One More Day

Always amazing

how well this life

goes right on without us

New images tread

where shadows have fled

old memories in the dust

Nothing left behind

but words to remind

we chased the Tiger sure

Out of the jungle

into the light

—hoping for one day more

(The New Room: February, 2024)

 A Finer Point

Simplify

and clear

Simplify

and clear

Not many

years left

— simplify and clear

(The County Line: February, 2024)

Trapline

Could — Would — Should

poetry’s triumvirate oxymoron

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Goodbye

Walking the wasteland

tracking the miles

rumpled old notebook

pain has compiled

Closer to yesterday

lost to today

Voices of promises

I shouldn’t have made

Trouble ahead

troubles behind

Providence follows

in only my mind

My pen almost empty

eyes nearly shut

One word to write only

— midnight has struck

(Villanova University: February, 2024)

Free Given

It matters least

that when I die

What strangers say

what ladies cry

It matters more

the ink run out

My words free given

— whose passion shouts

(Villanova University: February, 2024)

A place though small enough to write

— still big enough to dream

(State College Hotel: February, 2021)

New Keys

Will I do it justice

will I find the words

Unlocking tomorrow

— with phrases unheard

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Counting Inward

It’s never about

the number of words

Only the meaning

— and truth to be heard

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

The world God’s illusion

deceiving Himself

Birthing a metaphor

 sleight of His hand

Time as the smokescreen

veiling the folly

Escape our salvation

—transcendent Divine

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024) 

Poet’s see beyond the cosmos

that’s why they’re revered

Poet’s leave the final time zone

past and future cleared

Poet’s bow to one volition

high above the clouds

Poet’s live in love’s reflection

— beauty to enshroud

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024) 

One choice and circumstance

set us apart

Forever divergent

forever two hearts

One lasting reminder

of what can’t be fixed

The eggshells lay scattered

the pieces all nixed

In less than an instant

the future was charred 

Most scarlet of letters

forgiveness stays barred

And now to requestion

the maybe’s and why’s

The Stone of Excalibur

— an easier try

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Touching beauty

if just for an instant

if caught by its magic

— if only just once

(Moran Junction Wyoming: August, 2021)

Like a boy in the wild

raised by wolves

my poetry is sired

Tracking the scent

of each hunted word

traps set for me most dire

Uncaught or caged

by academia

my trail still honor bound

To wander freely

beyond the wind

— alone to stand my ground

(Ronald McDonald House: February, 2024)

I have no regard

for other poets

how could it be other

As they conscript

the words away

of which I’ve not discovered

A battle royal

zero sum

as phrases block and parry

The winner left

his voice reclaimed

— the loser most disparaged

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Signs that might be seen as omens

send me on my way

the daylight waning for today

and luck still virgin on display

flying close to danger’s coven

The wind blows fortune’s empty cast

as trackless dreams setout

dispelling hope and bringing doubt

without a name to even tout

caught within tomorrows fast

I see each warning clearly now

they speak much like a friend

whose words as tokens try to bend

rushing blindly toward the end

captured voices left to bow

Those signs that led me all point down

the road is changing fast

no clear distinction first from last

my future damned to be my past

— the devils fiddle calling loud

(Saint David’s Pennsylvania: February, 2024)