Clara Mane (+1)

Morning, bright morning,

your promise has come

Morning, bright morning,

 new birth of the sun

Into your arms

I bathe in reflection

Into your warmth

I strip off my fear

Into your heart

I surrender the darkness

Into your strength

I lay down my spear

Morning, bright morning,

your promise has come

Morning, bright morning

—today rebegun  

(Local Train From 30^th Street Philadelphia: May, 2022)

A Minstrel Hides

In the background

as I write

I always hear a song

Ringing clear

and ringing true

my wishes to belong

The words composed

in beats of time

with room for me to breathe

Awaiting  

as the meaning sings

for voices to retrieve

In the background

as I write

where letters dance with glee

A minstrel hides

between the lines

my spirit his to free

I’d gladly trade

these phrases inked

for one unfinished tune

To sing upon

the coming wind

—and float my heart’s balloon

(Villanova University: May, 2022)