It comes like
Seems like
Feels like
And speaks like
—a dream
That maybe
This instant
For once
And forever
—can mean
That yesterday
And tomorrow
Break ties
With the now
—and then free
The future
And past
From the
Present
—this moment to be
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2018)
Your Mistress Defiled
Has your violence
taken you to places
I’ve not been
Or driven you
to things
I’ve not seen
Was your soul
mired in conflict
once raised from the dead
Were your walls
built to fortify
excuses and blame
Have your choices
been forged by
damnation and fear
Did love matter at all
when it cried
through the pain
Could you still hear its voice
on those darkest
of nights
Were those places you
conquered
in tribute now damned
Did your victims
kneel down
their heads bowed in shame
Was mercy rejected
your mistress
defiled
Has your violence
taken you to places
I’ve not been
Or driven you
to things
I’ve not seen
(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2015)
Only My Words
I’m covered in dirt,
but my words are still clean
A vision half dried
with stains running deep
With sinners and saints
arm in arm at the bar
Each infection we share
tonight’s hookup and score
Meaningless excuses
all scandal affirmed
My bed made with sheets
from a brothel once scorned
As I lie in the shadows
with my soul partly damp
My words are set free
—to the heavens restamped
(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2015)
A Sacrilege
Are people religious because
they’re good?
Or good, because they’re
religious?
The questions remain,
the verdict unclaimed
The wrong answer deemed
—sacrilegious
(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2015)
Falling Free
Eternity shook,
as the words fell free
—startled, but unafraid
(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2015)
A Lone Daffodil
I was walking in March
when from under the snow
—Spring reached up and grabbed me
In my path was a stem
pointing up from below
—a lone daffodil reaching toward me
My darkness was gone
a single robin in song
—with the cold still freezing the air
As my mood had been changed
all life rearranged
—my steps treading nary a care
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2018)
Saint Joan
All males undone
by the Lady Son
The trumpets blared
her fire
An Earl first came
her wrath unchained
To Charles
her heart aspired
All kingdom come
to face Lady Son
But to hell
their souls were laid
As her legend grew
and from banners flew
The name Joan
—all hearts to pray
(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2015)