Still preening there atop the wall
two Eggs Supreme flaunt cracks
as the Chief Egg sits and makes no call
to thwart this desecration of the wall.
Eggs lower than Supremes regret there is no call
opine that Chief Sup clearly lacks
the guts to force integrity on the wall
and avert disaster foreseen in cracks.
relief of a different sort
a reprieve
the vastness of all the tomorrows
just beyond the literal tomorrow
is a quiet frontier
much like the desert I visited often in my youth
wide open space
I’m alone and will be too
when I reach the end which doubles as the beginning
newness with a sense of wonder
disdain for allowing myself to linger
pride though, in that I’ve made it so far
conflicting emotions, rambling thoughts
I’m searching for an unknown caveat
a way, which will take me beyond
time is telling, the passing of which the only guarantee
I will look back, soon, and congratulate
my old self for managing the toil
exuberance will follow
Bright,
Beautiful,
Beacon of light
Reached out and
touched my soul
on a night
that I was
bereft of
hope and
greatly discouraged
I don’t know
about you but
when I was a kid
no one ever told
me to watch
out for myself
I mean,
of course…
they told me to
watch out
for myself
they said
things
like
don’t let a muth-
fucka get too
close
or
always keep
a lil change
in ya pocket
even
neva leave yo
drink
by itself
fools love
to slip girls
mickey’s
So yea,
I was warned
but now at this
big ole age
it would have
been nice
to know they
literally
meant
to watch out
for
MY SELF!
Tan, fit lifeguards, young men
red suits and sunglasses
high above a world of childhood glee
loud, insistent beat of AM radio
red suits and sunglasses
screams, splashes and whistles
loud, insistent beat of AM radio
long summer afternoons at the pool
Screams, splashes and whistles
Parents teaching children to swim
long summer afternoons at the pool
sun beating down, browning skin.
Parents teaching children to swim
smell of coconut and clorine
sun beating down, browning skin.
Teenage girls flirting with boys
smell of coconut and clorine
hot concrete burning feet
Teenage girls flirting with boys
Tan, fit lifeguards, young men.
She’s the life of parties she never attended
Mom, first and always
who taught me how to read,
taught by example that time
spent with books is never wasted,
taught me that ladies don’t swear
unless circumstances warrant it.
Maggie, who showed me
that grown-ups can be silly
and fun, who took me with her
to the college classes she taught,
who listened as if my opinions mattered,
who opened her library of poets to me.
Aunt Ann, who reveled in her
international life, whose example
opened the world to me, who
showed me impulse isn’t always bad
when she climbed a tree at fifty
just because she wanted to.
Sister, younger than me, who calls
me for advice but is so much wiser
than me in so many ways. She
listens, always, when I gripe
but only offers advice
when I ask.
