing my soul for tonight is no
different nor even the day compared, just
all the same always another reason to blame
someone  anyone else but me, forcing a memory lost
or found ready to be pushed away, without a sound
my whole body aches to be well, yet its not
this pain is special, like a sedative it dwells deep
but reacting so not like; differently it's will keeps
my hell firmly intact- so now comes the moment
when the crowd yells shame, shame, ready or
not i will confess all the same, release of my sins
into the here and now, i am laid bare, revealing all
for i am unable to be the man from the past, the
way i used to be no longer myself, now just a
shell been created through my bodies attempt
or it's inability to relate then some, so i do not ask
for your pity, for shame has its way of speaking
through me demanding harassing me to have the last say

By Michael Perry

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

there was a time- to change or not
our in between- us having a say
before and after- the trails and tribulations
back then; love was an abstract concept

whether through sleepless nights it would seem
out of each day wide awake living ordinary
to consequences of tossing and turning- heads spinning
it took time-for us to take a second look

whether being miles apart, or sitting right next to
it was up to us, pick up the pieces, put them back
learn from the ups and downs, till we figured it out
made crystal clear, paid dues, taken to heart, the getting through

By Michael Perry

THEREFORE I AM

a blank page
fills me with consternation
each time, rage

seeking to find
some common thread
in which to fill, lines

you may not know it
being creatively possessive i celebrate
stories in which to tell, therefore i am a, poet

By Michael Perry

A FUNERAL IN VERMONT

we went to Vermont  over the weekend
not for leave peeping, but a somber occasion
a funeral; funny it did not seem,  or so we thought

here to see extended family on these seemly
un-rare occasions more and more, every where
death with a couple weddings thrown in

the weather was bright, crisp in the morning
but gradually warming, for Vermont that is; something new
a heat-wave in October- climate change in effect

while never having been to a Vermont funeral before
my memories run the gamut on other stuffy affairs, overbearing
and hard to breathe even, scary and hard to take

we got to the church, the crowds milling about, smoking
everyone dressed like having got off work at 5, it was 10:30 AM
leaving shifts from the garage or the mines, we were overdressed

none the less we were welcomed, with open arms
by members of the immediate family, still we were all family
the service was filled; hymn singing, mixed with salty laced stories

afterwards everyone ate, in rows of communal tables
set up passing food back and forth, everyone brought a dish
with more salty stories and laugher, more laughter such

heart- felt laughter then i have heard in my life time which
made me stop to think, change my point of view about death
to be reminded, our journey is but a continuation of a well life lived

By Michael Perry

THE ROUTINE

from the kitchen window
before the sun is barely up
showing streaks of purple and orange
that cover the sky light like a bruise
we sit across from each other
i see the morning rise, and
she sees into the living room
where we have a fire going
to break up the early morning chill
we are content in our little ways
our morning ritual where nothing changes
not in all our years, the sameness
is what keeps us intact, without it
we would shatter and break- none
of that for us, as she gets up from
her chair and fixes another cup of
coffee, no more than two for her
then i get up to move the logs
around in the fire place, the embers
pop and glow as i move the logs
around, then back to my seat for a little
while longer, i look at her, she looks
up at me, we see how age has taken
hold, the lines under her eyes, the
all whiteness of my hair and beard
still we see through it all and marvel
at the outside changes in us, around us in
our unchanging life, i take her hand and give
it a little squeeze, she squeezes mine; our
silent acknowledgement to each, of our status quo
all is good between us and will continue to be so
as long as we do not change one iota of our life

by Michael Perry

WE ARE LOVERS

we are lovers
through all of our years
collected, neglected
off and on living familiar
once or twice a shared spite
coming  close to adversarial, we have
come to this place , accepting, with our eyes wide
through our shared sacrifice and many trials
for no matter how long we have left
love was a constant  companion, given or take
making something stirred; never to be shaken
from those first years, to these last, we are
like a fine wine we have aged well enough
as we look forward not back

by Michael Perry