before

before the word
before, even, the light
that gave birth
to the longing
for the word
I heard a glass object
shatter, heard you gasp
utterly defenseless
I rushed to fall
presumably, by coincidence
at your side

coming round

coming round
to live this arid life
desert chores
simpleton simple
blue heart pond,
pebble
and pensive ripple

when you walk in

the corridors
narrow
the claustrophobia
lessens
time marches itself
still
all things slow down
as the shades
are drawn
and the room
only brightens

sympathy for the Donald

oh, Donald
if you break down
I am with you

if you continue to piece
your soul together
with Scotch tape
I can do nothing
for you

consequence alone
will be your fruition

circles and squares

Regina Spector
is a good starting place
all roundness, spirals, siren
vocal soliloquies
on her life, on your life

down to the note
some assembly required
her circle
is a square
is a bird's transient home
of exacting care
and bronze wire

craft

dissect the science
ply the trade, create art
master the Way
put in your time
deep in the shed
hands in the ashes
of kitchen work
chop vegetables
stoke the stove
years of painstaking
practice, patience
and who you are
reflected in the eyes
of the gruff man
all teeth and hair
knowing and presence
knife, frown
and gut-cutting laugh
lighting the path
to the pinnacle
of your craft

settlements

daven the morning
muzzein remembrance
God in the afternoon
when reading the newspaper
their plight abhors me
while the comics shore me
the only news
fit to print
on this end days day
of emptying out
settlements
displaced gods
the innate right
to a home
the walk
of greed incarnate
hatred with skin
plot and plod
the fragile Earth
big heads
prick
the virginal sky

three answers

YES
NO
YOU'VE GOT TO BE
KIDDING

three Universal answers
to every question
the only ones
you can expect to hear
from God
to your prayer,
cast as spell
in the dark night
of your awakening

He spoke to me then
unembarrassed
not-explaining
just saying

YES,
NO means YES
and that last answer
the mystery of mysteries
the holy of holies
-- with allusion
to Jackie Gleason
and the deadpan straightman --
will always and ever denote
RELAX,
just try
to enjoy this

little gambits

little gambits we make
with form, matter, light
the echoes of heart waves
we send out ))))))))))) come
back
just when we are in need
of a little warmth