Afterlife

I once was a poet
then I was a child.
I grew in
towards something undefinable
then out, towards life
and into that as well...

all around the same time
I became reclusive and profoundly lonely
I walked in my father's shoes
with my heart permanently torn up
it was easy, I never tried a day in my life to be sad.
but the fact remains 
that I am.

I once was a poet,
first and only,

I put the water in the pot

Hallelujah
my four walls
hallelujah
the roof and doors
hallelujah

I put the water 
in the pot
I set it on the stove
hallelujah

I breathe the air
and sit on the step
with no place to go
my life seems so easy 
in the blink of a eye
but you don't really know
what I've seen
or where I been
no you don't know
what I know

hallelujah
my four walls
hallelujah
the roof and doors 
hallelujah

turn wise
the faces all around me
redeem yourselves
men of ages
bring truth
to its rest with
love
step down off the throne 
of despotism and
dig your fingers in the dirt
hallelujah


mark no pages in books
quote no gospel
prove naught
look on with and step into
compassion
bring forth courage
hallelujah


I breathe the air
and sit on the step
with no place to go
my life seems so easy 
in the blink of a eye
but you don't really know
what I've seen
or where I been
no you don't know
what I know

so, I say
Hallelujah
my four walls
hallelujah the roof   
and doors.




    

heart transplant

You say you're fine
then you look at me
like you need a new heart
and I am the surgeon. 

Turns out I was the donor.

three for one

I.

your insecurities 

are awe inspiring

but in a bad way.

II.
I feel the deep pettiness
you are burdened with
and I wish I could 
rip it off you
like an old band-aid;
it will hurt
but just for a second.

III.
your paranoia
is the wet suit you wear
to swim in the sea of bullshit
you have allowed 
to overflow into your life.

two for one

sorrow the spoon
drips honey on the floor
cherish the one who no longer
grief, holding all your feelings back
until you are afraid
sorrow the empty spoon.
     ***********

the great wall

your silence,

an impenetrable
conglomerate
of concrete resolution,
the great wall.

there you are,
the warrior,
in full uniform,
your helmet pulled down low
over your eyes,
looking down upon me.

as with all dark forces, 
your strength  is also 
your weakness.

I leave you to your wall,
turn my horse
and ride.

Love

at the bottom 

of the falls

under the pounding 

water

the rocks

wear away

until they are 

hollowed.

loss

(Just so there is no confusion, this poem is a rank out and complete mockery of anyone who thinks that they can get through life without ever facing themselves; you know who you are.)


it sounds like a thing you could lose...
you would look for it under the couch
and say "where's the loss?
I can't find it...

I know it's around here somewhere.
I just saw it a few weeks ago."

then, you might find it

it might look like - beauty
or love
or friendship
or an old sock full of lint and dust

and you would say "ah, here it is",
checking it over for any damage,
feeling a little indifferent to it
or maybe you would be 
happy,
joyful even

that you found the loss;
and you can put it away now, in its proper place.

just another love poem

"what kind of a person does that?"
pain, my friend, causes much that we do not understand.
despair brings only despair, therefore
question not.
for to walk over the hot coals
of critical acumen into the fire of regret
-where there is no water
no wine

no vice

that could ever quench you-
can bring you to a truth 
that burns a scar so thick
nothing, not even death
can penetrate it.  
In that isolation
one can not know faith.
yet
wisdom may come
at some far removed moment
and the many long hours of our lives 
that were wasted in an instant
are regained beyond all previous measure
with a mere change of mind.

Hamsa (the swan)

this morning
how different? 
how much 
the same.

I have known you.

is it enough?

to walk through this life with
only this small pearl
in my heart.

ah,
but it has grown
already,
to be
an 
egg.

tomorrow 
perhaps,
a swan.

will I be able 
to carry you,
forever,
within me?

No.
all birds
must 
fly.

I have known you.

is it enough?

don't forget

Nothing changes, New Years Day.