to sit on the lawn
outside on a bright Spring day
trade winds softly breeze
endless cerulean skies
the vibes of a live brass band

dark skinned Hawaiians
white marching band uniforms
a curious sight
ah...but the sounds are soothing
wafting warmly through the air

relax and enjoy
look around, drink it all in
think of nothing else
feel the music through your bones
close your eyes and flow with it

Del Maximo
(c) February 5, 2009

lustrous drops of dawn
strung on a spider's silk strings
early morning gems
from an open air oyster
as priceless as a new day


Del Maximo
© November 3, 2009

he stood before them
lifted his flute to his lips
soulfully inhaled
they waited for the magic
he played not a single note

he stood there as if
******* passionately
with body english
the crowd paused for a minute
suspended in the quand'ry

the light bulb came on
and they busted up laughing
as he continued
in his silent happiness
he loved the "gotcha" moment


Del Maximo
© June 13, 2009

a holiday feast
turkey and mashed potatoes
dressing and gravy
creamed corn, cranberries, cornbread
greens and sweet potato pie

she watched her children
all bright eyed and excited
enjoying their meal
as they left the lot she thought
“Some day...we’ll have it at home.”


Del Maximo
© December 8, 2009

the light surrounds us
individual pin points
spirits we have known
guiding, illuminating
whispering inspiration



Del Maximo
© September 18, 2009

where sea sings to sand
in crashing surf melodies
crisp scent of salt air
seagulls screech, sand ***** burrow
sky falls off the horizon

blue on blue oceans
conjoin cerulean skies
far as eyes can see
squinting slightly in hot sun
warm smell of tanning lotions

buoys bob in and out
mesmerizing slow dances
rocking with the wind
gliding boat sails billowing
golden crests reflect sunsets


Del Maximo
©July 16, 2009

they call me key man
I have keys to everything
need a door unlocked
be it the highest tower
or the deepest of dungeons
a secret garden
or a ballpark stadium
I can get you in
I have keys to everything
except a place in your heart

Del Maximo
(c) July 29, 2009

“Dad got robbed again”
he got paid every Friday
and got robbed each week
too drunk to run or resist
dark clad ninja lookin’ dude

“Dad got robbed again”
he never did pay the bills
drank his salary
were it not for my income
don’t know how we would survive

we managed somehow
“Dad got robbed again”, she said
do you think she knew
food was on the table ‘cause
the dark clad ninja was me


Del Maximo
(c) 2009

dropped hard to the floor
the crumpled sound of dead weight
his cracked skull oozing
lifeless body releases
blood, ***** and seepage run

the stench of death fades
bones gnawed clean by sated rats
start to fossilize
just another new entry
in his basement collection


Del Maximo
© September 18, 2009

dance of the onions
peeling layers one by one
amid sighs, whispers
enchanting melodies of
a 3000 year old song

finger cymbals chime
anklet's bells jingle their tale
incense and perfume
pastel colored veils swirling
hips gyrating and thrusting

her face is unseen
hidden in a mist of clouds
in a moonless sky
stars twinkling in her navel
as she moves to the music

longing beyond lust
she is dancing on my heart
but just out of reach
as if it were all a dream
inspired by night jasmine



Del Maximo
© August 24, 2009

what's wrong with my world?
peeps not coming through for me
saps my energy
missed deadlines, not showing up
they can't seem to do the math

talkin' 'bout good peeps
I don't know what's happening
it makes me tired
there's too much hustle-bustle
going on in today's world

guess I got away
from always expressing thanks
thankfulness echoes
reverberates, creating
circles of random kindness

so that must be it
got to get back to "thank you"
thank you everyone
for your kindness, timeliness
and just for being good peeps

thanks especially
to the Great God/Universe
copier machine
whatever I put out there
I get copies back, THANK YOU


