I’m a veteran Of WW3 I’ve got the scars and the stories To prove it And I’m signing up For another tour That is to say My soul signs me up Even though I haven’t Recovered from the last I limp I have night sweats I wake up gasping for air I bought myself a …
Heading for the Hudson Valley
It’s been raining so hard lately The puddles have tides. The wind was booming in the trees Trying to get the house to move. I was in my car early Heading for the Hudson Valley Driving over fallen branches Until I turned onto the highway, Uncapped my thermos of coffee And settled in for the …
We must be more than prophets — a prose poem
When enough people embrace a movement, that movement can spin a life of its own — a great spirit. And out of that greatness of spirit, a culture begins to emerge which, in turn, produces work, schools, values reflected in new art-forms, dance, food, all qualities of that shared spirit. If it attains viability, in …
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What is the point
1) When we are done The job may not be But I’ll know we’re done By how you look to me When you lay down Whatever tool you were using When the message comes To step back The leaves are falling So soon Damn I am passing a leaf How pretty it is What unlikely …
I have the tools
So much to do around here I have a long list and I have the tools I have lots of tools Tools for cutting Measuring Sanding Sawing Sharpening Leveling Planing Digging Edging Plumbing Chopping Scraping Painting and caulking Digging Nailing And pulling nails Plenty of tools Duplicates even Some belonged to my father Yes there …
Climbing Monument Mountain
When I climb Monument Mountain It is always with a friend The same friend And every time we climb it The mountain reminds us That we are not getting any younger I already know this But the mountain rubs it in One time in the Fall It was so icy That we were slipping And …
For my friend who called me
My friend calls me from Hawaii. He asks what I do for fun. To buy time, I ask him what he does for fun. He draws on the beach. He draws with a stick. The beach is a giant piece of paper. It is a hundred feet long. The ocean is his eraser. He dances …
The smiling turtle
The smiling turtle looks like he’s About to break into a laugh He’s been Waiting a long time for the punch-line But I am not smiling My mirror has misted up I feel the closeness of the swamp I think we are sinking Into the muck of our business We have to call off the …
There is a word for me and you
I am relieved to know Finally there is a word for me You too Aren’t you? I see you are On the list Of those who Will receive a word (Albeit a lower list) We could share If you are willing This relief of knowing That Out of the blue There is something To replace …
Back
I just got back From a beautiful requiem. I’m not sure what died But I’m back now. And I am remembering how, As a teenager I would come home late, Drunk as a skunk and, Quiet as a moth walking up the screen Toward the light, I would tiptoe up the stairs and Collapse on …