One Last Dance

My heart stays in Wyoming

but Montana calls my name

My spurs and bits ‘a jingling’

as my soul goes north again

Cody up through Beartooth Pass

Cooke City just below

The Great Divide off to my left

the glaciers ringed with snow

I stop to mourn the western tribes

as dark clouds form above

The war chant of Tasunka-Witko

crying out with love

My spirit loose to roam the land

the great Oglala’s words I hear

Two kindred souls in one last dance

—as Wakan Tanka draws us near

 

(From ‘Searching For Crazy Horse’: February, 2017)

Warrior Poet

Deadly to his enemies

confusing to his friends

 

While faithful to his writing

injustice he portends

 

Furious in times of war

in peace his vision burns

 

But past the fray inside his words

a gentler spirit yearns

 

Salvation long then sacrificed

a fate he can’t deny

 

A cross that’s left for him to bear

but still his spirit cries

 

Through battles mostly heaven sent

and victories sealed with death

 

This guilt the price he’s had to pay

now felt with every breath

 

One wish at last he prays out loud

one cry is sent above

 

“My spear, my pen, my will to live

I trade all back for love”

 

(The 1st Book Of Prayers: February, 2017)

Becoming The Messiah

I believe in Jesus

I believe in Buddha

I believe in Mohammed

—divinity shared

 

I believe in grace

I believe in epiphany

I believe in tomorrow

—the promise it bears

 

I believe in man’s ability

to rise above his nature

religion the jailer

—whose lies forestall

 

I believe that enlightenment

requires a commitment

to become the living embodiment

—of that One who calls

 

(The 1st Book Of Prayers: November, 2016)

Last Shot

Stalking a dream

trailing a memory

A scent came in focus

  wafting desire

 

Seized by the moment

alluding a time warp

Tracking its shadow

ambush on fire

 

Covered in greasepaint

fear is approaching

Hearing its footsteps

the jungle embarked

 

Crosshair detention

target redemption

Locked and reloaded

—one shot in the dark

 

(Dreamsleep: September, 2023)

 

“A Grin Without A Cat”

Zero to the thousandth power

logic on the run

Oblongata left in pieces

nothing zero-sum

 

Squaring the root unto itself

Euclid at the cliff

A equals B as B disappears

the quotient nondescript

 

Hickory Dickory’s mouse on the run

though nimble Jack gets burned

Formulas crumbling as integers balk

what’s ‘given’ mocked and spurned

 

Zero to the thousandth power

reason clones its fear

Classical thought—not selling or bought

Pythagorean tears

 

(36th & Chestnut Sts: September, 2023)

The Drought

Abbots of darkness

bishops of pain

Cloistered in dogma

praying for rain

 

Thunderous chanting

 tempest above 

Damning false prophets

 blessing a dove

 

Grace comes a hailstorm

Coventry’s shame

Lost in its downpour

thirst to remain

 

Warning blasphemers

in skies that portend

Ordained and self-serving

 the drought never ends

 

(The New Room: September, 2023)

Salvation Divine

This poem I read

at the end of my life…

 

As I bid you adieu

from the joy and the strife

 

A verse filled with hope

and with love from within

 

To carry inside you

my song on the wind

 

I’ll try not to preach

as others have done

 

But rather beseech you

your songs yet unsung

 

To love with the strength

that’s God given inside

 

And to love even more

in an unending rhyme

 

These words are my gift

I bequeath you today

 

In the hope you’ll remember

what I last had to say

 

For I loved you all deeply

your kindness I sought

 

And remember now sweetly

those blessings you brought

 

So I leave you this morning

and bid you farewell

 

I leave you together

pledged hearts here to dwell

 

All strength in your sharing

my love to remind

 

Your redemption awaits

—salvation divine

 

(The 1st Book Of Prayers: September, 2016)