Like a thief in the night 

academia

wears enlightenment

as a mask

hiding its true agenda

— a stranglehold on the truth

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)

Divinity’s candle

stays burning alive

not born or created

 conceived or contrived

 

Its light from the center

forever shines through

the moment’s unveiling

delivering you

 

To places all knowing

through spaces unknown

the mix in the crucible

its myth to atone

 

The vision self-granted

when time is deposed

confirmed refutation

— with nothing to know

 

(Villanova University: January, 2024)

Monetizing poetry

— the darkest form of alchemy

 

(Villanova University: January, 2024)

Who do you call

when there’s nothing to share

How do you act

with tomorrow unfair

 

What do you dream

when your sleep is deprived

Why are the questions

though answered, contrived

 

When did your wonder

wander away

When did the path

eternally stray

 

How did the moment

slip over the line

How will you tell me

— your memory gone blind

 

(North Wales Pennsylvania: January, 2024)

I remember the day

you borrowed my pain

“Take it,” I told you

no need to explain

 

It’s shopworn and battered

each scar duly earned

Its weight a true burden

of prophecy spurned

 

Then when you’ve finished

the torture complete

Find a new soul

to will it discrete

 

But no matter what happens

or how much you cry

This loan is forever

—forever goodbye

 

(Haverford College: January, 2024)

Money buys

freedom

when blood’s

overdrawn

Reality’s

greed

destiny

pawns

 

Money buys

freedom

its truth

to bemoan

Dignity

truant

the future

— on loan

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)

To drink

from my well

you

first must believe

Each cup

that I proffer

permission

received

The fuller

your bucket

the stronger

your vow

Each word

that you ladle

rebaptized

— aloud

 

(The Radnor House: January, 2024)

I’m a poet devoid

of Cliff Notes

dissection

not my thing

 

Don’t ask me

to explain my words

I’d rather hum

and sing

 

Explication

penniless

in ghettos

of the word

 

Where vagrants

pull and tear apart

what only should

— be heard

 

(Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania: January, 2024)

Avoid needless

complexity

Say it

straight out

 

Frost and

then Hemingway

Set the rules

down

 

Between meaning

and verbiage

The idea

is king

 

Sharpen

the point

The message

— the thing

 

(Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania: January, 2024)

 

When you find your true voice

marry it

— never to divorce

 

(Deamsleep: January, 2024)