Reflection

Don't tell me the moon is shining, show me the glint of light on broken glass - Anton Chekhov

It caught my eye
a flash of ghostly silver on the pane
whose jagged pieces lie
across the oaken floor's distinctive grain
and silky strands that frame a spider's lair
are laced throughout the rafters, everywhere.

There's no one here
they packed and left this place so long ago
that no one's really clear
on why they felt an urgent need to go
and rob this dusty hearth of warmth or love,
a haunt for me and the moon above.

Huffy

A hurricane is on the way
and I began to pray
then laughed at my own audacity
for what have I done to sway
the heart of any deity?

Consumed with an unlikely dream
I never share my time
just jot compulsive rhyme,
ream upon decaying ream,
it feels as sad as it must seem

and I decide (with utter gall)
to impolitely call,
beseech upon The Lord
to somehow maybe stall
Irene and save the lowly horde,
but then I hear the squall.

Temper

She hates her life
and therefore hate
is whetted in her mind
much like a knife
whose balanced weight
makes cutting so refined—

abrasive, brash
she loves to watch
her chosen target bleed,
she’ll stab and slash
for each new splotch
helps obviate her need.

Yikes!

I bought a 2012 almanac
and now I want to go put it back
by the second to last page I was filled with fear
that the end is near.

Masterpiece

He was ardent about art
she was harnessing her heart
which made the two decide they should never be apart

and now their love has grown
beyond what they had sown
by taking chances on themselves and the great unknown.

Heritage

A moment can last for a lifetime
a life can go by in a blink
whatever we hope to accomplish
will never turn out like we think,

one battle can vanquish an army
surrender may garner a throne
but conflict is bound to come calling
especially when we’re alone,

damnation is sometimes delightful
until the deposit is due
a humble approach to existence
could equal redemption for you.

Babble On

A pair of bedraggled bicycling bagmen blew breezily by
as I briefly broke bread on my break
in a bout of belated bemusement I began this brash banality
but I believe it was one big mistake.

Consideration

He knew she was willing
desire was spilling
from her eyes like a cask
of wine over filling

she wasn’t that sleazy
but he grew uneasy
then put on his mask
and kept it quite breezy

which leads him to wonder
did he make a blunder
or duck the dread task
of dumping her under.

Running

I fancy the ephemeral
covet the conceivable
eulogize the epilogue
dither like a demagogue.

Done Shopping

Last time I found you right away
but not today
I stalked the aisles full of prey
with much dismay

ignoring all the empty stares
and processed wares
to find the answer to my prayers
the one who cares

until I felt my heartbeat skip
for just a blip
then I grabbed you in my grip
and kissed your lip.

Inconclusive

Investigators diligently search
for clues among the grisly scene
where three old ladies in their church
were hit by a mishandled machine
destroying life with every lurch;
they seek the chip that recorded the routine
with more detail than any mortal eye
but can it answer – why?

Retroaction

If I knew then what I know now
I have a sneaky suspicion, somehow
that things would be the same—

if I could feel now like I felt then
unmindful of that looming when,
perhaps I’d be less tame.

Demo

The silver birds were turned to yellow, orange, black and red by lunatics that yearned to fill our jaded hearts with dread, an effigy morosely burned for the spirits of the dead, a searing torch that won’t abstain lamenting those unjustly slain. We’ve all been tired, we’ve all felt poor we all have things we’ll struggle for but no person should ever need to make another human bleed by nurturing a pointless war; a decade isn’t nearly long enough to heal from pain so strong yet as each name is spoken loud, their noble sacrifice avowed, catharsis calms the throng. That sad September day, a prelude to the coming fall when innocence fell prey to evil’s noxious choking pall will never fade away, with love we honor one and all— the spectrum of forgiveness flows through the prism of our woes.

Want

A swollen moon hangs low tonight
the pallid, pockmarked face we see
is more than just a stone
it’s the avatar of gluttony

for soon the earth will take a bite
and leave a single bone
a lone, illumed parenthesis
with no opposing clone.

Vasty

They used to say there was greatness in me
and to a certain degree it’s still true
there’s a tremendous amount of uncertainty
and even more left to do.