The Couple
They sit together in the amber glow of a heavenly Mississippi sunset,
Gray heads moving back in forth in unison.
Sixty plus years of rocking have worn subtle grooves in the wood of the old porch.
Gnarled hands touch in the gap between the white-painted oak rockers,
Barely clasping as stiffened finger joints protest.
She smiles at him, her eyelids downcast, the shy smile of old.
He winks a rheumy eye in response, as he did when first they met.
Hearts communicating, they stop rocking and lean to a kiss,

He stands a little straighter,
throws his shoulders back.
"My Country Tis of Thee"
his face no longer slack.

Wounded in his mind,
he was left upon the field.
He never came home at all,
and he will never yield.

He spends his days still fighting,
for his God and country.
His wife looks after him,
she prays, "Please come back to me."

Fifteen years in Muller Town...

What day or night are you available?
You deserve me, I'm yours.

"Has anyone ever escaped?
These eternal chains, forged by weird-wired brains.
My emotions have been raped".

He can tell you, no matter what, he didn't do it,
Deny responsibility, never copping to a plea.
"You can't prove any of that shit".

Scarlet saddle blanket rests soft and plush,
‘Neath leather saddle trimmed with silver, lush.
One golden horse, with flowing cloud-white mane.
Provides a perfect throne for a temporary queen.

And thus, an earth-bound woman can be freed
From gravity’s demand, to fly on such a steed.
I feel muscles, piston-like, expand and contract
Beneath me as we exercise our mystic pact.

Locked in the basement

There’s a dying bird in the basement-
Yet I’m far too tired to go down and chase it.
This corvid has followed me since I was a child,
I admit that I fed it, unaware that it was wild.
Like a thick black blanket — all of these crows
They stood like Gargoyles, over my childhood home.

The cookie I prefer to eat
Changes. Today's cherished treat
Becomes a has-been in a while.
A chocolate chip once made me smile.
Now allergies have changed my song.
Frankly, it just seems so wrong
Chocolate is in so many great ones.
Of course, if I ate them all I'd weigh tons.
Let's just say I like cookies. To
Share a cookie with a friend (or two)
Just makes my day. With milk or tea,
Let's all stop and share a cookie!

I see you trying to lure me to you.
I see you occupying my space whenever I’m alone.
I see you jump into my head when I put it on the pillow.
I feel your presence in the room when I can’t sleep at night.
I see you promising me nothing but peace and silence.
You made me think that you were my safe haven.
You gave me a test, I took it and I failed.
You gave me another one, I took it and failed.
I see you trying to show me what a great angel I could be.
Too bad I got no strength.
Too bad I’m afraid, I’m scared.

Out of the darkness, he pulled me
with all his strength and grace.

He swept me up and carried me
through the fire.

He tore down my walls and
Used the stones for our foundation.

His hand kisses my cheek
And wipes away the tears

He tends to my wounds
And holds me as I heal

Forged in fire
Our bond is unbreakable

Blessed am I,
For I know love in its purest form

It’s the end of April…
Spring awakens after it’s long winter rest
The sun glistens between the fresh leaves on the trees
The birds sing once more
And the days last longer

Blackberry Winter stops by for a visit
Reviving the barren bushes
As the berries begin to blossom,
I am reminded…
Just as the weather and plants change
With every new season,
I must do the same.

Imagine there is heaven,
Consciousness of a feeling,
Euphoria that cannot be found,
Whilst we live attached to our ground.

Grounded only in truth,
Or lies that grow from false reality,
Spawned by temporary enlightenment,
What grows to ingest by you and me.

A taste of imagine,
The hurt of permanent transcendence,
Or slowing to stop then move on,
Imagine there is heaven.