Sending poetry to the world
oh certain first spring nights
the tree blossoms
have this sticky sour smell
that wafts joyous
with grilled meats smoking
oh inhaling, inhaling till
i’m back in a thousand memories
and you’re with me
all of you are with me
oh how the sliver moon full of shadow
witnesses the
scented blindfold
take my arm, lead me
home.
i laid my twin sister
of 87 years
to rest
in a humid mausoleum
fans churning stale air
stirring my white hair
slightly
the pastor speaking:
twins have a special bond
and
the Lord is with you.
i feel her
squeeze my hand and
no one notices.
Oh Marie! Oh Marie…
i watch the coffin blessed,
say goodbye to my husband,
(also waiting)
and leave
to go eat crabcakes
with the living.
Lee, I met you once:
I met a man strong
with legs that loved
volleyball and a smile
that welcomed all and
now none of it remains –
except perhaps this.
[RIP Lee]
will “they” say
the calm is what
killed her?
was the quiet lack
what turned the
blood to sludge
the brain to mush…
what turned
the girl to dust?
along water, bricks
line a path until, whispers
hello soldiers gone.
[running to the Korean war memorial in Canton, MD]
say you,
when rain bleeds
heavy
on window panes,
hear your parents
praying:
maybe next life
we’ll do it
better
maybe next go round
we’ll solve
puzzles
before untouched
we’ll conquer demons
yet to be
vanquished
we’ll reconcile these
self-hatreds
into a lasting peace
the sort that
when rain falls
will now sing us to
sleep.
[rip ryan]
We’ve all but forgotten the heartache
jon
cause life just is–
the days dwindle from when I spent
warm evenings with you,
the weeks slip and slide
and before long
I won’t have a good clear picture
of your face
only a haze from something that was
so overwhelming once
to see our best friends carry
that heavy casket
to see only pictures lining the room
to have the unspoken
hanging heavy fear that
we won’t remember you
jon,
I still have your photo on my desk
our triumphant return from the Keys
in your broken car
I remember your eyebrow raise
your voice laughing
“shut up jody”
Grand-daughter has with him
A quiet dinner of
Ribs and apple sauce and Budweiser.
No need for words,
Enough to sit together.
Wrote this quickly a long time ago (circa 2003 maybe). Most people, I think, will be able to relate in some way or another…. Now, heading out to enjoy the weather and a great concert with BRMC tonight (black rebel motorcycle club) Till tomorrow… Oh, and if you can, let me know if you like hearing background on the poems or if you prefer just to see them posted alone!
For a Moment
for a moment
when it was safe
she thought about him
when the world wasn’t paying attention
she ran her fingers through the memories
and remembered him
when the day buzzed by
and clamored on with heavy ideas
she slipped away
and felt him smiling slyly
as he always used to do and
she sang with him
away from the paperweights and mouse-pads
she danced with him
when it was safe
she kicked back and dreamed of him,
sweetly and sadly,
then the world came roaring in again and
she can’t go back again
though for a moment
she thought she had.
The pastor
choked up
calmed himself quickly
and with a snort,
he looked down and spoke.
“Charles knew
To live beyond himself”
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