What versus why,

each millennium cries

 

Man on the run,

all truth in disguise

 

Modernity reels

from an ancient ideal

 

Until time the thief

—reveals

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2020)

The knife edge of verse…

a verbal incision,

whose sharpness cuts both ways

 

Its blood groove runs heavy

with truth dripping free

—to mark the words unsaid  

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2020)

Subject and Object,

who builds the bridge

From either perspective,

to laud or forgive

 

First person invective,

third person retort

The toll for each crossing

  —forever deports

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2020)

Intention of action…

inaction pursues

 

Deflecting commitment,

with roadblocks infused

 

Intention of action…

step one and step three

 

Step two is the question

—of what comes to be

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2020)

You dip your toe into poetry’s waters,

but never seem to get wet

 

Pretense showing, your measure unknowing,

the surface as good as it gets

 

Into the depths where fear leaves a shadow,

you stare with eyes conjoined

 

The moment upon you, time has been stopped,

to dive—your soul purloined

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2020)

The sum of all possibility,

true nature of our soul

 

To act upon or take flight from,

virtues to extol

 

What may or may not happen,

to inspire or pretend

 

The choice is ours, the will empowers

—to flee or to ascend

 

(Bryn Mawr College: September, 2020)

At what price, love,

the Angel’s sing

 

At what price, love,

the joy it brings

 

At what price, love,

our spirit’s rhyme

 

At what price, love

—the word sublime

 

(The Book Of Prayers: September, 2020)

Memories of the future,

dancing in my head

 

Recalling what will come to pass,

 joyous and unread

 

Reflections yet to happen,

vivid they befall

 

Voices that still wait to sing

—calling me enthralled

 

(The Book Of Prayers: September, 2020)

Some men are rich with a promise,

to others—millions are never enough

 

Fortune esteems what your vision can dream,

contentment elusive as such

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2020)

Stealing my dignity in the name of love,

you took back all control

 

The past and future trading in place,

all memory untold

 

Stealing my dignity in the name of love,

child—father to the man

 

Whose power has dwindled and wheels come off,

with freedom all but banned

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2020)