• a hungry place

    the sun shining
    amber as maple syrup
    sticking to twig and stick
    grateful to be able
    in the years of fable
    blindly going forth
    waiting for a renascence
    fine art at your table
    since first you cradled a ladle
    and I the lady with a bagel
    promise anything
    but give her salami and cheese
    while you whip up your liver pâté
    in FILO dough you know
    would be as smooth as Peter Pan
    but then
    the world is a hungry place
    but I grew up
    with broiled lamb chop
    all over my face
    and there was nothin’ finer
    than Queenie’s apple pie
    second helpings on my plate
    date nut bread covered in cream cheese a fave
    we didn’t know how to run the
    microwave
    meat would come out gray
    my Twinkie for a Hostess cupcake!
    to thine own Milky Way be true
    I wanted food all the time
    I couldn’t get enough
    it was my significant supper
    i guess that’s why I love you
    like a Jewish mother.

  • wind

    whisper rushing water
    birds glide air currents
    the bluff barks rough
    long grasses golden hay flattened
    marsh in the harsh of winter
    a heart in the middle of the day
    wispy thickets lisping
    blown biting bully muddy earth
    sandy soil loosens stones running
    shocks the rocks bolder
    under sensitive sky
    massive clouds hung low
    in the dirt felt the debt to hold
    winds fickle forces come and go
    with the strength of a mind spring
    rain crushing the pines
    bent torn
    sending storms
    foliage overgrown thrash thrown
    winds groan
    nature’s warning growl
    a departure
    sun fires bright
    till then darkest night
    when the moon ascends to prowl.

  • where nothing grieves

    polite moon-lit summer eve
    sense serene leaves rustling
    tender animals of the forest
    forage food mildly

    abundance sing bird in grasses
    chip monk squirrel feed their need
    on juicy stem an endless weed

    in solitude nature proves to ponder
    as slow the raccoon go to find a drink
    possum play where stalk is thick
    lily pond to wade the wild grass
    no light when night is black as ink

    but for stars
    before a tempestuous dawn
    has your heart forsworn a swooning moon

    in gentle circles swim the loon
    rare birds fly in pairs to sea
    wild duck ignite a drunken cry
    all the love the beauty in your eye

    end remorse with nature
    wind through pine and evergreen
    shake the laughter out of trees
    fall the leaves
    where nothing grieves.

  • a cause in care

    a cause in care
    the means to mention all it means
    break for sake of convention
    turn the word to elevate
    a sacred song yet holy hymn
    for melody the tears
    sky an integral given
    in the dusk of willing
    sheer cloud fizzle in rain
    capture a heart again
    to know someone so long
    to know I do not
    blame her anymore
    the sweetness lilt
    in a voice that promises me no guilt
    to ebb the raging of the sea
    come over me
    like sunlight after a storm
    as gratefully
    as you have set me free
    so I
    will turn the other I
    and let you be
    as wary as that sounds
    to see that smiling face
    would herald all the promise
    to mend a heart with grace
    and all the while knowing
    with love put into place
    a trusted bond unbroken
    will not be worn to waste.

  • bare branches

    design regard with resolve
    ubiquitous solicitous narcissism
    in the heart of rhythm
    a mannerism
    commit decision
    darkness covers exhibition
    suffer intangibles harsh conditions
    rigid mind encounters religion
    anti-up inhibition
    please please yourself
    sing songs to sooth
    teach me all you know
    research your soul
    clip wings in a folder
    we are one year older
    my handsome winsome soldier
    love you need you know you
    thank you for your time of day
    leaves settle down from skies of gray
    flowers gone soon
    worship the bloom
    until the leaves fall to the ground in autumn
    forsaking bare branches.

