burglar

bring me the stalker, the crasher
the kicker of doors
put him down on all fours

the coward, the runner
the fleet-footed thief
who left empty-handed

the one without honor
the soul twisted black
the breaker, the taker

set him before me
and turn loose my rage
that I keep tightly caged

instead you hide
and skulk in darkness
like a roach

come, let me stomp you
for the satisfaction I'll feel
hearing your bones crunch

rise up
so I might slap you down
run
so I have a reason to chase
fight
give me a target for my wrath

B-movie kind of life

We'll have burgers and fries
and watch the kids play
after sunday supper with the folks,
a viciously ordinary day.

Sometimes the roof leaks,
but only when it rains.
The floor gets dirty.
The carpet collects stains.

We cut the tall grass,
and feed chickens the scraps.
We empty the trash
a bit late perhaps.

And we wait in vain for greatness,
great joy or terrible strife,
while we muddle thru our days
in this, our B-movie kind of life.

Linger a while

"Linger a while, thou art so fair."
The words that trapped Faustus trap me.
For you and I have lingered,
Leaning away, then turning back,
Stretching time so tight it trembles.
We snatch a stolen season, lingering
Reluctant to part, impossible to stay.

I shake my fist at time
With all the bravado of an eagle
Who sneers at the ground he leaves
Knowing all the while, he must land again.

We have lingered, you and I,
And the joy I've stolen remains
Like a note in the air
The moment after the harp is stilled.
And it is only after the lingering is done
That I realize my heart was filled.

bare feet slap worn wood

Bare feet slap worn wood.
Breath comes fast and deep.
A turn, a step, and then again
we kick and slide and leap.

Each a mirror
to the others,
same as siblings
sister, brothers.

This violent dance with blood unspilled
we perform as with one mind,
for even though I cannot see,
I feel you both in front, behind.

Whirling white, we're belted black.
Punches, kicks hit only air.
Sleeves and pants must flash and crack
as we imagine what is there.

We finish loud with strength and shout,
the Hwa-Rang hyung now done,
but though the sharing fades with time,
we three remain as one.

asleep on the sofa

Asleep on the sofa,
your hair fans out
in one arrested moment
like the apex of a jump.

Your feet bare,
legs crossed at the ankles,
I have leisure to study you,
just to stare.

Your second toe is longer than the others,
and there's a callous torn off
the ball of your right foot.
But the skin underneath
is pink and strong.

You sleep. I dream.

spontaneous birthday thoughts

my daughter turns 18 today
so this morning I'll sit
and steep in those memories
of what I was doing exactly 18 years ago today
everything is different now
except the continuity
holding hands across time

afterglow

lying spent, the peak past, all slow,
fading fire burning lower,
sounds fade, now just an echo,
we sprawl, all movement slower

passion's embers banked, still glow,
lazy touching, tracing, feeling,
drowsy voices murmer soft & low
words of love, words of healing

in sweet collapse, bare skin to skin,
limbs entwined, won't yet let go,
no more content we've ever been
than now in loving's afterglow