Selected Poems

A Yard of Beauty

I had watched you
unintentionally really
and you brought beauty
to life
to live in
your garden

I never paused
to think that you
might be thinking
suicidal thoughts while bringing forth
such joy, such wonder
and with your hands

You were dying
while giving them life
to live, adorn and surround
your home
your heart
a pretty replacment
for you.

It was around five
in the afternoon
and we saw the lights
red, white and blue
they came
to get you
rescue you
from what I'll never know.

And I wondered about it
and thought that hands just might
have to do a good deed
before they're allowed
to leave
or love
a yard of beauty.

---

An Apology

I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology
if you think you're gonna walk away with the best part of me
because I'm a giver of love, time, talent and vision
and simply hurting you, teasing you is not my division
so come close, real close . . . and you will see
that I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology.

I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology it's true
since you walked out on my life, perhaps the best part of you
I could never ignore my blood running through a child's vein
but you left me like forgotten baggage on a midnight train
just come close, real close . . . and you will see
that I'm the kind of girl you owe and apology.

I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology
if you insist on contaminating my world for eternity
because I'm no nonsense, no drama, no juice
I pity the soul who's ignorance runs loose
so come close, real close . . . and you will see
that I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology.

I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology, you'll see
because I'm not down with the lies and trickery
don't misuse your hands and play on my innocence
then twenty years later say you didn't know the difference
just come close, real close . . . and you will see
that I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology.

I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology
if you think b--atch is my name when you're calling me
because I have a name, a first and a last
and if you don't know, all you have to do is ask
so come close, real close . . . and you will see
that I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology.

I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology right now
because I don't easily shake the feeling of being let down
I'll forgive you, forget you and try to make the best of you
because life's just too short to be angered by the mess you do
but come close, real close . . . and you will see
that I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology.

I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology
if folks think they'll ever get the best of me
because my heart and soul were set in steel
emitting a spirit of resilience that just won't chill
so come close, real close . . . and you will see
that I'm the kind of girl you owe an apology.

---

POET-icide

Like flamboyant fleas
infesting a multicolored
carpet we wait
sometimes leaping
toward the heat
the mere movement
of a thing
in hopes that
we'll sink our sharp words
into the armpits and ears
of those who stand
before us
and that they might
feel an itch or hurt
and be moved
even if minutely
because we exist
and are seldom seen
as artists
and next comes
the slaughter
of my son
and your daughter
the words
too much a bother
and we're slowly silenced
POET-icide.

---

Crowded Rooms

Crowded rooms
you don't like them
piping people everywhere
you don't like them
so we'll sit here
us two
as if we've nothing left to do
ignoring a typical situation
until we've both reached adulation
in our joy
our laughter
our private conversation
in minutes we're comfortable
just us two
as if we're the only folks
in the room
but it's crowded
and you don't like it
smoking people everywhere
and you don't like it
so we'll sit here
us two
until an urge is released in you
to flee this piece
and get a pizza
with pepperoni, mushrooms,
black olives and extra cheese
together, just us two.
will leave this crowded room.

---

What Is It?

What is it
. . . when you look back on life
and never know what to make of it
what is it?

Is it sheer joy
for having been made
in the first place
what is it?

Is it the astonishment of
my first crush, first kiss
first love, first heartache
what is it?

Is it grandma's hands
granddaddy's land
other folks' demands
what is it?