A Poet's Gift (+2)

The most precious gift a Poet gets

—true knowledge of himself

(Villanova Pennsylvania: August, 2019)

All Meaning Contained

The world is my mentor,

eternity my judge

Each choice confirmation,

the future ungloved

Time no longer master,

to deceive or profane

All life in this moment

—its meaning contained

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)

To Herself Alone

The enigma of a woman veiled

in what you’ll never know

Despite those things she gives to you,

her secrets bide unshown

Your eyes may taste and hands might touch,

but to herself alone

Her power worn as though a crown

—her mystery, her throne

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)

What Conscience Is To Shame

Joplin was to Southern Comfort,

what Hendrix was to smack

Morrison was to masquerade,

what Dylan never lacks

Woodstock was to 69,’

what music was to rhyme

Saigon was to those who stayed,

what Auschwitz now reminds

Kennedy was to hopes and dreams,

what nightmares were to some

Castro was to leftist thugs,

what cymbals are to drums

Kissinger was to Nixon

an Appian Way to roam

Dr. King to civil rights,

what kings are to their thrones

Walter Cronkite was to news,

what context was to fact

Altar boys were to their Priests,

what pretzels are to snacks

58,000 were to die,

what a wall was to proclaim

58,000 were to all

—what conscience is to shame

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)