Del Maximo
© August 7, 2009

respite from the rain
gloomy monday morning blahs
a grayness pervades
stratus covers mountain tops
another storm is brewing

off in the distance
beyond the metro-skyline
beyond the tree line
a break opens in cloud's veil
a pulling of the curtain

in one little spot
a window of horizon
snow and ice shine through
blinding white titanium
on sparkling powdery peaks

rush hour traffic
along my morning commute
through city's drabness
an eye opening vista
of nature's magnificence


Del Maximo
(c) January 24, 2010

let me play for you
come hear my fibrillation
improvisations
reverberating on breeze
in synchronizing rhythms

let me share with you
muse inspired whisperings
reaching deep places
hallowed bamboo offerings
interpretations of air

let me catch the wind
split the stream inside my flute
tonic fingerings
let it oscillate and grow
healing melodies for you


Del Maximo
© March 23, 2009

shoot the moon
the sky is falling
he doesn’t have a clue
he can’t figure it out
he doesn’t want to
holding on to the past like crutches
punched, choked and slammed
like a Saturday night smackdown
he was his father’s “favorite”
wrestling verbal belittlements of brotherly shame
“Stop crying.  You’re acting like a female.”
his mother escaped the battle cage and sent for him later
abandonment and authority issues
anger internalized and rising to a peak
he dropped out of high school
a crumpled, broken man-child
a stone child
having only dreams left intentionally vague
falling to his addictions and ****** anesthesia
afraid of moving forward
he likes it in limbo
waiting for life to happen for him
expecting others to help
but he won’t help himself
exploiting every excuse
words and actions biting the hands that feed him
pushing people away
assigning blame with pointed fingers
campaigning for sympathy with crocodile tears
tip toeing silently
the years creep up and sneak by
he’s a full step slower
like an aging prize fighter
unable to bob and weave society’s jabs
punch drunk he says, “no más”
withdrawing to the streets
he says, “no más”
“no más”


Del Maximo
© October 8, 2009

a delicious treat
for such a sweet little girl
she was soooo hungry
look in her eyes said it all
voracious, insatiable

finger licking good
greazy slimy decadence
nice presentation
gray matter smattered with blood
escargot consistency

sated and happy
she rested in the corner
basement was quiet
not thinking or caring much
just pleased to eat daddy's brains



Del Maximo
© September 26, 2009

I saw my sister today
painting clouds on a blue background
leaving trails like a sky writer
soaring above obstacles and problems
floating on feathers with spirit of eagles
keeping a watchful eye
feeding family
defending to the death
the mother of nature
a gliding cerulean mistress
I saw my sister today
flying high in the sky



Del Maximo
© November 12, 2009

back in the washroom
back in here so many times
hope they don't notice
just here to wash up again
seems I can't get it off me

it's so hard waiting
sitting there waiting for news
seems it's been hours
since the ambulance took him
and I drove to my sister’s

picked her up at work
then we flew down the freeway
driving mindlessly
123 per
and coming up on a curve

I slowed down in time
made it to the hospital
explained what happened
told the nurses everything
to my sister's amazement

was a heart attack
and my dad had stopped breathing
I called 911
got CPR instructions
I did the best that I could

we had to sit there
waiting for the family
and waiting for news
but nothing was forthcoming
so we sat there in silence

it was just too much
and my mind started tripping
didn't need to go
but kept sneaking out to wash
my dad's breath off my moustache

Del Maximo
© June 28, 2009

come into the light
let me see your body’s glow
the stars in your eyes
let me feel the warmth of you
as we sit by the fire

let our bodies melt
melding into one spirit
an easy slowness
tasting sweet sweat of labor
let me slip inside your heart

close your eyes now, rest
while I sing you a love song
softly in your ear
cuddle closer in my arms
wrap yourself in me and sleep


