Forlorn Wondering

through fields of doubt, we march

good toy soldiers forever faithful

missing arms or missing legs

it matters not for us...

we paid our dues to another piper

very much in favor of the tune,

out of key but never out of beat,

our brand turned inside out

worn outside in for kicks...

never in public will you catch us

flaunting this or that above our heads

like fanatics on a collision course.

we dine on caviar and wine

or Pepsi and cracker, it's all the same,

bending of the little finger and such

when holding the china...

we live on sloppy hallways sides

slipping to and fro in bare feet,

watching for broken glass

blown in off the streets.

normal lives are for cowards

we are forgotten at best still the

unusual aspects of life have

its benefits none will deny.

June 6, 2025

Acquiescing

on the corners of
madness and
enlightenment,
I turn my attention to 
those who weren't
so lucky...
those who bathe
themselves in the 
attention of others...
those who dream
but never do...
those who fishtail
their lives around a
monumental goal
without justification...
those who understand the
evil in life, embracing
it without question...
those who stand on the
corners or in the alleys
pitching pennies
for a meal...
those who dangle on the
end of society's nose
as if it was customed
tailored for them...
my attention has become
short-lived when patience
mean little to those who
want to steal from me.

June 4, 2025

Nothing to Lose

float aimlessly in a sea of bliss
swing on the handrails of joy
lay down worries carelessly
bask in the sunlight of youth
tell no one your secrets
live a thousand lives in one
dine with the devil if you can
look into the sky on a dark night
practice yoga in your spare time
walk a crooked line often
swim in oceans once or twice
push thread through a needle eye
stand on your head to drain fears
maintain a reputation of gratitude
walk barefoot around scorpions
look down your nose at no one
value life above your own
eat fresh fruit once a day
follow the mediterranean diet
honor your parents and siblings
walk a thousand miles without shoes
beg for forgiveness to no one
always follow the golden rule
believe what you can but doubt
understand death is the beginning
remember who treated you fairly
smile more often than you used to
write poetry in the sand and
save sea shells if you can
we are all each other's children
love like there is no tomorrow
and be thankful for yourself.

Jun 1, 2025

Waffling Memories

memories of a previous time

waffle through my thoughts

like smoke from a barbeque,

leaving smells and flavors

reminiscent of simpler days

when boys played cowboys

and girls played house...

a time when fathers cooked

chicken, hamburgers, and hotdogs

on backyard grills and mothers

made potato salad, baked beans,

corn on the cob and casseroles.

days where no one locked their doors

we moved each other's lawns,

sang carols to those homebound

hot chocolate - doughnuts afterward.

neighborhood dogs ran freely 

cats got stuck in dogwood trees,

corner lot houses were the center

of the community and we all

got along with everyone, never

worried about gender or ethnicity.

males committed misdemeanors,

speeding tickets rather given,

police cars were signs of security

and everyone was there to help.

those waffling memories don't

visit me much anymore but when

they do, are a pleasant surprise.

June 1, 2025

.

Cracked and Crooked

cracked mirrors
line the hallway
of my mind...
hung improperly
most are,
tilted high or low
erases reflections,
hung too close or far
distorts memories,
cracked glass lines
the floor,
replaces carpet
limits mobility,
scenes too many seen
already...  poses
strokes or lapses,
aimless gestures
fickle fingers flick
backwards glances
family and friends
avoid exposure...
I am what I became
he yelled at the doorman
who refused entry,
then skated away to bag
last month's groceries,
light refracts crookedly
on cracked mirrors
and on those souls who
refuse to replace them.

May 31, 2025

Mind Vacancies

Vibrations ripple through the souls
of the forsaken...  those with whom
mankind has abandoned...
wealth supplants poverty
injustice surfs the waves of laws
cresting before reaching shore,
pseudo leaders brandish claims
of what will be provided
nothing ever changes except the
size of their once thin pocketbooks,
education runs silent like a stealth
submarine mucking up knowledge
held in sweaty palms of ignorance,
times leans on itself for security
as age quickly turns us to putty,
youthful exuberance is brief
repeating trite phrases of sanity,
leaping from one building to another
before surrendering to retirement,
hedge fund managers trim not their
own products when advertising is
so easily purchased by competitors,
robots run marathons in Boston
instead of collecting federal grants
to advance their circuitries...
united is the buzz word of fornication
while we divide ourselves with words
that the common man no longer hears.

