more you

it wasn't the beauty of your eyes
no longer blue with tears
larger, clearer
that disarmed me
it was the look that seemed to crinkle with love
wider, deeper
more azure
more assured
more you

the end of fear

evil forces are at work
beyond all control
good does not surface
from silence at all
having a certain belief
if not certain or full
doesn't hurt a faith
in all things beautiful
while time often heals
it definitely kills
little pieces of hearts
can lose their wills
don't listen to voices
that say what is wrong
it's what has to be
what makes us strong
when all's said and done
and the dust settles down
we'll be laughing we two
like two little clowns
so here's to you
and a parting cheer
l'chaim to life
and to the end of fear

when we least expect it

spinning out from the night cocoon
daylight may reveal ominous shadows
life's quest is to find love
even in the darkest places

when we're sinking as we will
we find strength in mindfulness
fixed on that bridge to safety
supported on those banks of truth

we will soften and weaken at a cost
but not at all what we think
life is a process that is preparing us
to find beauty, when we least expect it

nikon

pupils darken
pretty girls pass
eyes follow
trails linger
swaying sights
built for irises
wide-eyed angles
adjust aperture
f: stop, please stop
retina ready
view/click
negative/positive
imprint

sirius circus

in the night sky
a sirius circus
of celestial stars shining
through holes in the big top
as if tossed by a white gloved hand
and juggled by a clown in tails
while the bespangled ringmaster
signals the dancing bears and lions
to join in the parade of light
in march to milanollo

bird island

bird island looms
the surrounding sea bubbles and dances
salt spray spits unceremoniously
merging with continuous grey cloud
light drizzle limewashes the colonized cliff
a busy yet tranquil sanctuary appears
cape breton cormorant and playful hometown puffin
a gentle prodding of sweet mother's wing
speeds away a precocious prodigal son
hardening, honing, homing.
an american golden eagle sharpons its viselike talons
...its beauty unfathomable, its danger immeasurable...
on the rocky precipice of row condos.
valiant patriot guards practise their death spirals
their will impenetrable and noble
as the cold grey atlantic relents
and languishes in the heat of the summer
unaware of time, place, and circumstance
and the urgency of the moment

rings around the moon

rings around the moon
warnings of storms on the horizon
warnings of impenetrable dreams
and the vulnerability of the heart...
it seems
with a harvest moon so bountiful
that all i want to do is caress the night
and feel its omnipresence
like the beauty of a morning glory
glistening with dew,
but all i can do is feel the sting
of words so juxtaposed
and smell the singeing
of untold truths
burning like a searing zeppelin...
forgive me if i'm maudlin
it's the moon
the wanderlust unindulged
it's the happenstance of fate
ringing the moon.

lunar traces

i don't know exactly what to say...
i want to write with precision,
exquisitely,
but then i'd overreach
and miss your heart.
so i'll try with my usual clumsiness
like some fool dancing with two left feet
knowing i could circle the moon forever
and not find any better words to say
i love you,
then i'd go and spoil it all again
with moonbeams and other lunar traces.