Del Maximo
© September 5, 2009

her first Christmas tree
rising to the ceiling
the green scent of fresh pine permeates
papa put up all the lights
now it’s her turn
a treasure of ornaments
buried in tissue paper

a small, brightly colored stuffed menagerie
made by her Aunts and Uncles
when they were just kids
glittered, glistening plastic snow flakes
shiny, smiling ornaments of different sizes
and unusual shapes
most of them older than her
going back three generations

it’s quite a task
but Grandma said she could do it
unwrapping with care
choosing just the right placements

when she’s hung her last hook
my little niece stands back
aglow with happiness she whispers
“It’s perfect”


Del Maximo
© December 8, 2009

they say he was mad
he was losing sanity
man of great insight
he saw swirls of bright colors
surrounding moonlit steeples

such brilliant pigments
simple scenes made astounding
sweeping lush valleys
peeling blue olive orchards
a lone man fixing the roads

potato people
peasants in muted shadings
psychological
the colors of poverty
the feelings of deep despair

a small green bedroom
wooden chair on wooden floors
a burning candle
pink roses in a green vase
sunflowers and irises

to look through his eyes
steal a glimpse into his mind
what I wouldn’t give
to see the world as he did
on a starry, starry night


Del Maximo
© July 24, 2009

would we be happy
basking in euphoria
glowing in the dark
doing whatever we please
anytime we wanted to

would it matter then
if we hurt anybody
in search of pleasure
do others even matter
as long as we’re feeling fine

hedonism reigns
and chaos rules unruly
prisoners escape
and cuckoo’s nests are emptied
from inside everyone’s mind

paradise was lost
to the knowledge of evil
the earth was flooded
40 days and 40 nights
for the wickedness of man

someday we may learn
parables, illustrations
written in the sky
literature’s life lessons
embodying art as life

perhaps we’ll all see
other people do matter
interdependence
together we are stronger
happiness lies in restraint


Del Maximo
© September 5, 2009

woke up this morning
listening to dad talking
his words indistinct
just the sound of his voice droning
barking instructions the way some Asian fathers do
with the military cadence of a drill sergeant
although he’s been gone so long
he creeps into my dreams now and then
inducing feelings of affection
he didn’t demonstrate in life

he was a man of simple faith:
with a roof over your head
clothes on your back
food on the table
you should be happy

his health caused him to retire early
still, he kept himself busy
considered himself a man of action
he worked hard and led by example
he didn’t guide or counsel me
you have to have conversations to do that
through his lies he taught me not to
but within his own means
there was nothing he wouldn’t do for us
perhaps he did too much

it’s been so long I can’t remember the exact date
he had a “fatal” heart attack towards the end of February
and died two and a half months later
on May 6, 1986

how ironic that I can still hear his voice
and now, somehow, find reassurance in his tone


Del Maximo
© February 18, 2010

I saw a blue bird today
She flew down from my lemon tree
And hopped into my path
Blue and red like a robin but big as a jay
She was in a class by herself
With a curious twist of her head
She didn’t shy away
But stayed for a moment
Then flew away without leaving a deposit
A true blue bird
She left me happy

Got the news last Monday
Ms. Annie has passed away
Didn’t even know she was sick
Happy at first, believing she went home
Sympathy’s hug opened my sadness
Had to fight the deepness back
Pearls and lace
She looked pretty laying in state
Still, was stunned by closure’s shock
Oh Annie

Always glad to see me
Happy to hear my voice
“How’s your mother?” she would chirp
“I give you an ‘A’ today.”
“Good job.”
Forever upbeat and tireless
A ray of sunshine

I saw a blue bird today
She flew down from my lemon tree
And hopped into my path
She stayed a moment with me
Then flew away
Leaving me happy


