The Actor

    Actors walk
     on stage
      into your life
    providing
     a healing
      escape ---

    one who makes
     stone statues
      breathe
    with a tenacious
     hold
      on reality

    after playing
     many
      parts
    he can
     no longer play
      himself ---

    a collection
     of false
      faces ---
    lifted many times
     becomes
      a mask.


    Adventurer

    Part of you craves the unknown,
     yearning for the open road,
     an exploit that drives you there,
     searching for freedom's thrill.

    A long way without a map
     to a place unexplored,
     just to walk upon the edge
     for the love of adventure.


    Alive

    I reached
     for her thoughts
      among quiet stones
    using silence
     to wrestle
      her doubts --

    fever –
     a sheer tantrum
      of desire

    my words
     walked
      inside her ears ---

    a dance
     involving
      tricky pirouettes

    as strong
     and untouchable
      as thunder ---

    we surprised
     each other
      with reflections

    gazing      inside ourselves
      to feel life

    wishing
     to bottle
      passion forever.


    Annual Parade

    Little girls carry baskets
     tiptoeing through fields of wildflowers.
    The springtime of youth blends with color and play
     as they giggle in laughter.
    Baby Blue Eyes, Pussy Toes, and Sundews

    Life comes alive;
     teenagers on the cusp explore, feeling immortal.
    An awkward age when breasts bud
     and puberty unfolds into flower.
    Crazy Weed, Chatterbox Orchids, and Wild Oats

    The beauty of womanhood presages
     fecundity, desire, and a settled place in nature.
    Femininity is in full bloom,
     pregnant with the next generation.
    Passion Flowers, Stork's Bill, and Eve's Necklace

    Maturity and grace
     hold forth, vibrant and wise.
    Voluptuous forms spread their knowledge
     and grow strong in changing winds.
    Sunflowers, Calla Lilies, and Amaryllis

    Visible stalks skeletal and pale,
     display crystal flakes upon their heads.
    Bonnets and hats bow in prayer
     as dried petals kiss the ground.
    Gray Golden Asters, Silver Puffs, and Widow's Tears.


    Apple of My Eye

    You are a beauty, my baby in pink;
    the apple of my eye. Give me a wink.

     I'm a teenager; shake a break.
     I'm not a baby, for goodness sake.

    Dance on your tippy-toes, twirl around.
    Papa's little girl in a white nightgown.

     Papa, this is Johnny, and I love him so.
     Isn't he cute in his Mossimo?

    I love you, Alex, and Mama does, too.
    The leader of the band is waltzing with you.

     Look at his Reeboks; aren't they cool?
     We're going downtown to shoot some pool.

    Your green eyes sparkle; you're my delight,
    swaying in the spotlight with you tonight.

     Papa, I'm in full bloom.
     Chill out, man. Give me some room.

    Stand on my shoes and glide across the floor.
    Your smile and laughter; it's you I adore.

     Please let me go, Papa. Set me free.
     I love you, too, don't you see?


    Arrogance

    We live in a Golden Age
     that goes on and on; a veil impossible to penetrate.
    It's a time of no shame;
     when the past is gone, it's gone forever.

    Terror crashing on the shore.
     For every problem there is a solution.
    Our nation is a work of art.
     Why blend in when you can stand out?

    Should we maintain a distance from our origins?
     Hard times may rob the skin of its glow.
    The thrill of trespassing ... let us not
     forget from where we came.


    An Autumn Symphony

    One never forgets
     the magnificent show
      of hot-air balloons
    heartened, perhaps,
     by the awe
    of those who watch
...