ripping the flowers
out of my hands
and the saying
is spring brings showers
and it is the youth of my life
so some rain is expected
just need a promise
it's merely
partly cloudy

calls for resignation
disgrace, dishonor, desecration
of the office held
the law venerated
you talk of people
like chattel
to be corralled, choded
castigated
but hold yourself
to no such judgement
you're a problem
of your own making

if I am not for myself
who will be for me
but if I am for myself, alone
who am I

words of a better man
but I can understand them
and therein
exemplify them

we are pinned
like the cushion
of an elderly knitter
and next to me
a young private
chatters and fritters
fresh recruit
and I get the sense
runt of the litter
up and over
quickly gone,
I sit,
waiting for winter

are you good enough for me?
am I good enough
for you
is the better question
don't lessen your worth
just because you're hurt

I write these little love notes
really to myself
just cause I can't rant them to you
but still need to rattle them off
for my health

even in the ranks of the angels
there is no status
they could give you