A wolf when

raised by dogs

forever

is a wolf

A banker once

he’s crossed the line

can never

steal enough

Aristocrats

their titles

banned

in practice stay elite

A dilettante

who’s been exposed

is then declared

effete

An arrow

with its feathers gone

when fired

 lethal still

A grizzly bear

that’s been declawed

his teeth

remain to kill

A judge

without a jury

still hands

a sentence down

A clown

without a circus

can yet

erase a frown

A cop

without a badge

will chase you

till you’re caught

A Nun

without her habit

plain clothed

— in virtue walks

(Thank You Gertrude: December, 2025)

Death standing

at attention

for a fated

reveille

Which trumpets

through

the darkest cloud

to rain down liberty

Each bayonet

he wills in place

with fearlessness

empowered

A call to arms

through hill and dale

to launch

‘His Finest Hour’

(Winston Churchill At War: December, 2025)

Escaping

to the mountains

Sitting

in my chair

New trails

lie awaiting

Voices

in the air

Tracks to mark

my wonder

Memory

in the lead

Freedom

at the summit

Lost

— in my reprieve

(Dreamsleep: December, 2025)

The deeper you care

the more remote you become

What the present reveals

no clock can outrun

The past and the future

for others to know

This journey one-way

where detached you must go

Those voices who call

pull you deeper within

Not lost but alone

taking flight back to Him

As Jesus, The Buddha

and Crazy Horse knew

The path to true knowledge

doubt ridden and strewn

With the old voices silenced

new voices begin

As your eyes slowly close

— to their welcoming hymn

(Villanova Pennsylvania: August, 2018)

Loud voices

with their measure

No longer

deem to care

Our information feed

corrupt

With broadcast

millionaires

Stars masquerade

as journalists

To pander, slant

and spin

Truth to fester

in their swamp

And sink

— but never swim

(Dreamsleep: December, 2025)

Today a Poet needs to cast

a hook with many tines

To reel in those who’re lulled to sleep

with cautionary lines

These days a Poet needs an edge

much sharper than before

To cut through all the excess flesh

— and save the metaphor

(Villanova Pennsylvania: August, 2018)

Has beens

and hopefuls

Poseurs

and scribes

Wings of

detachment

Losers

and lies

Fated

direction

Choices

on file

Lost in

the moment

Destiny’s

— child

(Dreamsleep: December, 2025)

The hotter the flame

— the brighter the light

(Dreamsleep: December, 2025)

Running off

to somewhere else

the past tracks

close behind

Its shadow looming

steps in place

while preying

to remind

That time pursues

the fleetest man

with doggedness

and ire

To kindle each

mistaken step

into a raging

— fire

(The New Room: December, 2025)

Greatness

spawn’s reincarnation

like the dawn

rebirths the sun

Alexander

Patton, and Churchill sleep

but woken

rebecome  

When destiny calls

the greatest rise

to battle

zero sum

And stem the tide

before the flood

on shores of victory

— won

(Dreamsleep: December, 2025)