When the world becomes heavy,
take it inside
When the waves breach the levee,
take it inside
When she just won’t stop asking,
take it inside
When a friend is unmasking,
take it inside
When the children have gone,
take it inside
When the bad guys have won,
take it inside
When the armies advance,
take it inside
When you haven’t a chance,
take it inside
When night lays unclaimed,
take it inside
When excuses are blamed,
take it inside
When the money’s all spent,
take it inside
When your emotion’s been lent,
take it inside
When the mime begins talking,
take it inside
When the end comes back knocking,
take it inside
When the music plays hollow,
take it inside
When the Angels build lean-to’s,
take it inside
When the berries have been picked,
take it inside
When the Pope throws a fit,
take it inside
When the words just won’t come,
take it inside
When the choice zero-sum,
take it inside
“Inside there’s a fortress,
with ramparts of light
“One choice beyond choosing,
—one vision beyond sight”
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
Giving & Taking
You flew in on a
wish
And left on a broken
dream
Bringing what I never
wanted
Taking what I never
had
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
Given & Heard
Having too much respect
for the language
Trying never to get cute
with the words
Being too much in debt
to the feelings
Writing only what was given
—and heard
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
The End Begins
Dying in anticipation,
the morning never came
Rising out of sublimation
—the end begins again
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
The Well Runs Dry
If we let them in,
serendipity drops
If we keep them out,
our heritage stops
With open arms,
to deal from the heart
Or dreams are crushed,
—and cast in the dark
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
Will It Sing
Every poem I write,
my heart dreams of a song
A composer to finish,
so these lyrics belong
If I can’t breathe in and sing,
as it calls out my name
The lines stay on the paper
—feelings never the same
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
The End In Sight
Do you avoid the give and take,
are you afraid to cut the cake
With hope now gone, one wish is left,
the present strong—all else bereft
Are you afraid of yes and no,
to middle ground do you still go
The mountaintop calls out your name,
excuses haunt your stock and trade
With time undone and glass half poured,
your cup still empties, false reward
The end in sight, horizon plain,
one last choice calls—your soul to gain
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
All Escape Disowned
Did you dodge the bullet,
but not its intent
Is the ocean now calm,
as the storm reinvents
Have feelings rehardened,
with blood on the stone
Back to back with yourself,
—all escape you’ve disowned
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
Passion Like Tinder
Are we better than we need to be,
where does the overage go
Does it store and recycle, to be on call,
or is it something that nobody knows
In our quest for perfection, humanity cries,
as passion like tinder is thrown
Flames circling the bed where we dream through the night
—burning everything into unknown
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)
Remorseful I Grieve
I was there for the sweet spots,
you for all other times
I basked in its glory,
while your sun cast the shine
I avoided attachment,
as you rooted our tree
And in sorrowful guilt
—remorseful I grieve
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)