Indistinctive

As plumage pales
the finer details
are slowly becoming less clear,
ignoring each hint
I grimace and squint
rejecting all ocular gear,

and as it gets worse
I struggle with verse
that once made me inwardly stir,
which leads me to fear
that I’ll disappear
like everything else in the blur.

Special

The recipe for irony:
a misanthropic chef-to-be
condemned to serving those whom he
would rather never even see.

Devalued

I’m not privy
to how you divvy
the profits we peasants produce for you
I’m much too busy
and often dizzy
performing for one more cent or two.

Immaterial

How much is enough
can you answer me this,
does a mountain of stuff
bring limitless bliss?

Or is the weight such
it’s not worth the cost
for having too much
means more to be lost.

A miser will pinch
a penny in two
and give you an inch
when miles are due

but never refuse
a beggar’s request
if you buy one new shoes
in heaven you’ll rest.

The rich will acquire
the most of us all
then into the fire
they’ll rapidly fall

consumed by the flame
of implacable greed
while the wretched and lame
are eternally freed.

Memorial Day at The Shrine

I traveled to that private place
a shrine upon a hill
where often I’ve come face to face
with His unbending will,

I brought along my share of ash
to seek out someplace blessed
so she that left us in a flash
could have her rightful rest

among the blooms and butterflies
beside a noble tree
where she would utter wistful sighs
were she alive to see—

a hallowed spot for one
who was so constant with her love
despite a distant son
in search of symbols from above.

Pitch

If solitude is solid proof
of wanting to remain aloof
the silence of a former friend
will simply amplify the trend
of sag in a disheveled roof
until it topples in the end,

and no amount of ebon goo
will ever make the angle true
nor cover any leaky spot
enough to stop the rancid rot
that sadly must ensue
when lonely a lot.

Partly Sunny

The sunlight sifted through the clouds to sprinkle on the land
prismatic streamers sparkling with brilliance that was grand,
a truly epic gala which enabled me to see
that I should muse more often just how splendid life can be.

Marginal

Mass production
class construction
drastic suction
crass destruction.

Spring

The first day of equal measure
dawdled as it stormed
the musky smell of life upon the air,
the presence of our burning pleasure
warmed as buds were formed
and mother birds were building nests with care.

I was drawn to part the curtain
and watch the raindrops fall
that bring the blooms alluring to the bee,
it all seems so uncertain
but the hardest thing of all
is nurturing new growth inside of me.

Coping

He was heard to mutter
as he waded through the clutter
“I know I didn’t stutter,
BRING ME BREAD AND BUTTER!”

The kitchen staff was chided
so then they all decided
his will must be abided
and they rapidly divided

up a loaf and started smearing
for he was quickly nearing
and he hadn’t stopped his sneering
since the loss of his endearing

wife, with locks so curly
whose perfect teeth were pearly
her end came much too early
which made him downright surly.

But the oddest thing he started
since she had departed
to leave him broken hearted
was having rubbish carted

and piled in his dwelling
until the walls were swelling
which didn’t stop his yelling
his grief was so compelling.

One day without much warning
they found him in the morning
his bony corpse adorning
the mess that was his mourning—

the help, no longer harried
prepared the grave and carried
him gently to be buried
beside the one he married.

Fossils

We dig and scrape and blast and drill with no regard for what we kill and if we keep this breakneck pace it won’t take long to end the race.

Priorities

The older we get
the more pious we are
so filled with regret
that our knees tend to scar

from all of the pleas
we’re prone to extend
in hopes they will ease
our debt at the end

but arms should display
the ultimate wear
from showing each day
how much we can care.

Assess

Poised for success
or simply a mess
I couldn't care less
hazard a guess?

Grrrrrrrr

The dog drags the bread
underneath the bed
and chews it in the dead
of night

I’m roused by the sound
and toss till I’ve found
a way to get around
this plight

I’ll never bring back
another cold snack
for him to attack
and bite

unless he gets mean
from being too lean
he’s got quite a keen
appetite.

Naked

A psychic kiss
such heady bliss
could anything be as sweet as this:
two minds that merge,
two hearts that surge
with passion, the unbridled urge.