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)

Were I to explain

what then would I say …

That the moon loves its axis

that each dog has its day

That the question unanswered

most answered indeed

That each start an enigma

and truth often bleeds

That the mind unexplored

without mention at all

That from season to season

time stumbles and falls

Against my better nature

I’ll place this one bet

The answer you hoped for

— you’re never to get

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

When night

is your mistress

all wishing is gone

Espoused to

the sun

till divorce came along

Hope

your one offspring

lying dead in repose

Philandering

blindness

— your tryst ill disposed

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

They come to me in phrases

in couplets newly born

 

Screaming from the highest places

fitted but unworn

 

They come to me in dreamsleep

the moon recycled new

 

Time released in words immortal

—scratched into the pew

 

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Toby was special

beyond any words

His love monumental

for country and Lord

 

He fought to the end

accepting his fate

A legacy giant

— our hearts to embrace

 

(Tony Keith’s Death: February 5, 2024)

 

Abandon your party

stand up for what’s right

the partisan madness

a liar’s delight

 

Honor the founders

revolt and derail

the graft and corruption

— both factions entail

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Blessing

the last poem

I’m ever to write

My body

reposing

Sophia’s delight

With eyes

dimming slowly

each breath growing thin

My spark

to an Angel

— as light to begin

 

(1^st Book Of Prayers: February, 2024)