My ego lost virginity,

upon the critics throne

 

Pregnant with doubt ectopic,

its embryo disowned

 

With labored forced delivery,

and fetus left unsired 

 

 A chastised unwed mother

—giving birth to words bemired

 

(Ronald McDonald House: February, 2020)

True poets are poets

before picking up a pen

 

True poets are poets

before opening their mouths

 

True poets are poets

before their words are enshrined

 

True poets are poets

before…

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2020)

 

To doubt what you doubt,

but know what you know

 

The difference inherent,

its fire aglow

 

To wish what you wish for,

but feel what you feel

 

Knowing and feeling

—those things that are real

 

(Villanova University: February, 2020)

Leaving behind excuses,

the reasons close at hand

 

No longer distracted by the ism’s of truth,

or what protocol demands

 

Living outside the fences,

no longer looking in

 

The horizon waiting as my dreams set sail

—safe harbor there within

 

(Bryn Mawr College: February, 2020)

One brisk Saturday morn,

I left the house with glee

 

To find myself within the woods,

in perfect harmony

 

(Rosemont Pennsylvania: May, 1959)

Miss Annette’s 5^th Grade Class

St Thomas Of Villanova Grade School

Staying up for three days

inside of one night,

the walls come crashing in

 

Compression imploding,

my mind exploding,

all memory suffering

 

Each hour like three,

as day becomes night,

the reaper at the door

 

Waist deep in the heartache,

his presence a warning

—my exit unsecure

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

 

 

An empty voice with naught to say,

a barrel hollow born

 

To spout and spew, pontificate,

a hairless sheep forlorn

 

With lines recopied, often stole,

released, his name to bear

 

A charlatan of spoken verse

—embezzled words to share

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

All passion enslaved to Aphrodite,

her chains beyond silver or gold

 

Where time will forever surrender,

 to love—never purchased or sold

 

(Rosemont Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

Damned when we do, damned when we don’t,

the end works out the same

 

As love demands its pound of flesh

—the lion never tamed

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

‘Inspired By Daniel Turner’

 

I dare you

not to read the words,

I double-dare you true

 

To live outside

a sentenced life

—your spirit unrenewed

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2020)