The Last Chant (+4)

The one answer left to me

 is captured in verse

Old roadmap destroyed

 old play unrehearsed

The light becomes blocked

 as it shines from without

Its story an old one

 its warmth left in doubt

The road to this moment

 paved over in verse

Its bedrock a question

 an inner rebirth

My eyes closing tightly

 the last chant has begun

Past-future in ruins

 as within—I become

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2018)

Poet

Prince without lineage

King without a throne

Master without servants

Lover of that unknown

Hearer of what’s unspoken

Seer of things divine

Lord among the jesters

Voice for all the mimes

Reason, when excuses falter

Questioner, when answers fail

Link between the seasons

 —first breath a baby wails

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)

Wanting Only To Rhyme

Before I could return to writing prose,

  verse took my pen by decree

Days fully structured and measured on end

  but tonight

    —words yearned to be free

The stories cerebral, their words bellicose

  new plots marching forward in time

With a story inscribed for others, not I,

  my true voice

      —wanting only to rhyme

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)

Another Look

Another day with a voice

 —one more glimpse into forever

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)

Hell Upon Earth

The livery on fire

  its horses set free

Misery beckons

  the future to bleed

The gates are broke open

  all streets painted red

Death has awakened

  life dragged from its bed

One bugle is left

  blowing perdition’s melee

All swords are unsheathed,

  terror sharpens dismay

Tomorrow unpromised

  today but a curse

The monster has cometh

  —a hell upon earth

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2016)