Del Maximo
© December 16, 2007

she is the whispering wind
billowing buffaloes of cotton candy
fiery red reflections
horizon's home to Venus and Jupiter
her evening eyes twinkle
in gradient shades of midnight
whether clear cerulean
or dark and stormy
her mood reassures, connects
she takes all under her wing
as her firmament holds us
sunshine's conduit
the epitome of blue skies
she keeps us happy
to take away even just a part of her
is a blotting of the mind
straight from the horses blinders
a piece of heart and happiness hidden
an erasure of nature
a blindfold to beauty
a shadow on my eyes
a silhouette of stucco
built too close to home and hearth
prisons have such walls as this
erected to confine and punish
our only crime is a love of peace and quiet
and neighborhood values


Del Maximo
© September 14, 2009

hiding in wood grain
he was waiting silently
his eyes looked about
as the old house was creaking
crispness of fall in the air

they broke a window
hoping to find shelter there
settled in to rest
noticed the eyes on the wall
more than just knots in woodwork

he was watching them
his stare had them glued in place
a mist came forward
they found the strength to break free
bolting for the open door

as the story spread
people came to check it out
couldn't help themselves
morbid curiosity
one by one they were chased off

caretaker cackles
"That's just Oscar" he tells them
"Lived here long ago"
"His wife and child were murdered"
"He's still here waiting for them"


Del Maximo
© October 3, 2009

she had but one eye
hanging loose out of socket
the other was gone
a tasty treat for the birds
a hollow home for maggots

the putrid perfume
of her shriveled rotting flesh
rose from the knife wounds
which had long since been bled dry
open portals for the ants

she cursed her killer
her last breath whispered his name
spelled out in red
a blood curse to follow him
from life to eternity

she was everywhere
haunting his mind and his dreams
images of her
in life and rotting glory
even the ants spoke of her

she was calling him
"You promised.  Come back to me."
finally driven
sat next to her and waited
drawing her name with his blood


Del Maximo
© September 15, 2009

what's it all about
is it just the nerve endings
purely physical
or maybe it's something more
what makes me want to kiss her

her lips' soft luster
the lure of her permission
does she like me too
will she let me taste her warmth
let me show some tenderness

I just want a kiss
to feel her in my closed eyes
feel the surrender
feel her give herself to me
feel her softness against mine


Del Maximo
© July 4, 2009

best thing about life
is that I get to be me
I am who I am
with all my imperfections
the things I need to work on

it's life's challenges
all the obstacles we face
that make it worthwhile
not in spite of shortcomings
but the way we deal with them

all of the problems
particular to my path
character builders
things that I needed to learn
to arrive at who I am

and I like myself
not better than anyone
we're all still learning
a balance of reticence
and delusions of grandeur

people may not see
the universe inside me
some currents run deep
other things are worn on sleeves
some, to me, are mystery

but then all in all
life's jigsaw comes together
as the pieces meld
creating clearer pictures
of the person that is me



Del Maximo
© November 30, 2009

somewhere in the past
before my grandfather's time
I paid a visit
back in my family tree
I'm not sure how it happened

I just closed my eyes
tried to think of nothing else
until I passed out
I awoke in a strange land
a time of horse and buggy

kept pinching myself
the pain was real enough
it wasn't a dream
but it was all very weird
no one could see or hear me

recognized the house
it was my family home
familiar faces
seeming contemporaries
but no one there that I knew

I couldn't stay long
felt the pull of the present
felt myself fading
when they posed for a portrait
I stood in the back and smiled

that's how it happened
the camera caught my image
looking like a ghost
a strange man standing in back
whom no one saw at the time

"There's a spirit there"
the family legend goes
"We call him Oscar"
today no one notices
old "Oscar's ghost" looks like me


Del Maximo
© October 8, 2009

he's been on my mind lately
still pining for dad
like a child

so many years ago
they said life had gone from him
and even if they could revive him
he had no brain activity
they worked on him on the floor
the official place of death
and left him there for the police
no foul play found
they allowed us to lift his still warm body
onto dignity's bed
my brother had his feet and legs
I had his upper body
lifelessness' limpness surprised me
I almost dropped him as his head fell back
I sat down and a deep breath held my heartbeat
till a loud, slow heave depleted my lungs
I could hear the girls' huddled sobs from another room
a dark carriage came to carry him into dusk
I wanted to run after him
and touch him one more time
like a child

now and then he creeps into my dreams
I can feel the timbre of his voice
laugh at his idiosyncratic antics
reach a hand onto his shoulder
hold him in my memory
then wake up and say good bye
like a child

