Only Treats

in ev'ry face upturning
when greeted at my door
I feel the tug of yearning
always the hope for more

with fangs and crowns of plastic
swathed in rainbow to black
restrained yet present magic
whilst begging for a snack

Marked

liquid in the veins

permeated with the joy

as though bliss branded

Over the Rainbow

of daydreams and Technicolor
we played our parts in spades
everyday monotony but on display
gussied up as it were
tiara perched on my head
princess of my own little corner
with laughter as my anthem

Come As You Aren't

pins pursed between my lips
I line up edges
even and straight
hoping the math holds
from 2-dimension to 3
cheating at the corners
and vaguing the curves
to travel the dotted line
smooth and quickly
as ghost night approaches

One Way Roads

sending words into the world
not meant in unkindness
but simply so full of self
that I begin to wonder
is it even a conversation
with two sides and voices
or is my tongue dispensable
fit only for silent agreement
while my ears burn red
at the flame of your self pity

Salutations

I tried to parse my thoughts

too complicated to simply say

or be

canyon of secrets I can't even tell myself

and you ask me what's new

After Silence

warmth radiating out
engulfed in strong arms
that ask for nothing
only folding in
just short of pain
to the telling pressure
celebrating with presence
after silence between us
born of shared sadness
that passes away
like leaves on the wind

On the Clock

the strange overlaps
where history pops up
in uncomfortable ways
trying to be professional
when he appears unannounced
and though my knuckles white
and temples pound
I can do nothing
only clutch my camera
and focus on happier faces
children my soul's balm

Max

a piece of them both

her fingers of bony length

his animation

mystery behind closed eyes

perfection in three letters

Her Water Broke

killing time
slicing seconds down
to move them faster
still they plod
until the question arises
to wait awake or asleep
snatching z's in partial peace
disconnected from possibility
or blank eye open stare
accomplishing nothing
and oblivion beacons
but only until the ring

Tugging the Horizon

entrance imminent

ticking the clock in my head

soon to meet that face

surrender my captured heart

and cheer the miracle thief

Autumn Bite

air crisp like apple

slow roll from summer to fall

soon the crackle brown

Deer Crossing

rolling through the darkness
damp air an anemic mist
like water through a sieve
it slides over the terrain
nearly obscuring her grace
lazy stiff-legged lope
crossing four lanes
yet only on a jaunt
unaware or maybe undisturbed
by my jerk to pause
and open mouthed awe

Stolen Moments

unreliable
with last minute excuses
pulled from thin air
backing down
backing out
of obligations big and small
and for what
an hour here or there
for nothing important
only minutes of silence
alone in the world

Pooling Happiness

crisp apple laughter
tinkling from across the room
until I can't stand it
drowning in the ignorance
where her joy resides
resolute I approach
to be enveloped
open like a blue sky
they part to embrace me
joining the group
as raindrops collecting
until they run riotously on

Separation of Thought and Face

preconceptions laying bricks between us
so that the words you say no comprende
like Greek and I puzzle at the break
until I can disconnect the voice from face
hearing for the first time
without your mouth getting in my way

Forever Juliet

Juliet will forever be Juliet
whoever dons her robe
and embraces the dagger
no matter the changes
can not alter her fate
Juliet is forever Juliet
from curtain rise to final bow
star-crossed innocent child
never to mature beyond her years
such is the immortality of the page
without the infinity of portraying life
that ever moving, never repeating
from crying entrance to exit far
journey that informs the next moment
ephemeral yet solid in creation

Ask the World

"How do you know what your gift is?"
she asked with no guile
and sorrow pooled in my stomach
that she should live this long
and not see herself as she is
blind to a green thumb and open ear
brushing culinary feats off her shoulders
as though food appeared from thin air
so that sour turned to sweet
at the unexpected response
"Ask the world."

Song of Autumn

small yellow leaves
rattling against the cement
like a musical shaker
with grumbling accompaniment
the clouds descending
as I wander home it crescendos
rain striking the car like a bell
until the symphony peaks
and silence returns

Birthday Girl

wave of love breaking
like a plate over my head
shocked back to now
wishes sent from world's end
on the day I own
like a yearly magnet
drawing them out

Libra

at home in posh surroundings
or almost any turf
can converse with queens and kings
as easily as serf

though inanimate not cold
toasty with social grace
ever must the scales uphold
for such can all save face

Gravid

a sad sounding word
heavy and solid
like steel support beams
and yet somewhat apropos
she seemed heavy
in body and spirit
weighted by her growing child
and by the future soon to break
filled with kicking feet
and dancing dreams
burdened by the inner glow
fire of life beginning
emergence on the horizon

Elephant Memory

I haven't forgotten

though joyous events might cloud this day

that the phone rang
and his voice so kindly broke the news
how the tears welled
until my throat caught on each breath
ragged like your ending
torn so cruelly from those you loved
why my feet ran
wishing to be away from polite and controlled
to mourn alone




(RIP Karen, gone one year today)

Sonnet for a Wedding

the blushing brown-eyed bride
with goofy white boy groom
take everything in stride
when crossing any room
glorious end in sight
distant yet looming tall
trying to still the fright
destined to break the fall
and so their future fixed
from dawn to dusk to dawn
nothing to come betwixt
the binds which they have drawn
for they know in their heart
"I do" is just the start




(dedicated to Bryan & April)

Denying the Silence

denying the silence
because it comes like a coma
padded walls against the world
straight jacket for my thoughts
paralyzer
and so I fill the void
words and noise and accumulation
til the peripheral darkness recedes
pounding drums to scare the spirits
ghosts of still air
missing a resonance hello

Just Breathe

oxygen inhale

drawing strength as the lungs fill

deep as the ocean

slowing the pulse down to walk

so my thoughts can live again

Amen Truck

muffled sirens wailed
and I sent a prayer
recalling a child's words
"Amen trucks"
then nolonger distant
but disturbingly close
leaping the stairs to see
idle witness behind glass
two doors down
with house in the way
so that shadows were all
floodlight creating pantomime
figures determined, confused
pacing in ordered chaos
until finally departing
apparent false alarm

Pushing Buttons

cheeks coloring at the implication
that history could revisit
a previous life could infringe
juvenile decisions staining today
and yet hysterical with the audacity
that digging deeper amused him
if only to push my buttons

Sepia No More

I have nothing to say
or maybe everything
but none of it relevant
just old news
old feelings
recycling in my head
blocking out the present
with technicolor past
restored by her return
repainted until I miss the fade

Please Exit the Building

don't presume you know my thoughts
vacationing in my intentions
like you were invited or just allowed
my memories not a playground
a theme park for amusement
must I lock the vault of musings
or can you simply close the door?

You Shall Reap

joy draws joy
as sorrow invites sorrow
and so I draw out the laughter
keep it simmering in the throat
even when unheard
sowing seeds of future happiness