Behind the Glass
a little
brown bird
flew down
and landed
at my window
but never saw me
sitting there
staring back
through tinted glass
I thought him beautiful
no ruffled feathers
he looked brand new
so alert and curious and unafraid
and if he was cold
it never showed
10 seconds went by
before he took off
searching for the little brown bird
he saw in a window
and heard sing
TL
i was
in fifth
or sixth
grade
when
i first
appeared
in the local
newspaper
for 1st place
on an essay
i wrote
about a man
named Martin
who gave a speech
in Washington, D.C.
in 1963
TL
In the Wind
the earth trembles
in centuries
as each flicker of light
goes dark
in that last blink
of breath
the leaves fall from trees
swept away
and new ones appear
as is the way of flowers
in springtime
that open and close
we are left
wondering on the wind
for mortal beings
know not
the mysteries
of the sea
where one begins
and the other ends
the sun
rests on waters
large and small
giving its treasure
away
for those who search
for things
well beyond the rim
of a silent sea
a brush of wings
touched down
TL
No Justification
on the 6th day
of the New Year
the United States of America
saw a disgraceful surge of ignorance
that left the U.S. Capitol
compromised
and a U.S. police officer
dead
trying to protect it
he was 42
on the force 12 years
he should be at work
today
making his rounds
not lying lifeless
for his family
to bury
TL
Living Simply
Rosie
has no idea
it’s a New Year
each day she wakes
wagging her tail
happy just to be
runs on over to the carpet
to wipe her face awake
and stretch and roll on over
for a belly rub
then she trots to the door
like a little piglet
to do her business
and bark at birds and squirrels
and anything that moves
sometimes, she sits in the sun
for a while
and sniffs the air
and stares up at the top of trees
then she spies the cat
and they race to the door
to be first
before they settle down
in front of their bowl
crunching and slurping
their fill
then it’s hide-and-seek
and walking the cat to the door
she bounces around
here and there
and goes and finds her stuffed toy
and proceeds to pull all the stuffing out
happy with her work
she looks around for love and approval
before slipping away
to go and take her a nap
dreaming of steak and chicken and fish
and then she wakes up
and stretches
and wiggles her tail
sashaying to the door
and if she’s lucky
she’ll see a squirrel
TL
Gladiator
last night
a couple days
after Christmas
she watched
a movie
that gave her
more insight
on the man
she loves most
in the world
it was a moment
in time
sitting there with her dad
that she’ll carry with her
for the whole
of her life
and she might not
grasp it now
the depth of it
but will one day
for movies
are magic portals
that can take you back
to that moment when
you were just old enough
to watch your father’s favorite
movie
that first appeared in 2000
six years before you were born
a 20-year-old story
that remains
golden
“Strength and Honor …”
TL
And she’s 14
fer months now
been going around
mumbling and mumbling and mumbling
I need
a new driver
and if I’m on the green
I don’t mumble
I NEED
A NEW DRIVER!!!!!
it doesn’t work right anymore
something’s wrong with it
it’s off balance
I NEED
A NEW DRIVER!!!!!
started looking online and was right on the verge
of buying a-super-duper-shiny-and-new-gonna-whack-the-L-out-of-it-jest-you-wait-and-see
when she walks on over
takes it outta my bag
and hits it 200 yards
straight down the fairway
and looks over at me
“Mama, did you see that …
I love this driver!
Can I have it.
Thanks.
You’re the best.”
