My Parents Goodbye’s

 

Father

It was a surprise attack

No, it was a sneak attack

Damn those heart attacks

I never said goodbye

 

I was a teenager

Father was a salesman

His last day he worried about the numbers

The next day he was and worried no more

I never said goodbye

 

I remember him in bits and pieces

Like a box of popcorn

The only memories are the bits and pieces left on your shirt

I never said goodbye

 

Mother

Her way to exit

Was no surprise attack

Cancer

Cancer, like a cat, plays with you

The game had several rounds

Lasted years

 

We said goodbye

In that final hour I stroked her leg

I felt like a seven year old

Holding on to her dress

Don’t lose me Mom

We said goodbye

 

Father and Mother

Mother’s long goodbye

Father’s quick exit

I realize now

Life is one long goodbye

Final words

Are in the living

 

____________

Weddings*

She danced

Holding her dress

💓

He danced

Holding her heart

💓

Weddings

A moment

A celebration

A birth

A birth of joy

💓

The young

Alcohol excited their exuberance

💓

The old

Alcohol excites their memories

💓

The band plays on

Playing songs that vibrate a chord

A chord in us all

The chord that all is precious

Laughter and tears

Are heard between sets

💓

Weddings are a precious gift

Between life’s sets

💓

*Dedicated to Mandy and Brian

Political Conventions 2012

Political Conventions 2012

       Republican

I saw a desert

Like the sands of Arizona

Driven by the winds

The winds of talk radio

Middle aged white folks

Driven by the winds of hatred

Against an American of color

       Democrat

I saw a quilt

A quilt of color

I saw tears

Tears to create an oasis

Young and old

Expressing the joy of compassion

A rainbow of acceptance

I saw America

Stars

Stars

 I sat under the stars on a warm night

With friends

The stars listened

They have heard and seen so much

Those stars know a lot about me

About my friends

Those stars heard

The sounds of my ancestors

But stars fail to realize

That they too, will disappear

Friend

Friend

At times

Most times

I long

To be alone

At times

Most times

I’m insulted

By a knock on the door

At times

Some times

I enjoy

The company of friends

But understand this

All times

Every day

I crave my solitude

The clock and I

Have a relationship

We do not like to share

Time is a very jealous friend

Being alone is time absorbed

Absorbed alone with my universe

It’s how I share this galaxy

So say it again

And again

At times

Most times

I long

To be alone

To be alone

Is the sum

Of me

Of me

Missing you

Talk To Me Baby

Talk to me baby

I’m tired of my voice

Talk to me baby

My thoughts have no choice

 

The bartender pours

While he ponders my look

I simply wrote my desires

Tonight that will be my book

 

To hold a beautiful woman

Delivers the brain to flesh

Words are useless in that moment

Darling it’s you, not the dress

 

Talk to me baby

I’m tired of my voice

Talk to me baby

My thoughts have no choice

 

Talk to me baby

I have spent all my cares

Talk to me baby

I’m the only one listening to your prayers

 

My love, after dinner

There are two things left on my plate

One is love

The other is hate

 

I write words that need to escape

I read words that seek a home

My muse sits on my shoulder

I realize he’s on loan

 

Talk to me baby

I’m tired of my voice

Talk to me baby

My thoughts have no choice

Marching

 

They should have left Jesus in his tomb

It would have served us well

Leave the dead

Sleeping in their coffins

The living would sleep better still

 

Serve the living

Glorify our heartbeats

Sing songs praising the universe

Write poems about justice

Celebrate humanity

Talk with the old

Play with the young

 

Onward marching soldiers

Marching hand in hand

With the mark of stardust

As our only brand

We, the loyal master

Leads against folklore

forward into kinship

See our banners flow

Praying Presidents

Photo: pieter pastoor

Praying Presidents

I guess certain prayers do work

Today only born again candidates want to be president.

Many have actually talked with you.

Tell me god,

Did you whisper in their ears to forget the homeless.

Did you send a heavenly email to call real sinners gay.

Did they get a note “from the desk of god” to ignore the poor.

Why are you sleeping with the rich, didn’t your son despise them?

Oh I see – its for the cause   –    cause ya love us.

                   †

Names

Names

Give them names

The hungry, the homeless, the beaten

Give them names

The dissenters, migrants and war weary mothers

Josh

Mohammed

Jessica

Jose

Yolanda

Give them names

The jobless, the jailed, the fanatics

Give them names

The orphans, the dying, the poor

Carol

Mark

Yusuf

Susanne

Teresa

Give them support

a home, dignity, work

Give them a reason

Share your humanity, your voice, your talents

Jesse

Rebecca

Hans

Nora

Dominic

Give them your vote

Your activism, your government

Give them peace

Oppose wars, discrimination and greed

Mia

Elijah

Leah

Jake

Samantha

Give them a name

==

Oasis

Oasis

What young man doesn’t like to roam the desert

Hot and sultry

So many hills and curves to hide in

Territory constantly being searched.

The search for the oasis

is exhausting

But it hardens most men

Shrubs hide the well

The well of pleasure and life

Old men also roam the desert

The hills and curves are oh so familiar

It offers comfort

A place of rest

A place of restoration

The softness of the well

Compliments his own softness

The well of pleasure and life