Counting Down

Counting Down

Death

awaits thy coming

Life

to its transit befalls

Hearts

beat a countdown cadence

As feelings

— malinger and stall

********

Littering The Silence

There’s nothing

you’ve written

that I want

to read

Your words

like your thoughts

with pander

mislead

Intent

and delivery

are far from

the same

As you litter

the silence

to forever

— profane

**********

Straddling Wide

The rogue

the artist

and gentleman

belong to no one class

They straddle wide

the great divides

to dwell

— within the mass

***********

Defiance

Reviewers

of art

depressing

at best

Blue ribbon

or panned

a vacuous

quest

What’s written

or painted

sculpted

or sung

Stands in

defiance

of the dilettante’s

— tongue

********

Tempting What’s Hidden

The writer more focused

on knowing than judging

Each minute

confirming it’s so

The artist too busy

creation on fire

To stop and critique

what is known

This moment to value

more than diamonds or gold

Its gift but the present

on loan

To tempt what’s still hidden

to come out of the dark

And shower with greatness

— what’s shown

(The New Room: July, 2026)