Artist

          In This LifeFollowing the sun's lead
leaning into shadows
learning the light
as it falls and grows
never the same
moment to moment
I can count on the inconsistency
yield to its field of foreverness
and not consult books
to prove out its pathit ushers me into illumination
a candle flame
wee illustration
of what must be
as long as I follow the flow
trust what I know
know what I know
and above all
dance in mind
traverse the sound waves
knowing there is no drowning
in the universal waves
quite the opposite
opposites here for human stability
but learn not to fight with opposites
rather weave them together
weft and warp
necessary for harmonious
whole

           My DamageMy damage will save me
cradle me in its ragged arms
fit neatly into the jagged cuts
fill the open spaces
with an abundant flow of tearsI am rich with sorrow
it rocks me back and forth
soothes me as best it can
takes me by the hand
and says “follow”and so I have
followed the path
of evaporating tears
took the salt
licked it
found what nourishment
I could
and continue on
through the desert
unaware of the riches
pouring out behind me
leaving a trail
of what I would have
always wanted

            A Helping HandLife is apparently linear
but in fact
it’s round
and when I find myself
going around in circles
wondering how to navigate
the path ahead or how to leap
over that great chasm
glaring at meI have to change modes
change moods
remember everything is within
my spherical reach
I do not have to travel
to get where I’m going
I have to unravel
and see that I’m already
here

            Hollow Costfigures of sorrow
phrasing limb to limb
embedding heads
in armpits
fallen arches
sheer against
each other
ribs interlocking
interlacing
like fingers
tracing a memory
on skin parchment
no eyes
but sockets
waiting for the lightstaircases
layered with bones
turning everything
you may have have thought
on its side
putting to use
repurposing
the tone
heard by
no one
no two
though a constant echo
pulls you awake
puts nightmare
into your day
brings you a “you”
which might otherwise
have eluded youso you plunk down
words
in an effort
to find a weight
to keep you here
get you herebut the earth’s gravity
is not yours

           Natural ConfettiNatural confetti,
blossom petals, pink,
but not cherry,
strewn on the street,
lining the gutters,
softening the wrench
of loss
sweetly offering an odor
of love
no longer attached to the tree
wilting, matting,
taking on shreds of candy wrappers
and tire tracks
pinkening the cracked asphalt
leading the way
to the exit
the brief life of beauty
giving an example of beauty
so we’ll know it
the next time
it catches our eye
for that one moment
of solidity
that makes sense
that seizes into alignment
heart
mind
soul
and then sneezes off
in a spring breeze

           We VibrateWe vibrate on different planes
and our words
boomerang
back
bouncing off
unseen surfaces
turning intended dialogue
to monologue
plus echos
hearing one’s voice
from within
and without
slightly delayed
and that time
frayed
afraid
prone
to
stream of consciousness
but at least
consciousness
or the act of notating
consciousness
you
never
know
what
thoughts
will
be
transmitted by
fingertips
until you let them
tip-toe on the lettered
keys
and the key to your fortune
is wrapped up
in a sentence
fragment
you must unfold
the curves
to reveal
the bare truth
nothing
of course
there is nothing
inside
because density
exists to create the illusion
of somethingness
till one can give over
to bliss
abundant
limitless to the extent
of no edge ever
glowing
flowing warmth
that needs no fear
fears no fear
wants no fear
grins widely from no ear to no ear