Deep In The Heartache (+5)

Staying up for three days

inside of one night,

the walls come crashing in

Compression imploding,

my mind exploding,

all memory suffering

Each hour like three,

as day becomes night,

the reaper at the door

Waist deep in the heartache,

his presence a warning

—my exit unsecure

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2020)

First Poem

One brisk Saturday morn,

I left the house with glee

To find myself within the woods,

in perfect harmony

(Rosemont Pennsylvania: May, 1959)

Miss Annette’s 5^th Grade Class

St Thomas Of Villanova Grade School

Safe Harbor

Leaving behind excuses,

the reasons close at hand

No longer distracted by the ism’s of truth,

or what protocol demands

Living outside the fences,

no longer looking in

The horizon waiting as my dreams set sail

—safe harbor there within

(Bryn Mawr College: February, 2020)

Those Things

To doubt what you doubt,

but know what you know

The difference inherent,

its fire aglow

To wish what you wish for,

but feel what you feel

Knowing and feeling

—those things that are real

(Villanova University: February, 2020)

Spoken Wings

Saying goodbye,

demanding a kiss,

I set the letters free

To romp and play,

and ferry away,

 impossibility

Calling their names,

a farewell to arms,

 on spoken wings they go

Fond memory smiles

to last the while

—the future theirs to know

(Dreamsleep: February, 2020)

Before

True poets are poets

before picking up a pen

True poets are poets

before opening their mouths

True poets are poets

before their words are enshrined

True poets are poets

before…

(Dreamsleep: February, 2020)