Nurturing, affirming, comforting—solitude Quiets fears and calms the troubled spirit. Distracting thoughts need not intrude. Being left alone, one need not fear it: Solitude Disquieting, ever-encroaching—solitude Destroys the mind and weakens the spirit. Obsessive-fearful thoughts it now broods. Friendship is one way to steer…

Dad struggles: his chest rising and falling, inhaling and exhaling, Fighting since 4 p.m. yesterday, almost rhythmically flailing, 18 hours off the respirator, he has fought, struggled, and heaved. They said he would quickly pass painlessly; they can’t be believed. Pain unrelieved by a morphine…

Doubt the amount of debt to past poetic lives I owe, doubt a preening, narcistic ego, Doubt that I may be a self-conscious liar, exaggerating stories that never did transpire, Doubt that I may long for fame, craving the recognition a great novelist or poet…

It’s almost dawn with bills paid, assignments answered, and six poems just accrued. So I’m feeling rather peckish for some tasty, yet admittedly caloric, sustaining food. Just right now, I’m feeling famished, longing for a kolache or perhaps a little Danish. Waffles, some scrambled eggs,…

My mother’s clothes sit in her closet five years after her death Except for an occasional borrowing to fulfill a timely, special need. I yet cannot bear to give away that special presence she has left, Although a fur coat hangs tucked away (looking slightly…

Praise now for Heaven’s almighty, ever-present, omnipotent, three-in-one host— For Christ’s sacrificial cleansing power from sin, the Holy Spirit’s steadfast support, And the everlasting “I am’s” (dare one attempt to repeat the name aloud) boast— Known each Sunday, or Shabbat, singularly or as a cast…

Hectic semi-retirement–striding still to win the race; Cramming schedules and projects into every busy day, No chance to sit, rock, or dream, whiling time away. Not teaching during the summer, I set a steady pace. I’ve 12 poems to write, bills to pay, course work…

Eternity now—not tomorrow Like Schrodinger’s cat—half in And out of a box—a paradox. All at once all joy and sorrow. For eternity is endless time, A concept that is ill-defined. The universe goes on forever, The Big Bang theory disproved, Beginnings and ends removed. So…

Hyperbole, exaggeration, amplification, or Texas brag, Aggrandizement and fabrication sometimes hits a snag. Marveling we have world enough and time, Je t’adore; Lest love and respect strides right out and slams the door. As for the claim Lytton’s pen is mightier than the sword, Political…

Around the corner, across the way, Over the mountains, by the bay, Above our heads, beyond the sea, Out on the prairie, away from me, Behind the door, off to the side, Below the floor, and more before. In any location our love abides Evidenced…