Counting Down
Death
awaits thy coming
Life
to its transit befalls
Hearts
beat a countdown cadence
As feelings
— malinger and stall
********
Littering The Silence
There’s nothing
you’ve written
that I want
to read
Your words
like your thoughts
with pander
mislead
Intent
and delivery
are far from
the same
As you litter
the silence
to forever
— profane
**********
Straddling Wide
The rogue
the artist
and gentleman
belong to no one class
They straddle wide
the great divides
to dwell
— within the mass
***********
Defiance
Reviewers
of art
depressing
at best
Blue ribbon
or panned
a vacuous
quest
What’s written
or painted
sculpted
or sung
Stands in
defiance
of the dilettante’s
— tongue
********
Tempting What’s Hidden
The writer more focused
on knowing than judging
Each minute
confirming it’s so
The artist too busy
creation on fire
To stop and critique
what is known
This moment to value
more than diamonds or gold
Its gift but the present
on loan
To tempt what’s still hidden
to come out of the dark
And shower with greatness
— what’s shown
(The New Room: July, 2026)