In the hour of the
event
only two things count
friends
prayers
and
self meditation
that is the voice of
an angel
you know not really

except as Loved or Lovedly
free verse
not worse!

Crap Gem and Machine Gun
all like a Hamburgher
chilies and sauce
and
then a laugh!

If I could rewind
the moments in my life,
I'll erase the first time
I caught her in my eyes

I'll free myself from hurt in loving
and live my life with lesser pain.
I'll make a better plan to reach
the hopes and dreams I've attained.

I won't know her, won't see her
and I won't be hurt by treachery,
the masterpiece she has woven
without remorse or a shred of pity.

a mad thirst
plodding textual
a dry wind
evaporating thoughts
like the 'Touchless Wash'
dryers

she rides higher now
clearing the ruts
my steerhide trusty gloves
on the old floor matts
dried pools of white salt
glistening on my armpits
my good shirt

Humming to the radio
my arm scorching in the
blaze
my ring tapping the big
suncracked wheel
the fox tail whipping from
the rear spring radio mast

Vegas...an eternal reward

Trade me for a magic carpet in an ancient tale;
I can be bartered for the lost scrolls of Petronius;
I am worth at least as much as a chunk of comet
That was discovered in the desert;
You can borrow great sums against my library,
Go buy an island and fill it with bonobos
Who have found the secret of living without prayer;
My fortune allows me to live in a vast kingdom
And in my castle is a desk of ocean wood and pearls;
I own giraffes and peacocks in my gardens
With rouge and scarlet maple trees;

I lived my life with secrets that no
one cares to dig into. No one cares
enough to ask why I always wear my
jacket. No one cares enough to stay
after I ask them to leave. No one
cares enough to try for me. And I
don't care for myself either. That
was until you finally came into my life.

Baby, I was selfish to think I can do this alone,
The Lord placed you in my life to make US strong;
Completely embracing that I have been wrong
And life with you has given me meaning and a home.

When God made a woman like you,
He made...

A song of patience,
As you waited for me to find you;
A song of promise,
As I stand before you and behind you.

When God made a woman like you,
He made..

I could stay here at the beach all day
throwing rocks into Lake Erie,
unsuccessfully trying
to skip stones.

Once or twice I manage,
but most land with that deep "thunk" sound.
I'll admit,
it's oddly satisfying,
this type of failure.

"Don't you know why we moved from Florida?"
My sister asks me.
Of course I don't,
I was only one at the time,
over 40 years ago.

guile sassafrass
thorn shorn love
a projectors rasp

sweet calamity
bore idle winds
tilting dustbin lids
scatter poetry of
your heady airs
a recipe of receipts
and dingo dirge
whorls and escalations
falsetto modesty
in dark scar blue
like footsteps in
fresh cement the
day shines unabashed
like a smile astray

I have super hearing, you know?
They called it “Auditory processing disorder”
I can hear conversation from tables away
snippets of people’s lives
secrets and stories

I can hear cutlery falling at work
The lonely crone in the corner humming
The chatter and the scraping
Of chairs on worn floors

The grinding sound of ceramic against teaspoons
Shouting from the kitchen
Canes activating the automatic door
Even my own breath; thick with a lingering cold.