Her hair blown free,
with eyes ablaze
She walked toward me,
through morning haze
Her steps unmeasured,
her cutoffs tight
Eyes palest blue,
the lightest light
Would I speak first,
would she respond
In ten more seconds,
her image gone
Our shoulders brush,
she passes by
My arm goes numb,
my heart on fire
I had no choice,
I’d lost control
My breathing stopped,
I’d play the fool
And looking back,
all fear defied
An all-star waited
—her ‘Chucks’ untied
(State College Pennsylvania: June, 1969)
Forever Alive
Fighting against you, attacking with words,
hatred my weapon inscribed
Fountains of blood each chapter exudes,
keeping you distant—forever alive
(Penn Medicine Radnor: April, 2020)