When I got to Heaven

the gates were listing

a ‘going out of business’

sale

 

The Angels on clearance

Saints on deep markdown

Grace and the Cherubs

e-tailed

 

When I got to Heaven

the Devil in line

waiting to go in

and buy

 

His credit card ready

Cerberus in tow

the damned and the wicked

— behind

 

(The New Room: January, 2025)

 

Eavesdropping

the liars

where poison is stirred

Their message

rings toxic

the future interred

Foreboding

forsaking

all hope is unstrung

While deaf

to the mantra

— where truth waits unsung  

 

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2025)

Hiding behind

each veil of deception

 a reckoning awaits

 

Looming above

the sea of destruction

a fugitive of fate

 

Grasping for breath

on the edge of tomorrow

the future air most thin

 

Plaguing the weak

adrift in their sorrow

— the DNA of sin

 

(The New Room: January, 2025)

Today

is in context

Tomorrow

is not

 

The moment

held captive

The future

uncaught

 

To be

unbegotten

No birth

and no death

 

The present

resplendent

No last

— dying breath

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2025)

 

Conspicuous

by his absence

Entrenched  

in his abeyance

Condemned

in his reluctance

All feelings

askant

 

Forgiveness

but a carrot

From a garden

long estranged

Those closest

to his exit point

Bereft

— and unclaimed

 

(Villanova University: January, 2025)

When you have money

the world stops to listen

The content no matter

gratuity bound

 

The dollars indulgent

as charlatans glisten

Self-interest the mantra

— with greed to compound

 

(Septa R5 Train: January, 2025)

Loving you

with all my heart

the distance creeping in

 

With each tryst

creating space

your vision growing thin

 

The more I try

to hold you close

the more you slip away

 

Until I’m left

alone again

— in passion’s yesterday

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2025)  

Crossing over

into the realm

of non-description

reference and paradigm

sleep alone

 

Borders falling inward

upon themselves

leaving only what

the mind forgoes

—and the soul forbids

 

(The New Room: 1-15-2025)

 

A second first date

a telltale sign 

that she’s the hill

my heart to climb

 

A third first date

the past a blur

my thoughts held captive

entrapped in her

 

A fourth first date

all time had stopped

her eyes enchanting

the mountain topped

 

A fifth first date

my world anew

her saving grace

— the words “I Do”

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2025)

On a path

of mindless

wander

 

To hope

is an unwoven

thread

 

In a life

of restless

longing

 

Tomorrow
in joy

— or in dread

 

(Dreamsleep: January, 2025)