Diminished
but ennobled,
the soldier came home
his two limbs
traded for the
sanctuary
of a deeper peace
Broken
in completeness,
his braces held proud
each battle
medaled
in the memory
—of his finest hour
(The New Room: November, 2021)
Indelibly Inked
You can’t wash away loneliness,
it lurks and it spies
a stain on tomorrow
where destiny cries
You can’t keep what’s been stolen
or find what’s not there,
alone and deserted
—the soap of despair
(Dreamsleep: November, 2021)