Yellow Sun (2009)

Hello said I
to the yellow sun
how I'd like to
carry you with me
to have and to hold
through darkest night

My place is here
sun smiled and said
free in the sky
not held in your hand
how would the land
live without my light

How can I be sure
you'll shine for me
said I to the sun
I spread my hands
as for the land
I'm not earth's keeper

I was made to give
brightness and warmth
that's what I live for
yellow sun said
my soul is light
would you change that

Not so much change
as guarantee
that your light will
stay with me said I
come and lend your soul
and happy I'll be

Captive I'll die
and my light expire
wait and receive
my light when I arise
yellow sun said
and she smiled at me

Light's not enough
for a fearful soul
warmth is fine but
I must have control
so farewell dear sun
goodbye said I

Stones (2009)

I found joy in a poster
from an old-time movie palace,
a scene from an old romance
reproduced on rolled paper.
I wanted to share my joy
so I chose a sunny place
and spread it out for viewing,
but the edges kept curling.
No amount of force would stop it
rolling itself up.
Fine, I said, I'll use these stones
to hold my joy and keep it
always in view. But the stones
crinkled the paper and tore it,
and the edges crumbled.
Fine, I said, crumpling my joy
and pocketing the stones,
I'll keep these stones for my next joy.

Frost (2009)

Layers of loose-knit gauze cover
The ground outside my door.
I itch to walk through that soft field,
To wrap it round me like a blanket,
The sting of cold air in my lungs
As I mark my path through the snow.
The early morning's best for such a hike,
No one else's footprints to distract me.

I walk in silence through the drifts

And flatter myself to think my path

Is one less traveled, and original; 

But I'm not so clever or inventive. 

I may like to think I am the first

But many trod the path that I have taken.

Snow and time hide their paths equally. 

But I choose my path, and that's enough. 

Justification (1988)

Funny, my way of tending,
in these lines I dignify
to call them poetry, to match
this word to that in likely rhyme;
turning out this dreck, spending
countless hours in my sty
churning out another batch
of pointlessly encapsuled time;
I wonder: why the constant bending
of reality as I
perceive it, into verse? To etch
my place in history, or prime
my ego? Affirmation pending,
books, awards and kudos high:
is that what I seek, to fetch
some self-esteem from what is slime?

I think the truth lies in the lending
of emotions, which defy
the written word - to these attach
the purpose, and absolve the crime.

First Date (2009)

Asked the question,
"What would a gentleman do?"
I ignored the answer.

I Cannot Sleep (2009)

Subtle ventriloquist, you threw
your voice with its soft ring into
my hat and now I cannot keep
it out of my head.

I count instead
the number of times my name passed
your lips, how often you laughed when 
we were abed... not wretched sheep.

Mixed Blessing (2008)

You say it's for the best... well
I've no reason to disagree
Unless our talk turns sinister
To matters of the world, or politics;
Then I have views of my own
I wouldn't necessarily share
With just anyone. 

An inhuman bastard? Do tell.
I wasn't there and could not say. 
I take your word for it, though you
Are hardly an impartial judge,
I'm sure you will agree.
I have exes too, and they
Were simply human, like you and me.
I hope you will agree.

In matters of the heart I know
That I am not the best judge either,
Saddled as I am with the same baggage
Or something like it. I'm no saint,
Lord knows, though I have tried to be,
When for brief seconds the flame 

Of faith burned brightly in me, 
I have tried to live and love
As God might have me do, had I
A better idea of His will.
I do my poor best,
I hope you will see.

Perhaps your view is better.
I'll say not a thing against it.
Only bless in me, please, and in others,
The discernment that leads us all to seek
That which would please Him best.
This would serve us better, maybe,
Than disdain or condescension.
I hope you will agree.
I pray you can agree.