Disappear
on the way
to the big box store
we passed a cemetery
where they welcomed
someone new
the tent was raised
in surrender
the chairs aligned
like pews
the crews waiting
in the shadows
with their shovels
ever ready
and the flowers, too,
are dying
where they lay
like the one
left standing there
that cold, cold day
TL
Wonder
and the parade
goes by
and you see it
only in small eyes
like a speck of glitter
you walked across
out the door
into the day
that stopped tiny
in her tracks
as she bent
and tipped it back
off the ground
over her head
“look, look, look,
look what I found …”
and for a moment
the sun kissed it
before the wind
hugged it
and took it
higher
TL
Tall Trees
cut for consumption
they fall in fields
tagged and taken to market
and put on display
for the Christmas crazed
who would pull its branches
whiff its woodsy scent
and reject any imperfection
before strapping one on
and taking it across town
and dragging it through the threshold
and forcing it to stand
like a girl plucked from obscurity
and put on the runways of Milan
her body, her face, her spirit
already beautiful
before hair and makeup
and couture
her natural grace
all but replaced
in the glare
of flashing bulbs
and tinsel towns
TL
Gesture
there was
a hush
that fell
like snow
soft and silent
and somber
like a prayer
you never share
like the sorrow
of losing
that which
you were
for the sake
of time
and place
and purpose
in that
you forget
how it is
to be
taken aback
by the smallest
of thought
carried out
through centuries
of suffering
that would bring
with it
such salve
to an otherwise
wounded world
for which Love
could indeed
be the cure
TL
Where
does anyone
know
where the water went
where the dog buried his bone
where the people go after it’s over
where the story goes after it’s written
where the watch went after it stopped ticking
where the pool goes after it’s drained and buried
where the song ends after the singer begins
where the house stands after life has left
where the stuff’s taken after nobody wants it
where the voices fall when the ears are small
where the dishes were served
where the dishes were stored
where the dreams went
when the dreams
were ignored
TL
Realism
a kind face
in the crowd
an eye
of understanding
the joy of being
in a candy store
the blessing
of a book
the walk
away
the quiet
of no thought
the Paris
within
the simple
truth
the moment
not past
the turn in
to get out
TL
Military Man
he’s a photo
on the wall
a letter
in the box
a sigh
before sleep
a wonder where …
a day, a week, a year
sworn to serve
mum the mission
and it’s hot
then cold
clear then cloudy
clay then muddy
and time
goes on
the road is long
a long way
from home
TL
Here and Gone
and the siren’s singing
before daylight
medics on the scene
searching for a pulse
dead on arrival
fight the line
no revival
the human
heads to the family
and puts on the Doc face
and finishes rounds
and heads out the door
and sits in the car
however long
then heads home
and puts on the parent face
TL
Date Night
in a kettle
of fire
branches burned
fallen forms
smoldered
into one
TL
Reflection
it’s different
the world
you had
in your head
when you were
spoon-fed
once you hold
your own menu
pay that first
ticket, that first tip
the table
starts turning
tilting and twisting
and you’re
walking around
dizzy and dazed
just want to lie down
and sleep and wake up again
thousand tables whirling
get up, sit down, get up, sit down
in the blur, there’s a man
just standing there
and you can tell
he’s got tokens plenty
but he’s not using any
just walks away
in your head
TL
Pirate
she was afraid
of the sea
native to land
at the edge
she would stand
sunken toe
and watch the grains
pull away
like meat from a bone
seat in sand
a distant cry
decades later
her body
ablaze
sent to sea
little boy
seat in sand
counting stars
saw a glimmer
wondered what
felt a tug
sudden rush
son of the sea
land was not
for he
decades later
his body
tanned
pull away
boat
in his eye
a glimmer
TL
Beyond
saw a black bird
pumping his wings
higher and higher
where was he going
saw a middle-aged man
pedaling two wheels
higher and higher
where was he going
saw an early riser
picking weeds
higher and higher
where was she going
saw a dot in the sky
climbing
higher and higher
where was it going
saw myself
walking in shadow
higher and higher
where am I going
TL
Veterans
in uniform
they left
home
in uniform
they marched
onward
in uniform
they flew
overhead
in uniform
they sailed
over oceans
in uniform
they executed
the mission
in uniform
they rested
cheek to rifle
in uniform
they went
to war
in uniform
they fought
fear
in uniform
they swallowed
sorrow
in uniform
they rallied
resolve
in uniform
they buried
themselves
in uniform
they kept
tomorrow
in uniform
they left
home
in uniform
they returned
Unknown
TL
Perception
and the trees were tall
the ocean forever
the clouds whip cream
the mud a pie
cardboard box:
“Keep Out”
wild animals
lined and stuffed
all talking at once
and “the wheels on the bus go
round and round,
round and round,
round and round …”
wait up!
and all those trees on the plat gotta go
Mayday! Mayday!
man down, man down
cumulus clouds
don’t step in that mud
cardboard box:
“Recycle”
wild animals
lined and stuffed
CD change
turn it up!
“have you ever seen a one trick pony
in the field so happy and free?
If you’ve ever seen a one trick pony
then you’ve seen me …”
TL
Retirement
painted grin
mouths that move at whim
puppets on a string
pedal step
recital spin
script fed
“X marks the spot”
standing ovation
bow on command
ENCORE
roses in the air
exit the aisle
what a performance
what a show
catch a cab
“ready, set, go”
pull the cover
plump the pillow
hit the switch
fetal formation
crumpled in a corner
painted grin
TL
Sword
split
in two
half gave
to you
the better
of the two
TL
Perigon
internal clock
is keeping time
moment to moment
minute to minute
hour to hour
day to day
week to week
month to month
year to year
face of the watch
a crescent moon
counterclockwise
in tune
sound to touch
scent to sight
bold to bland
not too much
pace yourself
center now
been here fore
moorland to marshland
walk don’t run
or you’ll miss
the hands
that lift and fall
that hold and unfold
that open and close
what was, what is, what will
continuum
TL
Promise
she looks at her
and wishes it were …
but it’s not
rainbows
don’t just rise
and fall
out of the clear
blue yonder
without a drip or drop
from deep, dark wells
the color comes
bleeding “Roy G Biv”
and then it’s gone
just like that
like fireworks and Fridays and freedom
and forests and fireflies and forget-me-knots
and just like that
it’s back
drip, drip, drip,
drop
TL
Solitary Confinement
he held it
in his head
everything they said
so much so
there was
no room
for anything else
he drove through day
through night
and never took
a slice
never drank the rain
or sipped the snow
or let anybody know
his tortured soul
cept for her
TL
Lady
smeared shadow
runaway rouge
red ring mouth
slight arch of brow
corner of her lips curl
eyes the image
lit up like a tree
yards of blue satin
way past the knee
small soles swimming
in too high a heel
polished toe to nail
fingers all a ring
jangled jewels
floral scent
white gloves
wild hair
tamed by
a wide brim
ribbons and pearls
it’s good to be a girl
TL