To wake and see a gentle frieze of green
white specks of drifting cockatoos, in between
slow gums, mulling over the morning cold
long before the stirring shadows hold
releases these night bound dwelling sleepers
lost in cloisters old, and drifting deeper
lost in sanctuaries serene, that once all children knew
now in a vague shadow of reverie, half true

then, a scarce fleeting memory,
something once touched,
augured a hidden sense
innate in all, a certain innocence:

VINTAGE
Chanel
witch boots
and Hollywood Glam puss shades
whats coming down the little paved
lane?
we crane our dirty necks too see
the vehicle
something sporty
"Wheres the beau?"
She turns shoving the glasses
atop her short cropped hair
turns and keeps walking
"Aint got none this month
thats my dads old car!"
(Chanel ..Coco I bet U a beer!")
I elbow my brother..he smiles
and walks up to hug her
Lifting her off her feet
She smiles at me
and I drop my gaze smiling
A wrench in my hand
I stuff it in my back pocket
and let her walk up too
me...
"Hey bros.".says Tony..".I owe
U a beer!"
She and I stare at each
other....you can feel the
static between us
She breaks first
first time..
"Working on the old beast
still!" she walks up and
thumps her hand on the
fender and leans against
the long nose of the wagon
"U know she says!"
"Every Christmas I remember
dragging that huge assed
Chrismas tree here...U made
me cut it down and then U almost
cut your finger off when I handed
you the chainsaw!"
I hold up a greasy paw...
"Four stitches!"
I stare hard at her trying too get
a reading...its always been a
contest..she never drops her
gaurd like she does with everyone
Especially Tony...and he keeps
Mum
He redirects sensing us..
always saving the day
"Just put on a brand new Holley
carb..shipped it in from Calgary..
last of the big jets!"
she holds her hair too one side
examining the loose lightweight
aluminum..we are putting in
fresh gaskets...ready too flare
the lines..
"Hey!" says Tony..
"We all ready for those beers?"
"Bring us two thanks Tony! Ur
a sweetheart"
he smiles...raises his eyebrows
to me and heads through the
garage to the mudroom...
Back to our stand off..
this time she walks right up
too me and puts her head
on my chest and arms
around me and squeezes
me hard....I can feel her
little heart beating fast
her warmth...smell the
rich intoxicating flavor
of her perfume and hair..
"Ive missed U so much!"
I can hear the tears in
her voice and I stiffen
up but shes got me...
shuffles her feet and
holds on..I sigh and
relax leaning my head
atop hers...pull her
closer with my free
clean hand..

the screen door
slams shut and
Tony emerges in
the light..Two
Budwiesers in
his hands..

we all stand there
in the hot Summer
sun
Just like we did
at the funeral

....

Whose blood is so cold,
that a child's life came to end
with a tragedy?
His flesh, marked by twisted scars.
that pierced through his aching heart.

The biggest insult
now I feel
after composing thousands of poetry
is not to get an acknowledgement
from a friend
on whose poetry you took time off to comment

Instead of cement
it proves a sandy sentiment..

still we read poetry
as it is a pass time mostly
none has made out of it a living
not even you deary me

But we know you are the best
in your poetic Kingdom
God, if any may you bless
what has a simpleton like me
to say
except get along friend on your pathway

respite
Poppy red cushions
sunlight stumbles
across a wide angle
window gazing in
as streams of town
twist pass in hazy
currents

Lining
the beaten tinned hinged handled affair
rustled it up like a Cossack
such wild hair
LuLulemon yoga pants
pale ankles
bent rummaged
bottom drawer
beams of your russet
hair dusting the floor
U came up at last
bending that fine
valley of spine
sun shinning up
in its hot amber
flash
pockets of shade
beneath upturned
eyes ablaze with
glee
"I can think of no one
else I want too give
these too!"
one eyebrow rides
higher...drives me

I wade into the surf chest deep
and wait for swelling waves to peak
that I might capture one and ride it to the land
I jump to catch one looking good
it breaks and tumbles as it should
I glide along its edge right to the sand.

I stroll the ocean’s foamy fringe
and watch the waves as they roll in
reaching out as far as they can span,
then receding and revealing
Periwinkles while they’re feeding,
who hide themselves again in fluid sand

UNSPEAKABLE

What horrors the human mind creates
when demons whisper fear
and the soul can no longer speak
words of holy consolation.
darkness looms before you
threatening annihilation
and you despair...

I remember the setting sun
last night as I woke
some years away
in coma was I

'twas a long sleep
the world had forgotten too
now no one knew
that's true.

Tears of sorrow dripped
My heart skipped a beat
it reassured me
wait there is still
a knock at the gate

Wonder who comes
just guess
one I must confess
loved me least
when I was at my best

now comes to console
should this memory
not make me whole

Potent weapons,
weaving webs
around our very being.
We scatter them like confetti
without care
or plant them deeply as we dare.
They speak of love and longing
hope, despair,
what has been and what is to come.
They build our empires
then watch them fall,
entwining us in silken thrall.
Each one gives substance
shape and form
to every thought
our minds have born.
We wield each word
with axe and sword
or let them chance
into this world.
Light, airy,
deep, profound