When artists
grow reflective
their impact
is stalled
All direction
is hijacked
momentum
recalled
Looking back
through their psyche
a tunneler’s
view
As horizon’s
lie waiting
with visions
— anew
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
When artists
grow reflective
their impact
is stalled
All direction
is hijacked
momentum
recalled
Looking back
through their psyche
a tunneler’s
view
As horizon’s
lie waiting
with visions
— anew
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Once upon a time
the old songs were new
On prairies unplanted
invaders were few
Where rivers rolled onward
no ferries or towns
All riverboat minstrels
new ages impound
The time of the season
unmeasured refrain
And cursed belladonna
tomorrow to reign
As butterfly’s wander
o’er questions unasked
A dark shrouded answer
— the future unmasks
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Learn to Fandango
castanet in your hand
Tambourine calling
its bells to command
Dance every Tango
before it’s too late
Death in the offing
— the wolf at the gate
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Safe place for the meaning — in couplets of rhyme
the words taking shelter in moments sublime
Their message unfurling — new harbor in sight
the tempest becalming in lines of delight
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Aperta
All of my life
the window stayed open
The good and the bad
— beginning to end
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Verbal Teflon
If the message
doesn’t stick
— the words are in vain
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Courage travels …
where reason will not go
Wisdom teaches …
what intellect cannot show
Prescience offers …
what knowledge can’t explain
Love transient …
infatuation to remain
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Verbal
irrigation
streams
that rush and flow
Tributaries
far and wide
messages
in tow
Watering
the wasteland
Arid lulls
retreat
Freeing what
the silence hides
and reticence
— defeats
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Can a dreamer
be bigger
than the dream itself
a source of hope and pride
Can believers
be stronger
than love or hate
when circumstance denies
Can pilgrims
make choices
to keep the faith
when stranded in the wild
Can orphans
adopted
embrace a name
— that births tomorrow’s child
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Route 66
The death of the road
— the birth of a dream
(The New Room: April, 2025)
Live More
If you’re light
on experience
your writing will suffer
Like clay
to the sculptor
— or drummer to the band
(Dreamsleep: April, 2025)
Old enough
to be your
Grandfather
Young enough
to be your
Friend
Wise enough
to see your
Greatness
Where time
and tide
— depend
(University City: April, 2025)