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
Desperation
in a glance
he draws a breath
and looks around
is he the only one
TL
Working Class
and she’s
on her knees
scrubbing marble
and he’s in the stall
cleaning out the commode
and the Royce is rolling in
and the limos are rolling out
and steam is rising
off linen, off whistling kettles, off lobster pots
and cigar smoke is drifting
like uncorked champagne
and in the silver, you can see the chandelier
and above the clamour, you can hear the grand
and it’s a good night for servers and chefs
for bodyguards and bartenders
for concierge and valet
for musicians and maids
enjoy your stay
TL
Candlelight
simple really
wait for night
set the table
with a glass
and drop
the wax
and strike
a match
TL
Red Balloon
and you’re born
into this world
of blue sky and salty sea
tall trees and dark nights
twinkle lights strung high and low
solar rise and lunar fall
that feeling of being small
and then you know
what’s next
and you don’t know how
to be that
so you act a fool
and reach for lesser things
cool in a crowd
blend in
become a copy
fresh off assemble
robotic routine
beep, beep, beep
eat and drink
then there’s love
and you’re born again
helium high
floating across the sky
looking for a soft landing
convinced it’ll be different for you
is it
if it is
you haven’t landed yet
TL
Threshold
she looked down
at the toe of her shoe
and wagered
should she move
past the present
beyond the “Blue Bayou”
toward the crush
and figured
it’d be best
to take off
her shoes
first
TL
Say
have you
progressed
digressed
regressed
TL
Wild Women
two groups
of white-haired women
filed in
and assumed circle formation
round their respective tables
first group, stylishly coiffed, ordered
long stems of white wine
the second group, Santa wives, ordered
their regular – glass of water with a wedge of lemon
the first group engaged in pleasant conversation
while the second group whined to the waiter about the wait
each entrée seemed to center each table
this was their treat
their getaway
to meet on fall Fridays
for a few laughs
with the few that last
TL
All at Once
heard a preacher man say,
“Love is about responsibility …”
years since that sermon
still nodding my head
for words are just that
it’s the extended hand
not having to be asked
that room full of boxes,
and you picking one
that closet full of clothes
and you going through the motions, suit and tie
that letter he never read,
the one you wrote him and read aloud
picking up his last paycheck
closing his accounts
telling the caller, he’s dead
“Love is about responsibility …”
TL
Ever
if it were just so
how would you ever know
the difference
if the prince had no dragon to slay
would the princess ever know the depth
if children never left home
would they ever make it on their own
if dogs never got old and went away
would they ever know what they gave
if friends fade from sight
would you ever see them
if the love you gave had no return
would you ever know the sender
if the ocean never reached the castle
how then would a kingdom ever come
if there is nothing tested
how can there ever be a lesson
TL
Poverty Line
lone figure
on the street
can’t go home
can’t go there
blank resume
no experience
no schooling
no background
no reference
and even if
no threads
for a sit down
no face to match
the image
no breaks for him
the classifieds are classified
nobody ever gave him nothin’
but a hard time
he understands hate
what it is to be homeless
to be hungry
but those people
blowin’ down the highway
with their paychecks in their pockets
and PTA and pet poodles
and dinner on the table
and “TiVo” shows
and presents under the tree
and heat in the house
and a blessin’ before bed
they don’t understand
how could they
they got somewhere to go
somewhere to be
someone waitin’ for ‘em
someone in their corner
they got kids in college
degrees on the wall
investments
and equity
and deposits
and insurance
and stocks
and bonds
and it’s startin’ to drizzle
and they’re opening their umbrellas
gettin’ outta the car
hard day at work
and the wife’s whinin’ bout getting wet
and the weatherman predicts
a cold front
TL