TL
On the Eve
maybe it’s
Christmas
but can’t sleep
past four days
just me and the moon
or maybe it’s the ginseng
of late
that could be it
nothing else new
or maybe it’s the pepper flakes
think I added too much to the egg rolls
forget how many I ate
so that could be it
nah, think it’s the ginseng
supposed to give ‘ya energy
actually didn’t think it was doing much at all
but here I am
WIDE AWAKE
or maybe it’s Christmas
and the thought of Santa
sitting there behind plexi
waving his hand …
yeah, that could be it
TL
The Road
there’s
a flat line
that runs down
the center
stitched in time
we see it
direct
in the light
that cuts the eye
when you first wake
in the world
before there are words
only a season
a wave on water
rippling out
we float away
helpless
and return unafraid
the boat of our body
circles the sea
testing the high wind
we take off
on a great exploration
to find our way
back to ourselves
our true selves
a lifetime of living
in a glimmering
there is a clearness
in the wake of loss
that no other season can say
what is unsaid
more than death
there is a dying
of what was
a baby does not stay a baby
a toddler does not stay a toddler
a kid does not stay a kid
a teenager does not stay a teenager
a young adult does not stay a young adult
a middle-age person does not stay a middle-age person
an older person does not stay an older person
a centenarian does not stay a centenarian
the form changes
constantly
to create an opening
a clearing
that allows the rain in
the beautiful rain
that forms in a cloud
and drops from the sky
to the soil below
where each seed struggles
on its way
to see the sun
TL
Songwriter Ian Flanigan
i hear
the whistling
of the wind
traveling from the desert
toward the smokies
under Saugerties stars
the glitter of city lights
under a Montana moon
across the prairie
in and out of caves
rushing down the river
catching drops
soft in the summer
a mist over water
a deer drinking
before its dead
fireflies in the night
sparks that flew up
from the fire
and went out
like a butterfly
the dropping of petals
in the sway of trees
a bitter frost
all the ladybugs
trapped in cement cells
the cry of a coyote
the crawl of night
Sleeping Beauty waking up
the fair’s in town
on a Ferris Wheel
going round
the wheat becoming bread
the crunch of snow
cobwebs revealing diamonds
that drop in the blade
disappear in bulbs
appear
in a yellow light
and go back to sleep
making its way
to the sea
washed up on shore
that’s what your voice
sounds like
to me
wind on a breeze
TL
What a Year …
what is the effect
on the world
the long-lasting effect
especially for the young
who are old enough
to understand
but not fully comprehend
what they’ve lived through
it’s hard enough
for an adult to take it in
how desensitized are they
now
before the pandemic hit
they were already aware
you can be here
one second
and gone the next
that’s how common
a school shooting is
they’re not just drilled on fires and bad weather
anymore
but how to be quiet and hide from an active shooter
and now an invisible virus
has invaded every hallway of every school
in every town
in every city
in every state
in every country
and people wanna fight
over a mask
when I wear one
(and I hate wearing ‘em)
I can’t help but think
about the families
out there
who held no funeral
for a death
and if that death was arguably preventable
it makes it unbelievably worse
nursing home victims
had nowhere to go
and people with pre-existing conditions
already had it hard
and not just health-wise
but otherwise
battered women could not leave the house
children living in constant chaos
had nowhere to turn
but inward
the alcoholics and the drug-addicted
kept on drinking, smoking and shooting up
at home
when schools close
what happens to the kids
who live in pre-existing conditions
made worse by uncontrollable circumstances
what is the long-term effect
keeping schools open isn’t just about test scores
for a child
it could mean a meal
a hug
a kind word
a place to go
and feel calm
and connected
like there’s a tomorrow
to be had
that isn’t terrible
‘cause so-and-so believed in you
that you’re more
than your circumstances
that in life
you must continually
check-in
“and adapt, adjust and overcome”
TL
David Fairley
he’s 83
and walks
18-holes
3 days a week
at the top of the tee
in Charlotte
he doesn’t hit ‘em
long
but hits ‘em
straight
he got his grip
from Hogan
and got his short game
by talent
and time
TL
Tommy Morrissey
the
power
of
belief
TL
“Pee Wee” Martin
last night
flipping channels
saw a man
jump out
of an airplane
like he did
when he was
young
in wartime
today he’s 99
with his mind
and body intact
but you could tell
in the segment
how his heart
got damaged
a long, long time ago
when he came home
