The Competition (3-30-07)

Fan Blows hard; computer hums.
The Sony numbers slide along
As, with raw spite, tomorrow comes.

But no one lies where she belongs;
She's with her Teddy, rich with age.
Here! Am I jealous? Am I wrong?

His stomach's torn, with no rib cage;
His limbs hang on with waning drive;
His eyes are glazed, worn down, but sage.

So she may squeeze that bear, make live
His gentle love and loyalty,
And I'll sleep here, but will not thrive.

But tomorrow, she's mine again.
And Teddy will form a poem in his head,
A poem quite like this one.
He would love to jot it down for
Old Times sake, but his arms...
Aren't quite what they used to be.

So Teddy, my friend, I appologize
For taking her...
But I'm NOT giving her back.

College (4-6-07)

I know. I know. It’s looming there.
There.
I can see it:
Sickly yellow mountains of steam
Towering in thunder, ripping asunder
The grounded scrub which fights, fails, and falls.

I didn’t plan, I didn’t think
About the storm driving nearer.
I saw it, you saw it.
The first strikes of rain
May have wet your face
But you didn’t pause.
You grabbed up your raincoat
And forgot. Just forgot and ignored
The billowing blasts of wind,
The ominous offense of rolling
And crackling thunder.

The storm moves with time’s pace,
Pulled by the constant, corded muscle
Of twin horses: God’s great gyrating galaxy
And Man’s manufactured months.

I know the outcome of the storm,
But I cannot prevent it. It is His will,
I suppose, but I will close my windows
When it cuffs my world, vain as it may be.
It will blow me off to Whonosware,
Tear my hands from my life and my love.

In Whonosware I will sit stunned,
Still struggling to fill the gaping…
You may visit me in Whonosware.
That will help.

Well.
I know. I know. It’s looming, looming.
See?
We can both see it.

And we can hold each other until it gets here.

Past Parting (3/18/07)

Ah, what times we had back then!
Would that this elegiac song
Might sweep us back around that bend,
To when our parting made us strong.

You left today with five farewells;
I gladly matched embrace with hug.
If I dumped snow way down on Hell
It might have made the Devil shrug.

But you, sweet you, kind you, sad you
Were not inclined to give a smile
When I gave all to tug it through.
I ran in vain five parting miles.

And in my sprint I chased your tears,
Those drops of sorrow, tainted dark,
Condensed of bitter loss and fears
of pining for and yearning stark.

Ah, what times we had back then!
Would that this elegiac song
Might sweep us back around that bend,
To when our parting made us strong.

I know, my love, that what I write
Is striking something deep inside.
My one request is that you fight
To loose the vines that have you tied.

Resist that rising flood of grief
and turn it back, prevent a spill.
You can win for yourself relief
by calling on your strength of will.

The water rises steadily
But you can watch its frothing arc
and beat it back most readily
whene'er you hear its call and hark.

Ah, what times we had back then!
Would that this elegiac song
Might sweep us back around that bend,
To when our parting made us strong.

I will not stand aside and watch
You struggle with this liquid foe.
From range I will this arrow notch,
Loosed lethally at your sorrow.

Ah, what times we have ahead!
When this sweet elegiac song
Does sweep us back around that bend,
Our parting once again made strong.

A walk through the woods

A walk through the woods,
Though it lasts just a while,
Can show me the power
Of two lowly smiles.

My world redefined
In the speech of a phrase;
My yearnings and fancies
Fulfilled in a gaze.

I’d stay here forever,
While Earth fell to dust,
If I knew you’d remain here,
Come high gale or gust.

I’d stay by your side
Through night and through day,
Watch leaves fall in autumn
Then sprout new ere May.

So, if you abandoned
Your spot by my head
As we marvel at stars,
Warmed by tea and by bread.

I’d creep back inside
And crawl deep in my bed,
Where at least I could dream
About all that you’ve said.

But hoping and trusting
To faith and this love,
I’ll be here forever,
Like stars up above.

This forest is home
To an alter of mine,
Precious ground where your voice
Is ever enshrined.

Like an angel descended,
Butterflies overcome,
You said to me simply—
I’ll say it again as a kind of renewal. Each time that you read this…
“I think we should go out.”
Me, too.
New life—A fresh, blesséd start.
Calmly and smiling…
Respond in your heart.