I’ve made a veritable art form

out of ignoring others

 

Taken it to the highest level,

its crown made out of thorns

 

Turning my back and looking away,

denying their importance

 

A world where they do not exist

—no insult could hurt more

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

Painting with words,

sculpting with sound

 

Letters to dance

—spoken aloud

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2020)

 

Masquerading in a church full of dreams,

all parishioners in their pews

 

The preacher straightens his mask and starts,

a sermon old renewed

 

Hellfire and brimstone come roaring out,

 words to torch and burn

 

His face staying hidden as the nightmare unfolds

—the congregation’s dreams left spurned

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

Admission of weakness,

  beginning transcendence

 

The cry of an Angel

—a welcoming hymn

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

Writing my own ticket…

a coupon from the past

 

The numbers all decoded,

my gate approaching fast

 

Walking down the gangway,

my seat by fortune cast

 

The pilot sitting next to me

—the flight plan mine at last

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

Victim of format,

prisoner of rhyme

 

Inmate of vision

—exile sublime

 

(Monmartre France: April, 1978)

Closeted belief…

 atheist’s disguise

 

Slings and arrows,

 boomerang’s surprise

 

Empty of graces,

desperate to fill

 

Shot through the heart

—their spirits to kill

 

(Noon Mass: St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel, February, 2020)

If you could lock up three words

to keep forever,

that were yours and yours alone

 

What three would you choose

that were not ‘I Love You,’

your heart to save and own

 

Three magical words

to live within,

now yours forever more

 

Three magical words

to light the way

—and open every door

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

If you could lock up three words

to keep forever,

that were yours and yours alone

 

What three would you choose

that were not ‘I Love You,’

your heart to save and own

 

Three magical words

to live within,

now yours forever more

 

Three magical words

to light the way

—and open every door

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

Ordinary moments

for ordinary people,

living inside the dream

 

Like comfortable shoes,

a dog that won’t leave you,

treasures to esteem

 

Ordinary moments

for ordinary people,

the rest to scratch and claw

 

To get to a place

they’ll never find

—condemned to hem and haw

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)