breathing
but his buddies
didn’t
TL
“What is …”
lately been
watching Jeopardy
reruns
that make ‘ya think
Trebeck’s still here
it’s interesting how a game show
on television
can connect so many people
round the world
he seemed to understand
how people think
and how emotions play a factor
in performance
he liked putting people at ease
with a joke
a kind word
a look of reassurance
there’s a sense
he would’ve been great
at anything
he had a hand in
‘cause the person he was
was the person
he was
TL
Councilwoman Patsy Jones
never knew
she was once
an English teacher
but makes sense now
looking back
she read everything
that ever came across her desk
she was a close reader
always prepared
for the first and third Tuesday
of the month
maybe overprepared at times
she held herself to a high standard
and fought hard for what she believed in
she never forgot why she was there
she was proud to serve
on the city council
proud she had a part in moving the city forward
from the minor to the major decisions
she helped shape the city she loves
she was tough when she had to be
and didn’t budge if she believed it
to be unfair or unjust or undercut
and she didn’t care if so-and-so didn’t like it much
‘cause she wasn’t there for them
she was representing those who never attend city council meetings
but are affected just the same by what’s in those ordinances and resolutions and such
she understood that
she understood who she was working for
and didn’t take it for granted
as Frost once wrote:
“and that has made all the difference …”
TL
And Everything In-Between
there’s a lady
sitting in the sand
trembling
trying to breathe
in and out
a Tsunami hit her hard
and knocked her backwards
and she can’t find her husband
anywhere
and all his clothes
are floating in the sea
his socks and shoes
just went by
all the papers
the important papers
are scattered
like ash
she reaches for the photographs
the two of them smiling in a frame
wearing silly hats
she can still hear his laugh
feel his touch
his arm around her
his hand in hers
how can she sleep
without him
there
he was always there
taking care of things
taking care of her
how can she sit at the table
next to an empty chair
they talked about everything
and nothing
they already bought the ticket
he must just be away
he’ll be back in the morning
by next week
he’ll be home for Thanksgiving
he wouldn’t miss Christmas
all this wet wrapping paper
these empty boxes
ribbons washed up
like seaweed
he promised he’d never leave her
why is it so cold
summer was just here
why does it keep raining
and raining
where are the roses
he’s out buying roses
there were none in the market
so he went out searching
for flowers
he’s just in the meadow
picking flowers for you
so he can give them to you
when he sees you
again
but you’ll have to wait awhile
‘cause you gotta use your ticket
you can’t waste your ticket
you can’t put it in a drawer
it’s redeemable
go where it’s warm
and dry
and pleasant people
like that place
with the sunsets
and the music
go there
TL
Thomas Sean Connery
my dad loved
movies
so
he appreciated
a great story
told
his favorite one
he shared with me
one day
“The Hunt for Red October”
must have reminded him
of his old Navy days
sailing away on some distant shore
somewhere
he’s missed so many marvelous movies
so many great ones
over time
but he did get to see
one of the greatest movies
ever made
starring one of the greatest actors
that ever was
(August 25, 1930 – October 31, 2020)
TL
Fixed Point
under the lid
of eyes
the clouds go by
in the dark
and the grand old clock
ticks back tears
and drops them in the well
and the flowers float up
like a balloon
lifting laughter off the page
taking notes
for empty chapters
12 numbers on a round face
clockwise
and counterclockwise
time travels
through a portal
of trees
climbing up to the top
to see what it sees
and then scaling back
to touch
the ground
a grain of sand
before it falls
like a flake of snow
behind the cloud
running from the sun
it disappears
like rain
falling asleep in the sea
becoming more
or less
it rolls in waves
turning over sand
changing the shoreline
it reaches back
and springs forward
lifting and letting go
the new and the old
mapped in roman numerals
that can’t tell
time
but rather feeling
it felt
the mortal moment
of a single second
that counts
what cannot be counted
subtracted or divided
it adds up
the sum of all things
made known
to the unknown
TL
Dear Dad,
I can hear
an ambulance
before I ever see it
coming
as I sit there
waiting
for the distant cry
to subside
the night falls
dark
full of flashing lights
flying down the road
but I never see where
they go
they just keep flashing
on and off
like they never gave up
trying …
to save you
TL