Swallows

Yesterday swallows
danced above the historic city hall
over pedestrian conversations
over diesel trucks hustling
morning men with Rockstars
and coffee to job sites,

over retired regulars on the sidewalk
sipping their coffees remembering
hustling to their job sites.

I, lost among them to the birds, wanted to
forget those things and longed
to remember simpler things like
which swallows these were
and what hatch brought them out.

Book in Hand

He sat at the booth alone.

Dressed in jeans and a faded greed polo,

he'd pushed the limits of the seams

on more occasions than just this meal. 

Readers perched, worn paperback in grip,

he mouthed the words as he gobbled them up.

He never saw the elderly couple entertained 

by their story-telling 50 year old son.

Nor the scores on the multiplicity of TVs.

Probably not the 3rd refill on his tea.

I didn't know whether to admire his focus

or feel sorry for him. All I know is that 

Story was a powerful influence for him and 

he sat at the booth alone.

Less

Am I deficient?
What do I bring?
Awkward clumsiness,
weakness, tiring easily.
What talent I offer
is bested by so many others.
Master of nothing.

Today, I feel less.
Less than enough.
Less than good.
Less talented.
Less skilled.
Less.

So, I offer you Less.
Inadequate Less.
Penitent Less.
Sorry Less.
Less.

Your words,
laughing water,
refresh me.
Dense, fresh bread,
they nourish.

I hope.
I cling to them.

View

Grass...

   as

 far

    as

I

see.

Percolate

I worry.

Too much.

When will I

allow

peace to rule

my thoughts

instead of

the squall?

Isn't that

just a

decision?

Or a

state of mind?

Insight

It's only a moment

when critical lines and movie

scenes conspire to give you

insight and connections

that aren't always present. Only

a moment when a revelation

that is related to a song lyric

and the two movies you saw

last week, and that line from

a book, mix in an alchemy

that is surprising, even shocking

to you and you savor that moment,

drinking it deeply, smiling, only to

see it slip like water through your fingers

until at last it is no more.

Yesterday's Tomorrow

What events unforseen

will occur today remain

unknown to me

or you and gain

prominent attention

when I pause too long

and deign to mention

them in a song.

No telling where they lead

but I assure you now

in word and deed

and solemn vow

with all my heart I pray,

God, spare me Dathan's foolish end 

for Salome's and Mary's way:

Death reversed, Life on lend.