Del Maximo
© 07/30/13

the elders say the sky is changing
stars aren’t where they should be
Earth has shifted her axis
misaligning the heavens

driving home on date night
respite from daily’s grind
ice cream cones and country songs
breezing through open windows
with Charlie in the back
wailing and wagging to the music
spruces swaying in clear evening sky
“stop the car”, she said
“the moon isn’t where it’s supposed to be”
he rolled his eyes and got out with her
Steph, Mel and Charlie on his leash
trekking a quick adventure
searching for the misplaced moon
walking in the beauty of the night

it took a short while
but they found her in the tree tops
shining in full magnificence
conversing with Venus and Mars
while the man on the moon stole a kiss


Del Maximo
©06/16/2016

imagine he was your child
your infant
imagine your child clinging to
and fighting for life
breathing on his own
after ventilator’s plug was pulled
imagine the doctors deciding
against your wishes
to let him starve to death
depriving him of the strength
to hold on
and the nourishment to function
and grow
(miracles do happen, after all)
imagine that you have another doctor
a second medical opinion
telling you there is HOPE
but the medical monopoly
and the courts say NO!
imagine your helplessness and frustration
imagine your rage and pain
imagine a piece of you dying
with your child
How do you get over that?

Del Maximo
@06/27/2019

woke up to gray and white
streaky Van Gogh clouds
with patches of cerulean eyes
peeking through
the house is cold
and I am old
but it feels like spring

calendar says we’re past equinox
sunshine seems to be getting longer
flowers bloom
forecasters say Raiden’s not done
but it feels like spring

dreamt last night
that I was outside running
and easily leapt over an obstacle
drove my car
city sights and sounds whelmed me
in pleasant memories of living life
flashing by like a fast motion freeway
it felt like spring

been shuttered with infirmities
and limitations
but strength training and tai chi
have become habit
unassisted walking toddles forward
but feels and looks good
I’m getting there
it feels like spring

Del Maximo
(c)03/27/2023

for many
Christmas is a time of traditions
tree decorating
lights
gift exchanges
caroling
candles
family dinners
where planning all the above
is half the fun
and caring for one another
is proof of the pudding
(razzleberry dressing)

for some
traditions go on
skewed and miscued
existence shattered
heartbeats shuttered
life just holding on
but the world keeps spinning
albeit upside down

inconsequential, random memories
trigger teardrops
bird sightings and dragonflies
stir yearnings
both measures of comfort
and reminders of unbearable loss
proverbial double edged swords

time doesn't heal
but it moves on
doors close
windows open
and dreams show the way
for new beginnings
every year lights a new candle
of hope

so
Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays!
and Happy New Year!
'Tis the season of change


Del Maximo
©12/22/2019

if I could
I would soar up high
surfing the clouds
embracing blue breezes
chasing and catching
golden reddish colors of sunsets

I would look down with fondness
upon earth
green trees swaying in conversation
with one another
majestic mountains wrinkled with age
dunes riddled with the language of winds
the scintillating sparkle
of oceans’ movement

