missing home...

Unfolding like new leaves in springtime sun
a dream begun in a smile, the familiar-
a view down Main Street in my little town.

Pacing past store windows, glass panels chronicle
my reach to the sun and the way my eyes
took on the wisdom of shade-dark circles.
Beneath a determined brow, a slanted sun
spring begun in the early walks and wondering

A view, the tall building where mother lived
defiant happiness, turning the world's indifference
into a patient golden glow...like this springtime sun
painting my portrait on lower Main.
Below Market and Broadway, another tower
where my sister held court
in a lively flow of rumor and near chance,
together, a lofty pair of deep and doubtless faiths.

The smile in the dreamy view
wrinkled anew as I dream-stepped
across a wide expanse of time, relaxed in expectation
the touch of love; and then, as if at shimmers end,
the vision took to sudden flight.
with so many still moments of knowing
the warmth of care and the shared ways
feelings we'd made into a cocoon of eruptive life.

They are not there any longer
neither together nor separately there,
gone, and the tall buildings
are just that, stoney anthills,
No longer the seats of love
no longer ...home

little wisdoms

A great forest of faith
green trees bend in winds, deep
roots from little wisdom's grow 

The seed within finds its way
to the sun, giver of all wont.
Yet we savor momentary wealth,
stealth and power-lust fill
such short days given.

Love and loss, the Janus-face
of the heart; the gifts we take;
ungrateful turns of eyes meant
to find beauty...drip,by drip we learn
fire burns but not so deeply as the thorn
near the rose of given care...

did i carelessly waste precious breath
did i spill the goblet of her given spirit

life has
a lash of many strings
but the deepest sting
is the stroke
of forgiveness

Bankrupt

Risen from sewers
in legions - the corrupt
misled fair minds of A CITY,
now to be claimed by those
who only see the vulture's chance

bankrupt


Gritty City with a tilted halo
your spirit has a gangsta' lean.
Tied by hip to the reckless gas machines, you fueled
much growth; now the world chokes
on the four-wheeled felony: poisoning the air we breathe.

City of such loyal oaths, home and place,
those before came to find, peace and fortune
have blessed us. Kept smiles for so many little-ages.
NOW bankrupt and they sell the precious art.
BANKRUPT in chambers of justice poised
to aid the most unjust taking- democracy

The flower of many ages of sacrifice,
young men went only to return old and war-weary.
They fought and some died there, and there, and there...
died so young-- for Democracy.
Dead for the City they shared with their impatient dreams.
Taken away by whom? Who would dare?
Despoil blood gifts of so many heroes-- so many wonders?

It is a callous time, a time of little men
ruled by petty and corrupt, morally-bankrupt;
men possessed of no ideas
except to please their petty masters.
They are not of Democracy, they have raped it,
violated it with low-hearts of foul little men.

THE CITY where dreams come to be born and reborn
A PLACE tied by spirit to a people who wish
to Love a City

The City transforms, it always has-- it was
a place on the water once, now the water
is remembered on sunny days.
It was a place of sudden freedom for
the shameful days of small callous men
and chains.

We know a City, a place
never short of spirit and hope.
Sadly, never lacking small, indifferent men
who take the bounty others have made
and feed it to a base need for greed.

Yet THE CITY endures, finds sunshine
in the dark clouds, a plume of light to
lift us until dawn; a  candle to keep
a beacon for the Love of those
wh gave us this time and place

A CITY that will once again
prove greater than the puny evil
of small and ruthless men; for
in the City, in a Democracy,
there is a way to remove ...trash.

Freedom...

The night imparts poetry to me
a verse of wind whispers
and shadow dance
when freedom is a watchword
dripped like tears from a time of want;
love is the fertile ground.
Gives birth to dreams and dreamers
and nurtures the keep when
wings must sleep, and abide
the unerring flow of deep rivers

Freedom is in a prayer
before it is in a breath
and their crumpled wishes
lift lightly from my lips,
I remember...my debt
of gratitude

morning rustles

bedsheets and fuzzy focus

how many dreams were problems

how many problems were dreams

reality settles like feathers from a  pillow fight

then a gust of goals raises all again

an open door into a hurricane

morning rustles,

like the other set of legs

that twine and squeeze, steal warmth

leave when still wanted, stay through

near cramp…

rustles

like the unknowable, chaff in windy winds

against the window ; reminding of spring

yet to be, to be soon, always too brief , and asks

did we plant flowers and good foods

trim and clean and rebuild a dilapidated...

fertilize and hoe, touch black soil and inhale

and remember

the Loves we have sent to ground

the Loves that made us, kept us to then

when love became a last spring

and springs  began to rustle…in slow

descent like the stuff of  broken pillows

moment in the Sun

Towards glows above the low  west
speed loses distinction, seems still
a return to end a useless circle.
Now flame fills clouds

gives new purposes to air above horizon
golden plumes rise
as this road bends and winds
the mind finds another layer
traffic player and philosophe--weaving
a trail through love and mystery--
streaming into a great ball of light
lowing slowly from sight, enlightning
as light showers me in clarity


Oh, the precious fires,
Loves who have gone
like flame of a day...
and I remember now

could never recall sunsets
so many delicious fadings
skies of light and color;
suddenly,  I do.

Revived-- so many feelings
as light-- sinking into the sea,
settling over distant trees,
falling behind dark faces of mountains,
hidden by man made towers,  phallic vanities.
Suddenly, I remember.

how it felt in the last time
I fully touched, loved
fell without caution
into the wonders of a woman.

Suddenly, my eyes well and blur
as I see so much...so clearly