30 Pieces

Raging flashes

time on fire

seconds flaming

moments pyre

 

Burning scepters

light betrays

torches fury

embers pray

 

Blind inception

blistered tongues

motion melting

boiled young

 

Bars of silver

chains of gold

locks of platinum

ingots stole

 

30 pieces

forged in lies

minted falsehoods

struck alive

 

Nights of crimson

skies of red

life has moltened

—ashes dead

 

(Dreamsleep: May, 2022)

 

 

What’s Unseen

Sometimes when we speak the truth

we tell the biggest lie

Intention stealing from the facts

 meaning ill contrived

 

The pole is North though pointing South

when asked which way to go

when in the Northern Hemisphere

a liars truth misnome

 

Up is down when on your head

gravity be damned

motion forward, motion back

‘Silence Of The Lambs’

 

Sometimes when we speak the truth

we pander to mislead

as 2+2 is 8 in half

what’s missing—what’s unseen

 

(The New Room: May, 2022)

America Bleeds

Democracy’s demons,

they follow and stalk

for every freedom

they strike like a hawk

 

The cost of liberty

its downside abides

to follow intrepid

which vengeance as guide

 

All men here are equal

to right and then wrong

pursuing their happiness

the short and the long

 

Hoping the majority

will rule most benign

many to suffer

from licensed decline

 

Nobility’s tenure

its reign has been long

but treachery threatens

the best of our song

 

Tomorrow in focus

the few and the brave

must suffer the arrows

that seek to enslave

 

And onward we struggle

to save what we can

as menacing trouble

within starts again

 

This fight more than worth it

the day is now late

America bleeding

—our future at stake

 

(The New Room: May, 2022)

Seizing The Instant

Give up your torment, 

take back your verse

tomorrow upon you

for better or worse

 

Take up your wishes,

give in to dreams

sleep in denial,

old memories scream

 

Free up the moment,

strike out the past

damning the future,

its promise unmasked

 

Strike up the silence,

freeing new words

seizing the instant

—forever unheard

 

(The New Room: May, 2022)

A Minstrel Hides

In the background

as I write

I always hear a song

Ringing clear

and ringing true

my wishes to belong

 

The words composed

in beats of time

with room for me to breathe

Awaiting  

as the meaning sings

for voices to retrieve

 

In the background

as I write

where letters dance with glee

A minstrel hides

between the lines

my spirit his to free

 

I’d gladly trade

these phrases inked

for one unfinished tune

To sing upon

the coming wind

—and float my heart’s balloon

 

(Villanova University: May, 2022)

Clara Mane

Morning, bright morning,

your promise has come

Morning, bright morning,

 new birth of the sun

 

Into your arms

I bathe in reflection

Into your warmth

I strip off my fear

 

Into your heart

I surrender the darkness

Into your strength

I lay down my spear

 

Morning, bright morning,

your promise has come

Morning, bright morning

—today rebegun  

 

(Local Train From 30th Street Philadelphia: May, 2022)