Dylan's Gone (+3)

Dying alone on foreign ground,
death grips his blessed hand

Never choosing time or place,
uncharted
—the Angels plan

An oak to fall on alien soil,
all seeds to heaven thrown

His words cast free to light the dark,
that ‘Good Night’
—now his own

(Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2017)

Father

Once you had arms

that held me so tight

Once you had legs

that stood up for right

Once you had eyes

that could see in the dark

Once your strong hands

plotted courses to chart

Once we would walk

and the birds would proclaim

Once we would sing

and the heavens refrained

Once we thought time

was our servant and slave

Once, before war

we forgot and forgave

Now that you’re gone,

my memory’s gone dark

Now that you’re gone,

paths unwalked in the park

Now that you’re gone,

surname given and fast

Now that you’re gone

—my heart beats in the past

(Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2020)

The Emperors Mask

It’s easy to hide behind words,

with the truth left abandoned and stark

It’s easy to hide behind words,

with your feelings sharp pointed and dark

It’s easy to hide behind words,

when the emperor buys you new clothes

It’s easy to hide behind words

—whose deception dishonors you so

(Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2020)

Timeless Things

Locking up a feeling,

its key now mine to own

Flashing back a memory,

its reborn image shown

Wooing that one lover,

whose vow unbroken lasts

Time the evil mistress

—these timeless things contrast

(Newtown Square Pennsylvania: January, 2020)