One Of Us (+4)

“We appreciate that cousin”

 said the Rebel to the Yank

As all glory left the battlefield

 where rows of corpses stank

“We appreciate that cousin”

  as the bullets set to fly

“But our family’s set upon itself

   —and one of us must die”

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2019)

The Island & The Cloud

Between freedom and Instagram

 there is an island,

 where men go to be alone

An island of words

 in arresting colors,

 with meaning indicted—but seldom heard

Between Facebook and tomorrow

 a cloud sits waiting,

 where men go to find themselves

An Angel calling role

 in blind acceptance,

 all names rejected—the letters whole

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2019)

Throne Of Pain

Broken feelings…

My chest of gold

A torments ransom

No trinkets sold

The treasure bounteous

Walls lined with blood

Its hurt and pain

I have withstood

The jewels lack sparkle

But shimmer deep

Their cut and clarity

My soul to keep

And words if cheapened

Must leave this throne

As the lid reopens

  —on the pain I own

(Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2016)

To Guide Me Within

Dreams carry me across

  a mysterious land

Where the voice of my fathers

  so gently commands

It echoes quite softly

  in words only sung

A joyous recital,

  rewoven and spun

I never can stay there,

  I’ve begged till I weep

And with barely a whisper,

  I’m roused from my sleep

But when darkness befalls

  on my world once again

A new dream will come calling

   —to guide me within

(Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2016)

The Torch

Not cute or in genre,

  in tune or in tone

A message drives forward,

  the muse casting stones

Untimely, eternal,

  her voice speaking fast

My pen now a torch

  —the darkness is past

(Barnes & Noble-Plymouth Meeting Pa: January, 2016)