As time unweaves,

 its mask deceives

  —to hide a bigger truth

 

The past and future

 threaded strands

  —to braid the hangman’s noose

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2018)

Folding in to convention

Sealed in creases of acceptance

Maligned and misled

By the false promises

Of a stolen heart

We chase the white whale

Of validation

Into waters of denial…

  “Fury—the rallying cry

   of our vengeful spirit

   Hate—the jilted lover

   of our fated selves”

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)

The power of the written word

  the spoken word supreme

 

Ink to then commission

  what only breath can glean

 

Soldiers line up back to back

  letters ranked and filed

 

The command to march just given once

  —its war chant loud and wild

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)

Having fun with the words,

  the party lasted till dawn

 

The sun now a blanket

  covered verses to warm

 

Having fun with the words

  all new phrases to sleep

 

Resting inside my heart

 —until daylight’s retreat

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)

The Devil’s Teapot

—a witches brew

 

Remembrance poured

  in sorrows true

 

The Devil’s Teapot

  bone china cracked

 

New leaks a bane

  in virtue lacks

 

The Devil’s Teapot

  it fills once more

 

With pain now forked

  to stir rancor

 

The Devil’s Teapot

  whose lid seals tight

 

To curse and scald

  —this endless night

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)

More than being good or bad….

 be of interest

 

Good and bad vanish with the prevailing wind

 —but interest lasts

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2018)

A storm is coming,

 the sky will cry

 

Each cloud a tissue,

 old light to die

 

The gale once gone,

 all hope renewed

 

From end to end,

 the picture blue

 

The circle spins,

 the cycle turns

 

What came before

 must then return

 

The seasons frozen

 by grand decree

 

One reason chosen

 to set you free

 

All time a servant

 His master plan

 

The past and future

  just also-rans

 

This moment precious,

 this moment blessed

 

To live within you

 —your heart at rest

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2018)

Throw away my legacy,

 throw away my eyes

 

Throw away my hopes and dreams,

 package them with lies

 

Throw away the reasons,

 your excuses now to reign

 

But never throw away my voice

 —to guide me through the pain

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2018)

Concerned with self

  birds in a row

 

Concerned with self

  all droppings show

 

Concerned with self

  the blindfold tight

 

Concerned with self

  not day or night

 

Concerned with self

  what’s real distorts

 

Concerned with self

  my voice retorts

 

Concerned with self

  front turns to back

 

Concerned with self

  —in truth I lack

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)

The mother lode of nighttime verse

  arriving late

  —all Satan’s curse

 

The dreamer wakes, all sleep forgoes

  old words unbirthed

  —in shadows grow

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)