No matter how many times

you set the world on fire

Never forget

— where you store the matches

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

One More Day

 

Always amazing

how well this life

goes right on without us

New images tread

where shadows have fled

old memories in the dust

Nothing left behind

but words to remind

we chased the Tiger sure

Out of the jungle

into the light

—hoping for one day more

 

(The New Room: February, 2024)

 

 

 A Finer Point

 

Simplify

and clear

 

Simplify

and clear

 

Not many

years left

 

— simplify and clear

 

(The County Line: February, 2024)

 

Trapline

 

Could — Would — Should

poetry’s triumvirate oxymoron

 

(The New Room: February, 2024)

 

Goodbye

 

Walking the wasteland

tracking the miles

rumpled old notebook

pain has compiled

 

Closer to yesterday

lost to today

Voices of promises

I shouldn’t have made

 

Trouble ahead

troubles behind

Providence follows

in only my mind

 

My pen almost empty

eyes nearly shut

One word to write only

— midnight has struck

 

(Villanova University: February, 2024)

 

Free Given

 

It matters least

that when I die

What strangers say

what ladies cry

 

It matters more

the ink run out

My words free given

— whose passion shouts

 

(Villanova University: February, 2024)

 

 

A place though small enough to write

— still big enough to dream

 

(State College Hotel: February, 2021)

New Keys

 

Will I do it justice

will I find the words

 

Unlocking tomorrow

— with phrases unheard

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

 

 

Counting Inward

 

It’s never about

the number of words

Only the meaning

— and truth to be heard

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

 

The world God’s illusion

deceiving Himself

Birthing a metaphor

 sleight of His hand

Time as the smokescreen

veiling the folly

Escape our salvation

—transcendent Divine

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024) 

Poet’s see beyond the cosmos

that’s why they’re revered

Poet’s leave the final time zone

past and future cleared

Poet’s bow to one volition

high above the clouds

Poet’s live in love’s reflection

— beauty to enshroud

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024) 

One choice and circumstance

set us apart

Forever divergent

forever two hearts

 

One lasting reminder

of what can’t be fixed

The eggshells lay scattered

the pieces all nixed

 

In less than an instant

the future was charred 

Most scarlet of letters

forgiveness stays barred

 

And now to requestion

the maybe’s and why’s

The Stone of Excalibur

— an easier try

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Touching beauty

if just for an instant

if caught by its magic

— if only just once

 

(Moran Junction Wyoming: August, 2021)

Like a boy in the wild

raised by wolves

my poetry is sired

Tracking the scent

of each hunted word

traps set for me most dire

Uncaught or caged

by academia

my trail still honor bound

To wander freely

beyond the wind

— alone to stand my ground

 

(Ronald McDonald House: February, 2024)

I have no regard

for other poets

how could it be other

 

As they conscript

the words away

of which I’ve not discovered

 

A battle royal

zero sum

as phrases block and parry

 

The winner left

his voice reclaimed

— the loser most disparaged

 

(The New Room: February, 2024)