May 321, 2025

Spilling Summer Showers

bands of rain leak out 
from the sky around me
like a draining sieve
dividing and separating,
birds walk around searching
discovering what they need,
inside protective coverings
a vast majority remains,
even those on sandy beaches
who only accept showers
from the seas or none at all
when saddled up with tanning.
strolling down the surfaces
of sidewalks uninvited,
flooding the lowlands and
course for golf, forcing
inside occupancy instead of
drifting along with the sun.
curiously looking
some of us are, wondering
shy all the fuss - omitting those
who clean for a living
or those who are obsessed
with not - altering their gaze
to more promising ventures
soon as the strong clouds fade.

May 30, 2025

The Gift Unwrapped

urgency dictates her presence
out of the blue arriving
sleek and slender appearing
a righteous point of view,
puddles form around her
liquid exuberance at best
longing and being longed
drifting inside our consciousness,
like a bevy of thoughts pending
a tactical delay nonetheless...
nimble souls gain confidence
in festive admonishment.
preserved in the oils of life
vibrating herself out of sight
wondering which level has
attained her and how long
will be the night...  display
out in front of us like a gift
needing to be unwrapped.

Mary 30, 2025

Reading the Signs

sun creeps up over most horizons

light break through the dismal dark
birds leap out of nest to feed their young
blades of grass shake off the dust
worms leave their sacred holes
trees groan as they stretch their bark
clouds move in silent overtures
leaving sculptures in their wakes,
blue skies reflect the oceans while
absorbing other spectrum light,
birds fly in arc around earth circumstances
navigators no longer use the north star,
whales scare off the killers who scare
off the dolphins who scare off the sharks
so people can enjoy early morning waters,
babies cry and men tie ties before taking
their hot coffee with them, looking
at the news during their daily commutes,
felines cry out for morning treats
dogs sit by the door to be walked
mothers in bathrobes cook meals,
darkness is replaced by light and the
whole world comes alive at different times,
sunshine is the catalyst for life and
life is the reason for our motivation,
we all are what we have become and
not what we intended to be as the
chaos in which we find ourselves
tends to mold us according to its will.

May 30, 2025

Entertainment for the Retiree

tree waves in the backyard form
light shines through their leaves
rain pummels the environment
no one is left the same...
wind's silent howls can be
imagined by even the least
faint of heart - trivial concerns
leaving the most damage.
ask me why I am here and my
answers will always be the same.
here is where I am today
there is where I am not...
applaud the circumstances of
my involvement here...
as it goes unnoticed by most.
victims of circumstances we are
not yet arrived...  although
forecasted they have been - we are
just awaiting their arrivals.
homegrown and naive we most
certainly, have become, looking 
for answers where none exist
watching the wind blow and howl
as if that's our daily entertainment.

May 30, 2025

Appearance of Light

light appears out of nowhere
a crack in the wall unsealed
desperation unleased
motives unusually conditioned,
justice failed twice
laws of an older time

no one bothered to complain.

light appears out of nowhere
a jurisdictional mandate ignored,
sympathy dwells in isolation
geographical regions in peril,
where to go?
what to see?
it boggles the mind immensely.

light appears out of nowhere
fugitives on the run,
clandestine meetings cancelled
rumors abound in silence,
no one admits to anything
justice hangs on the coatrack
officials down in the mouth

light appears out of nowhere
someone paid the bill,
echoes of thanks throughout
not knowing why they are cheerful,
aides step up to the podium
accepting appreciation
still wondering if there hope.

May 29, 2025

Hiking Backpackers

smells of fresh cut grass
smell of barbeque
waffle through the air
together - intermixed
still uniquely different,
early morning drizzles
flow in and around
an off-white misty fog
blocking directions
for mountain hikers,
camping beside ponds,
not quite lakes but large
enough to float across,
dismal thoughts of the day
lay underneath the dying
embers of breakfast
doused with leftover coffee,
packs a little lighter as
the journey continues...
one with nature - stress free
the enticing slogan read,
not mentioning the reality
amateurs often discover,
wilderness exploring
finding themselves and
their sense of purpose,
destiny calls out like a
coach over a missed play
and the opposition
scores once again...
troubles packed away safely
leaving the keys in a
safety deposit box while
making sure the latest 
walking boots are purchased.

May 28, 2025

Downtown Slums

lies buried in the night
along with souls who
didn't work out right,
bangers going door to door
women closing the curtains
wanting death, no more...
cities scream at their alumni
hoping for better support,,
we just live here they say
since there's nowhere else,
dogs bark at the city lights
splashing in dark puddles
of blood that constantly
roll down the sidewalks,
never knowing who they be
since no one claims them.
change elects mayors but
no change do they promote,
residences fear more of the
as they board up windows
and move across town,
since that district is better
by the gangs that freely
flock to popular corners.
eyes in the highlights
stun the city dwellers whose
night on the towns ends
tragically like all others,
we claim there's no solution
when some know there is.

May 27, 2025