It doesn’t matter who it’s to,
it matters who it’s from
The sender based in deeper snow,
whose tracks forever come
It doesn’t matter what you say,
it matters what they thought
Intention shouting loud and clear
—once given never bought
(Dreamsleep: November, 2021)
“Why”
said the river,
refusing to run
“The mountain’s
on fire,
snow all but gone
“Beginning
or ending,
truth is the same
“The start
in the finish
—loss in the gain”
(The New Room: November, 2021)
With little to gain
and much more to lose
the soldier reloads
no longer to choose
A fate most uncertain
all outcome in doubt
his soul placed in Limbo
—too late to back out
(The New Room: November, 2021)
You can’t wash away loneliness,
it lurks and it spies
a stain on tomorrow
where destiny cries
You can’t keep what’s been stolen
or find what’s not there,
alone and deserted
—the soap of despair
(Dreamsleep: November, 2021)
Diminished
but ennobled,
the soldier came home
his two limbs
traded for the
sanctuary
of a deeper peace
Broken
in completeness,
his braces held proud
each battle
medaled
in the memory
—of his finest hour
(The New Room: November, 2021)
Salt lick temptation
lures that dangle,
camouflaged darkness
masks and blinds
Easily captured
when most attracted,
flypaper memories
—trap and bind
(The New Room: November, 2021)
The last day of vacation,
you told me things had changed
The last day of vacation,
each word seducing pain
The last day of vacation,
a new look in your eyes
The last day of vacation,
unveiling your disguise
The last day of vacation,
your back to turn away
The last day of vacation,
our future gone astray
That last day of vacation,
the sun had left the sky
That last day of vacation
—hello became goodbye
(The New Room: November, 2021)
Tin cup of criticism
hollow and blue
Empty aspersions
poison the brew
Its venom unasked for
distilling in pain
Opinion left rancid
—acidic and vain
(The New Room: November, 2021)
In judgment we are sentenced…
its verdict zero-sum
(The New Room: November, 2021)
Poetry…
an endeavor of disturbing
contradictions
A recording of restless
anticipations
—and lasting treasure
(The New Room: November, 2021)
