QUIET SILENCE There are several silences. As in noise levels, there are levels of quietude. Not measured in decibels nor like altitude, they are perceived through the senses. First is that which one commonly meets, the mere temporary absence of sound. Knowing noise will inevitably return, true silence pauses and retreats until the next time 'round when it gets one more turn. Another exists only because the din of civilization has not yet reached it, not yet engulfed it. A silence of anticipation. This silence knows only the muted sounds of nature. The rippling of the stream, the haunting cries... Continue reading

THE BATH "Daddy, what is Love?", she said, her flat chest unaware of future kisses. Water dripping, flowing down blossoming curves of innocence, each piercing green eye asked the same of him. The only hair to be found on Heaven's unopened petal, matted, cascaded to her knees like a golden waterfall, unwittingly conspiring to seduce a suddenly struggling father. Like many her age, they are not yet shrinking from their fondness for fathers. Quaking, trembling like an open leaf before the winds of inevitability, in the cold water she was still free from life's complications. The washer, giver of baths... Continue reading

TO HELEN FROM I The winds blow cold now o'er a dark Aegean sea, waves languorously lap this red Ionian shore. where ruins of fabled Illium lie heaped upon the sands. My fading mind wanders back to days of you and me, down the dog-legged roads of yesterday where ancient children dance and play. Now songs are sung of our love; of our lore! Our tales are told even in far and distant lands. As I lie still (free at last!) near the sacred lake down whose black river I must soon be borne, I thought not of the thousand... Continue reading

THREE DREAMS On the third day of Winter I had three dreams (as I remember). It was late in 1993 when I plainly saw before me and thee: Three knighted dogs, Three candybars with swords. Three wise men on three camels rode while thrice three times the bell did toll. And, under a pear tree, three hens of France frolicked in the spring. In seed-strown dirt they did their dance while three farmers tales were told. They watched three clouds in twisted fury roll. Then three barn boards and three house logs, these three storms did splinter. Three ships with... Continue reading

MULTIVERSE PER VERSE I Walked home one early June day, down the shortcut path, after buying more things I needed nought carrying those I should've not bought, I became aware all of a sudden that I, and my heavy sacks, may be stopped. Stopped by a passing long train before its tracks were crossed. No sooner had I thunk the thought than did a train's nearing whistle play. As if the gods picked me upon which to heap their wrath. Oblivious, I ran! Along the farmer's ditch I ran! Now wet sandals first flipped then flopped, My mind was racked... Continue reading

JOY TOO OLD How silent is this spawnless, unending time before the breaking light does come... Come to me sweetly, as does the dawn! Swiftly, as darkness yields to light! Run forth from the terrors of night. Now far behind you, now gone. Becoming day, you pause with I to play in fields of golden rules and drink from draughts of wisdom's ration. Beaming we as one bright ray, oe'r river bars and glens we go, gazing thru green gaps of tree, we turn with hopeful wishful yearning past cities, towns and countries burning and spy on high with warming... Continue reading