In all things
there is a bitterness,
that time tries to hide
In all things
there is a loneliness,
coming from inside
In all things
there is a telling,
where tomorrow may be shown
In all things
there is a reckoning
—where truth and lies atone
(Dreamsleep: May, 2019)
Hope
Detour to heaven,
back road to joy
Change of direction
—hope redeployed
(Villanova Pennsylvania: May, 2019)
Humbly I Pray
Tonight through the darkness,
I wander and crawl
The faces all ghoulish,
my past to recall
Unsure of direction,
I listen for sounds
To possibly guide me,
as fire abounds
I look to my left,
as hooves thunder past
I look to my right,
and Beelzebub laughs
All color has gone,
just the fieriest red
I live out my fear,
I live out my dread
One hope then to muster,
that faith remains true
And guides me inclement,
past demons anew
My despair almost total,
my regret full in charge
I squint through the smoke,
“there’s new light from afar”
I plod on my knees,
as it grows bigger still
And the temperature drops,
and the moment refills
Now free of damnation,
my life starts again
With sacred commitment,
forgiven of sin
My tomorrows all cherished,
I live for today
Belief my true savior
—as humbly I pray
(West Philadelphia: May, 2019)
To Laura Nyro
Escaping myself,
I ran into the wilderness
Escaping myself,
I ran back through the dawn
Escaping myself,
my shadow had vanished
Until capturing myself
—in the words of your song
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2014)