Their Power To Steal (+1)

Humanity bankrupted

his checking account,

but his love was not overdrawn

Each check that he wrote,

each choice that he made,

trading ingots for righting a wrong

With credit denied,

and spirit affirmed,

he continued to endorse what was real

Until bankers and lawyers

destroyed with one stroke,

his wishes—their power to steal

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)

Winter Comes Early

Winter comes early,

Its heavy coat

Sealing in the cold

The sky

More visible

Its view not the same

The blue faded gray

With distance in charge

And the wind…

The wind never stops

The wind

Never whispers

Like in summer

Sneaking up from behind

Touching your neck

Reclaiming your soul

The winter wind

Pushes and shoves

With its fury

Knowing its time

Is not limitless

Seeming not to care

Winter comes early

When thoughts cannot let go

And holds on tightly

Until the past says

Goodbye

Forcing you…

Into the gray dawn

And the grayer noon

And the earlier

And earlier

Night

Sacrificing your

Reluctance

For a chance

To be free

For that one

Opening

To see

What’s never been there

You close your eyes

And step

Into the frigid wind

Arms extended skyward

Holding nothing back

Staring into

The face of death

Asking for life

Looking beyond

An eternity of doubt

To that place you now

Return

That place you now

Remember

Where winter comes early…

—once again

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)