The Forest
We found a fallen path in failing light Twilight deepening to a fragile night And searching saw the ash, well grown As wandered long amidst the ancient…
The Back Fence, 4 PM
The shadow of the feeder dangles slant from today’s gold dwindling scaffold. Winged jots record, on radiant boards, birds fanning and declining to the feeder. Smoke suspended…
CPR Training
The nurse had hair the color of a healing bruise and arms hard from pressing plastic breastbones. On real people, when you do this, you should hear…
Decoration Day
Mockingbirds sing in this rural Southern graveyard where you now lie amidst engraved stones, some broken, some legible though weathered cryptic by rain, drought, cold, spring and…
Pentecost in Dust
The Galilean Druid knelt And stuck his fingers in the dust. The crowd that clamored all around Had no effect at all on him. Though every eye…
Kid on a Scooter
1 There’s a kid, a teenage boy, who - As far as I can see, and I’ve seen him Nearly every time I’ve driven past the place…
Being Itself
Being itself, boundless beyond all form Without any essence, soundless speaks Across the chaos of the raging waves Bringing every being out of nothing. Beauty itself, incomprehensible…
In the Piazza of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Now I begin Semper incipiens, To sit and drink my wine Beneath this obelisk, the son of pride. Nor mind nor will incline To know how I…
Glass Stained
High rafters, vaulted ceiling, Light streaming through the wall, Beaming inside through angels, From outside where gargoyles crawl. Falling on the baptismal font, A shimmer is thereby…
Sermon of the Sparrows
Go sit on your porch. This place will teach you Everything you need to seed and grow. The sermons of sparrows will rise to greet you, So…
Some Notes on Contentment and its Opposite
1 Happiness is contentment when nothing’s happening, Is not the bliss of not missing out on some moment Gone almost before we are or were aware…
Book Launch
For David Chan When my friend and fellow-poet launched my latest book, reciting chosen bits and some whole poems, the customary gathered handful listened in respectful silence…
The Clockmaker
O, what if we were wrong? What if the far-distant clockmaker, mechanical God, tick and tock taker, disdains efficiency, preferring song. All the pride of human wit,…
