the tide and you
both left me as I wait
on the shore
the tide returned
your love has not

It's hard to function
when a river . . .
begs to
be seen as a tsunami
and vice versa

the empty room
heavy silence
no darkness
of old memories
dust collection

calming buzz of a fly
we watch it circle and dip
hypnotically we follow in the -
SMACK !
thanks grandpa

shadow girl
always
there,
never
noticed.

Having dinner together
with family
laughing and eating
then I saw him
oh . . .

the abyss
trapped
suffocated
no way out
i change

where the bluegill come easy
on the docks as a kid
life with no worry
I miss those days
but there's bigger fish to fry

Doo-doo
Doo
stuck in my head
what's that song?
and how do I kill it?

your smile
so bright, so sweet
your eyes
so dark, so blank
keep me wondering.

"what's your name?"
        you ask
        for the
        fourth
        time.

the little boy
crying . . .
no one listens
alone
bad thoughts

don't tell me
        you're sorry
when you drove past my house
and never said
        a thing.

many miles ahead of me
seeing first light
sunrise upon the horizon
orange and red glow
wishing me a good morning

pressed the wrong button
on the dryer today.
ate alone
at lunch today.
modern day Greek tragedy.

looking at old pictures
i don't recognize
that pretty girl
such a sad look
in her eyes

As she talks
I'm reminded
        why I don't
        like
        Rollercoasters!

walking a familiar beach in France
finally enjoying the wind and sand
grandfather sheds many tears
his brothers remembered
this place of their departure

listening to the Ocean
through my headphones
his voice evokes questions
that are drowning me
"do you think about me still?"

Fill my cup
it is empty
yes, Starbucks, that means you
our guardian of our gold
Can I get an amen?

Don't covet.
He's leaving
with her
I leave
          alone

As we walk out
nice, home-y Italian place
Surprise!
They were a staircase away
the whole time

laying stiffly on the floor
motionless
an old dog
living his last days
on borrowed time

I oftentimes get lost
and lose track of time and place
I catch myself staring
into those deep blue eyes
and I fall in love again

on the television screen
countless hours of bad news
I turn it off
I turn to you
for you are my entertainment

midnight direct deposit
bank account full
living like a king
8 A.M. - bills paid
sleeping with the peasants

reliving memories
of the days gone away
fire and moon our only light
two more logs
extend our stories

the smell of jet fuel
my feet trembling from the roar
in two seconds
Zero to one seventy
another successful launch

old blood
darkens the CT scan
Dad's joke about
finally getting
scalped

measuring the pieces
just as the instructions describe
cutting the pieces
just as the instructions describe
hoping the pieces a   e
                            re  ve
                                     n