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)

Show me a man

without a dream

 

And I’ll show you

— no man at all

 

(James River Writer’s Conference: October, 2016)

I have zero regard

for structure and form

if the words as written work

A poetic outlaw

to ruled acceptance

in search of what may lurk

Critics and enemies

seed the cloud

that overflows with spite 

To rain upon  

my chosen path

— of radical delight

 

(Bryn Mawr College: January, 2024) 

The difference between

poetry and prose

Whose words live together

under your nose

With prose you can finish

last page period end

But poetry boundless

 — to forever extend

 

(The New Room: January, 2024)

Basking

in tomorrow’s shadow

Transported

on yesterday’s whim

Open

to the moment’s calling

Born

again, again — and again

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)