What determines genius…
an endowment or a choice
Is there destiny in all of us,
waiting for a voice
Is to reject your epiphany,
most used as an excuse
By those who pull the shades down low,
the darkness theirs to choose
Was Van Gogh so enlightened,
when he cut off his left ear
Or Joplin ever doubtful,
when she sang beyond her fear
Is genius so misunderstood,
its meaning false portrayed
That we see gifts in others
—as we let our presents lay
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)
Doubt Betrayed
Is it in the heart
Or in the eyes
For all you see
To then despise
Is it anger first
Or love at last
Can you judge the future
By the past
Does the meaning change
With every choice
Your words return
Another\'s voice
Last wish you make
One vow to pray
Your vision strikes
—all doubt betrayed
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)
Eternity Unknown
Did you try to take it with you,
did you really think you could
Did your journey end abruptly,
as you never thought it would
Are those things that you acquired,
much of comfort to you now
Are those dreams left uninspired,
parked on someone else’s cloud
Did you once just say “I’m sorry,”
for those things you didn’t do
Did you weep in fearful moments,
for those things you wished you knew
Was your lack of all contrition,
what’s now written on your stone
Is your map unmarked and barren
—all eternity unknown
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)
Water From Ice
A spinner of poetry,
a weaver of prose
A seeker of truth,
or deceiver of both
Will verse be in conflict,
with chapter’s unrhymed
Can the feeling’s transfer,
is there likeness in kind
Will I always remember,
which prayer I must pray
Does the magic get lost,
if the wheat’s in the hay
Can I capture this moment,
be it virtue or vice
In my verse or a novel
—drawing water from ice
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)
Renewed Wishes
Blue skies glisten,
the morning sun kisses
A Robin announcing
the day
The sweetness of spring,
to all lovers it brings
Renewed wishes
—the fresh promise of May
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)