  • a better heaven

    to hope for a better heaven
    in the far distant course of rivers winding
    in the night sky dark as dying
    fraught a storm received with tears
    reclaimed throughout the years
    duality takes her pride with jeers
    to suddenly no warning disappear
    the sweetness more than honey
    to the bee
    bemused life is funny when to tease
    the absolute the grand pursuit
    a momentous harmony
    a zephyr slips across the sky
    for just an instant caught my eye
    if you leave me I will cry
    upon the beach grass blown
    winds will come to sacrifice
    a little of their own
    a friendly retreat will have me repeat
    cloud cover like a shroud regress
    the happiness I feel for you
    deepens to depress
    the greatest of the healing find
    the feeling resents the mind
    bless you heart and soul a text
    importance adherence will not be vexed
    pleasure in your rosy cheek
    your countenance smooth mellow
    a patient pearl for all the world to see
    embedded in her halo
    oh the joy to see the girl
    a smile in her sweet hello
    a lucky day to live to know
    how kind the dappled day will be.

  • the wake of dreams

    an empty canvas blank page
    egg wash rages on a stage
    in the mist midst twinge
    singed leaves fiery sun
    left to die enflame the sky
    never ending
    cold August nights forget
    to remember
    hot July sparkles
    flags waves dust particles
    hit the road going back
    to the first moment I saw
    the overall overalls
    purple bandana
    write overtures for you
    you paint fingernails blue
    want to hang a portrait of you
    in the Parrish museum
    read a thousand sonnets
    in your night
    watch you bloom
    dig deep in your beloved soil
    heal yourself while helping me
    and in
    society gain a sense of mastery
    over authority in compliance
    self reliance improves your diet
    you speak candidly
    I accept your privacy
    a mood in tune with June
    and all you may access in the
    courage to successfully discover
    beauty hiding in the wake of dreams
    what you are is what you seem.

  • patch a fallen tie

    You are the paper sky
    you are the pencil shade my eye
    hold my hand I cry your tears
    she is the cradle in my sunrise
    the stranger of my surmise
    too quick to say goodbye
    patch a fallen tie
    gold-leafed charm
    a calming heart
    why wonder we cannot see
    the Earth in all her finery
    grateful for your gallery
    reserve the rite to be
    among her bless-ed best
    a summer rosary
    rise and shine she calls upon request
    love not wavering
    those humble sweet seasons
    for savoring
    sought of give and take
    children born for humblings sake
    a keep sake for safe keeping
    Gods gift to win
    a smile for your grin
    good fortune’s Phoenix
    center ’round the ring
    pray for strength from weakness
    to happen the day
    daughters and sons
    catch us in His arms
    hugs till day is done
    regard the setting sun
    without harm for anyone.

    Amen.

  • by the water

    when faith is wax a primal
    sheen,
    upon the text of nevertheless
    taken too extreme
    bask in the cast of cold moon beams
    walk on water
    first sins washed away
    we were young
    innocent the nubile babe
    in her mothers crescent arms
    soft cheek hands feet beside the deep creek
    where sun and moon spin sleek and cool
    to sound their round physiques
    to lift
    daylight to nestle in nests made from
    nettle petal twig stem leave mud clay
    every being should have her day
    the sun returns to rise
    walk with me by the water take my hand
    bring us peace.

    Amen.

  • in my memory to bear

    eons ago I walked with you
    frailty seemed frivolous
    encountered the rounder points
    the universe exclaimed
    to question the exceptional
    our tears identical
    in the Cabernet of rain

    there is a moment
    in my memory to bear
    bear hugs essential
    from tremendous endless care
    it is the wisdom I hear
    out of the mouth of fear
    that grips the lip
    to shift into the death of us

    holiday spirit there then gone
    to think of God a winter long
    in hopes that He will save the world
    in summer for a freedom found
    that I may feel again to find her
    safe and warm and sound
    where graceful love rebounds

    in ocean sea river bay
    the daughter of the water play
    swim lake stream pond
    nocturnal in the elemental bliss
    covet the quiet kiss
    that led a girl to this
    to shed a tear like skin
    that begs for bells to ring.