I went to sleep at fourteen

and woke up at forty

A prisoner of reluctance

—casualty of time

 

(Dreamsleep: July, 2022)

What are liberals without conservatives

truth without spin

vision without sight

peace without war

strength without weakness

 

…three without four

 

What are predators without prey

the moon without earth

storms without rain

trees without roots

jailers without prisons

 

…hurt without pain

 

What are chains without links

ice without cold

death without birth

children without laughter

cruelty without kindness

 

…pens without ink

 

What are seasons without Winter

discovery without fame

time without moments

letters without cursive

voices without ears

 

…praise without blame

 

What are ravens without wings

vows without promise

kindness without meanness

masters without slaves

today without tomorrow

 

…joy without sorrow

 

In Reference We Wander

In Deference We Pray

 

(The New Room: July, 2022)

 

 

You never know when

you’re making history

Each footnote marking

—a soul on fire

 

(Dreamsleep: July, 2022)

It was just another concert

in just another town

Each face a mirror looking back

my words they sang out loud

 

Another lonely tour date

another strange hotel

The music plays but not for me

—too late to ring the bell

 

(Dreamsleep: July, 2022)

Be proud you’re a Poet

 be careful who you tell

Your words once absconded

—from heaven to hell

 

(Dreamsleep: July, 2022)

 

Tears embedded

  three ring delight

Star-crossed harlequins

pigmented fright

Echoes of laughter

masking false smiles

Greasepainted fantasy

—clowns in denial

 

(The New Room: July, 2022)

The anguish of death

  is before and not after

Its portal one sided

—abandoning time

 

(Dreamsleep: July, 2022)

From deep in the current it comes out of the river…

the Mississippi

the Mersey

 Blue Danube

and Nile 

 

The music living in the spirit of its flow…

the Blues

the Classics

the Tribal

and Jazz

 

Its waters a baptism for the wandering soul…

 listening

searching

hoping

and praying

 

Finding ourselves in the rhythm of its passing…

heartened

enlightened

rebirthed

and set free

 

(Cairo Illinois: September, 2007)

Clouds hovered

the sky wept

grief as thunder rolled

 

Ripping the sky

lightning warned

—prophecy foretold

 

(Dreamsleep: July, 2022)

Life is creation 

not a discovery

Distant horizons

the palette we choose

 

Painting and singing

loving and dreaming

Memory a servant

—time but a ruse

 

(Dreamsleep: July, 2022)