Long before the clocks ticked,
the garden was burning
The law had been laid down,
only the animals ran free
Long before the clocks ticked,
two lovers were yearning
The power, the struggle
—the lust to deceive
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
Beginning Again
From silver to gold,
the years marched along
As language emboldened
its words into song
The grey of my twilight
a welcome relief
All reasoned excuses
another’s belief
As the winds through the canyon
blow the valley to sand
This ending now welcome
—beginning again
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
Defensione Vitae
The only defense against fate
is words
The only answer to death
—is life
(Villanova Pennsylvania: November, 2018)
Love’s Release
Look with your eyes,
until you see with your mind
Listen with your ears,
until you feel what you hear
Laugh with each breath,
until you smile with your heart
Love with your will
—until it releases your soul
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
Ptesan-Wi
“Indians have a saying,” she said
from across the fire…
“Until you have heard the roar
of the bear
—you will not know its heart”
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
From My Novel: ‘Revenge Along The War Trail’
Chamberlain Falls
Refusing to fight the major war,
the war based on principles,
the one we can win
We’re forced to fight a never-ending series
of political wars,
ones that we can only lose
We’re trapped in the middle of Appeasement River
and headed for Chamberlain Falls,
terror awaiting in the rapids now ahead
Slowing down the current or rowing harder wont
save us, it only extends the time of our demise,
capitulation pulling us under toward the roar
As a country, we’re now in the middle of that river
arguing over who has the water rights,
arguing over whose paddle is best
Until we get off the river and back on dry land,
Chamberlain Falls will continue to pull
—and Armageddon will continue to call
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
On The Line
Beyond academia…
its cause and effect
Lies a power inherent
above judgment and theft
Atop its ivory tower
and smothering vine
Consensus is trembling
—with truth on the line
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
Cum Aetate
The older I get,
the shorter the lines become
The older I get,
more welcome is each morning’s sun
The older I get,
those words rented are now mine to keep
The older I get,
dreams follow me out of my sleep
The older I get,
less rules to impose on the game
The older I get,
hopes and wishes of youth to reclaim
The older I get,
new laughter recalls what I missed
The older I get,
all goodbyes now embrace and dismiss
The older I get,
what I searched for, my searching became
The older I get
what’s forgotten—remembered again
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
Without Pain
Can you paint without color,
can you think without language
Can you dance without music
—can you love without pain
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
Creation Redeemed
After Midnight
The narcissists fall
After Midnight
A new lyric calls
After Midnight
Last bugle to blow
After Midnight
There’s more left to know
After Midnight
The lizards collect
After Midnight
Old tales to reflect
After Midnight
The ticking will stop
After Midnight
The bottom will top
After Midnight
A cancerous tome
After Midnight
Malignancy known
After Midnight
Betray and deceive
After Midnight
Alone in the siege
After Midnight
All footsteps fall deaf
After Midnight
Lost palates are cleft
After Midnight
New story to front
After Midnight
Two stars for the dunce
After Midnight
The comets rebel
After Midnight
The coroners yell
After Midnight
A suit made of steel
After Midnight
Its melting reveals
After Midnight
That voice in the back
After Midnight
There’s no turning back
After Midnight
A sacred oath sworn
After Midnight
All memory forlorn
After Midnight
The wheels bend and churn
After Midnight
Lost vision returns
After Midnight
False birth is stillborn
After Midnight
Old vestments are torn
After Midnight
The here and the now
After Midnight
That one sacred cow
After Midnight
Past-Future unseen
After Midnight
—creation redeemed
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2015)
