A Baker's Dozen From 1988 - Page 3

1.

grace does precede our meals nor

does any form of giving thanks;

when we are not eating at separate tables 

we are eating at different times;

silence is best served with friends

no one seems to be uncomfortable.

April 1988

2.

all rivers of knowledge flow into one

and no matter how much we learn, it

all ends there...  a bay of curiosity that

sails of off again as missionaries 

down her many unnatural tributaries.

April 1988

3.

the night and my tears fall together

as I began to thumb-through my life

like the pages of a book, and I \realize

those who admire me the most were

the ones who receive most of my pain.

April 1988

4.

the day began with lackluster colors

of a summer whose brightness has been

turned to rust from the harsh weather.

April 1988

5.

she tossed him on the altar forcing him

to beg for forgiveness or she would

not let him leave his father's house.

April 1988

6.

"you don't want me to be serious?"

"I don't want you to be a fool either."

"a fool?"

"act foolish."

And she disappeared from his presence momentarily returning standing in the doorway with a glass of water cooled off by the night air.

"I brought this for you."

"for me?"

"yes, because I like you."

"like me?"

"yes, like you...  no more."

turning, she looked back at him \and smiled but before she could move from his quickness, she was grabbed and pulled down to him

and as they lay together

they held each other tightly

in silence for along time

and at least temporarily they were good for one another.

April 1988

7.

rearrange my life lady

if you will,

so much of it has been

executed all wrong;

I have never been fair to

anyone, not even myself.

April 1988

8.

be still and quiet woman friend

lay down with me this hot sultry day,

silence your apprehensions

and cool down your fears and

the anger will follow suit;

be still my lady fair

plain but beautiful with so

much love and kindness to give;

calm your anxieties with this man of me

and I'll show you there is trust.

April 1988

9.

however brief our time might be

however long you let me stay

is all acceptable with me and

when the boredom can be seen

all over your wrinkled brow,

it is time to turn me loose

and set yourself abundantly free.

April 1988

10.

and the time will come soon enough

that you will not longer need me and

I'll not laugh and I'll not frown and no 

tears will you ever cry...  we'll kiss

each other tenderly and say goodbye.

April 1988

11.

night will fall one

last time for me and

how many times will

I fall in love with you

before that happens?

April 1988

12.

if I were to daydream of you would

it be the gentle way you caress me with your eyes?

if I were to daydream of you would

it be about what we no longer have?

if I were to daydream of you would

it be when I was with another?

if I were to daydream of you would

would reality change the way I feel?

in all those years of loneliness

if I were to dream at all. it would

be on no one in particular I suppose.

April 1988

13.

and if you pass my house on

the way to work honk once,

and twice on your way back,

and three times if you please

if you coming this way at all.

April 1988