Born Yesterday
Valentine’s Day draws near,
Its jovial head festooned with candy hearts
And cards with cartoon heroes
Spilling their own hearts.
I am reminded of a time
When the holiday meant absolutely
Nothing to me save an excuse
To eat junkfood.
I no longer abhor this holiday
Despite its coquettish front
And obvious frivolity.
Just because we see people everyday
Does not make them unworthy of great kindness
Or large boxes of overpriced chocolates.
I Loved A Dog
The red hound streaked through
The crimson twilight of fall–
Free, free and unchained,
Life coursing through his veins.
His heart pounded against his ribs
In excitement–
Oh, what a thrill–making the
Autumn trees in their rooted prisons
Dull in comparison.
In Finding You
Had I closed my eyes for a long and violent moment,
Blind to colors and love and light?
Even in the sunlight I walked in darkness,
Keeping my heart behind closed doors
And making use of walls.
This moment lives in my mind–
That inky black corner where it sits alone and laments
My meeting You in this life,
Meeting You and holding You
And being met in return,
Being loved in return.
Had I closed my eyes for a long and violent moment?
In fact, I had been blind,
But my eyes have now been opened
And the world truly is alive–
Living, breathing, growing.
The walls have come down
And all the doors have been unlocked.
This beautiful thing You have given to me–
This new vision, boundless and immeasurable.
Thank You for it all.
In Memoriam
To the trembling water I send my wishes
For those who are not here to wish.
To the water I give my faith,
For faith is everything to those with nothing.
To the trembling water I give my love
For those who are not here to love.
To the water I offer my voice,
A solemn whisper of remembrance
For those who were lost along the way–
A piece of time for the helpless.
To the trembling water I give a promise
For those who are not here to listen
To never forget the wrongs inflicted
By our fellow man.
All of us are from the same river,
The same trembling water.
My Love
A day without hours is a day spent with You;
A minute without seconds; what good does time do?
You know me the best, and, too, at my worst;
You keep me and hold me–You loved me first.
Time is nothing when I am with You;
Make me and break me and keep me with You.
A dream without sleep is a night spent with You,
A dark with great light in all that You do.
Saint Francis
Sunlight through trees, a mosaic of time and place
Brings me full circle to the memories of us.
Afternoon waxing, waning, the forest is alive–
A comfort for a sorrow.
Birds keeping me company and whose company is preferred,
The song of the day lending God’s smile
To those of us who have heartache.
What a reprieve from the world, what a glorious afternoon.
I see and hear and feel this day in my heart,
The sorrow melts away and, for a moment, I am truly loved.
Untitled Number Six
She holds herself in, biting her tongue.
She really hated being so young.
A grown-up mind, a troubled heart,
An artist’s touch set her apart.
They laughed at her and called her names.
They’ll never understand the way of change.
A rainy day, a broken heart,
More dark thoughts tore her apart.
They’ll never understand what makes her tick
Or makes her smile or makes her sick.
All they know is that she’s weird–
The keeper of nightmares they’ve always feared.