I would dive down only to feed
avoiding the negativity of human kind
blessing some with my droppings
admiring the perseverance of others
absorbing the good and hope
that give rise to my wings

if I could
I would never come down
to witness the sadness
not just man’s inhumanity to mankind
and to the earth
but the natural sadness
people and places lost and forgotten
with the passage of time

but soaring above
doesn’t undo pain and hurt
and by avoiding the negative
in duality, you pass over joy

it seems we are hardwired
to form relationships
that both break and heal us
make us lonely
and fill our hearts

but on this day
I would rather fly up high
and forget about everything

Del Maximo
(c)08/01/2022

it makes perfect sense now
but I didn’t quite understand
that health and fitness is proactive
that health and fitness is a
present tense action

all these years just going to work
was my main exercise
walk to the car
walk from car to office
walk around the office
walk to the car
walk to the house
repeat

found some good programs
wasted money on gym memberships
bought lots of equipment
but my main exercise remained
walk to the car
walk from car to office
walk around the office
walk to the car
walk to the house
repeat

my daily regimen ended
when I stopped working
and sat around most days

diabetes
kidney failure
internal bleeding
cardiac arrest
have proved to be
good teachers
covid was a good scare
nursing facility meal portions
have shown me the light
physical therapy provides
incredible, professional knowledge

King Kong make me strong
formal daily exercise keys up
strength and mobility
but the mind is a terrible thing to fight
attempting to lock me up
with doubt and second guessing
“the spirit is willing but the body is weak”
is an effable excuse
‘F’ that

my body and brain know
but my mind gets in the way
my mind tells me it’s hard
my mind tells me I have to figure it out
my mind holds me back
my mind tells me, “later”
or “tomorrow”
you’d think my mind would know better

Del Maximo
(c)09/24/2021

everyone knows they have a million eyes
we saw it in that movie
what was it called?
they go buzzing around like
bees without purpose
infiltrating my airspace
snooping around like cats
so curious
or like thieves on recon
scoping out a heist
are they magicians
disappearing when you return
with a swatter?
are they dumb or arrogant
flying in your face
knowing they can get away?
do they seek out food
with their milligogles?
or do they have noses?
do they smell doo doo
from a distance?
I wish they spoke English
so I could tell them
“shoo, don’t bother me
it was just a ****!”

Del Maximo
(c)07/26/2021

sometimes
when I looked into your eyes
I saw an entanglement
of two souls
reaching into another universe
where impossible was possible

sometimes
when I looked into your eyes
locking on without blinking
I knew that moments like this
were all that matter

sometimes
when I looked into your eyes
I saw every hurt I ever felt
and knew you understood

sometimes
I saw the speed of light
speckled in your irises
and thought we were on our way

sometimes
that last little peck
added as an afterthought
is more meaningful and joyful
than all that came before it

sometimes
inevitable
is wishful thinking
pipe dreams left wanting

sometimes
things are better left
unsaid and undone
and regret is just another word

Del Maximo
(c)08/29/2023

I can’t do justice to this day in a short poem, but I couldn’t sleep last night and had to get this out:

9/11

living on the west coast
I didn’t see the first one
but I do remember that second plane
watching it on tv was like a dream
is this real?
explosions booming
streaming out smoke, fire, and pulverized debris
thought I saw the building shaking
and people jumping or falling
from way up high
then I saw the collapse
twin towers imploding
crashing down to ground zero

the stories in the media pinched me
nightmare became reality
life’s losses tolling
first responders bravely
and gravely giving their all
reports of survivors scrambling out
but still helping each other escape
carrying a disabled lady down the steps
wheelchair and all
cell phones flash-lighting
through corridors’ darkness
I saw a lady emerge from the smoke
a thick layer of gray dust
covering her head to toe
the whites of her eyes
and her coughing
as proof of life
I saw tears in the eyes of reporters
and heard their voices quivering
was this all a dream?
or a Hollywood-like fabrication?
I only saw this on tv
and can’t imagine the horror
of actually being there
the moment when they realized
they were going to die
the last thoughts on their minds
first hand sights, sounds, and smells
sensory details impossible
for survivors to forget
I saw stories on the news
of a third plane crash
a box cutter highjacking
cellphones bidding good byes
to loved ones
as the plane descended
onto the Pentagon

I remember fearing a U.S. retaliation
thoughts percolating
of how the world had changed forever

Del Maximo
(c)09/11/2021