a summer whim

i wait for the pot to boil

it is like waiting for frozen molasses

to melt

and yet the summer flies by

like an eagle on methamphetamine

and the noodles are overdone

I have spent too long in the sun

I have played lots of scratchers

and still haven't won

we eat mushy grains

and lament September

while the kids roll

their trains

once the round table is clear

I hold my kids near

there is nothing so dear

as being right here

content

the fury of the unheard

remains a burdened silence

unremarkable and unrelentless

a quiet nightmare for the many

who purport contentenment

a lie they tell themselves

to continue in the society

of the sane

awake

tossing through nighttime
tyrant toddler takes over
and I am awake

D

drive the
indeterminable distance

dedicate your dimes
to the desperate cause
of youth

do not dare age
or be defected

draw a stain
upon your dolor
disguise to
block your disdain
for the day
with your dainty walk
and dapper look
the doldrums
disappear
until the burden
of the day fades
and you
are deserted
with your Vera dress
and bars of gold

and so
you drink
then drive
to the edge
destined for a
dire phone call
to anyone

this time part 2

i'll get it right
I will roll
careful
down the hill
and land
not on the
cement sidewalk
but stop
on the plush
grass
next to the daisy
I planted
a year ago
with my best
friend

i'll breathe
in each second
of the dawn
and paint each color
of the sunrise

i'll note down
each hue
each shade
of bird
each word

i will remember
this time

everything etched
with a delicate
ink pen along
the protected
corners of my
inner mind

this time
i'll remain
myself
all along

this time

ride fiercely
through wildfire
or burn
as if
dropped
on the sun

the night
does approach
and so does
the next

in this
moment
you are
your best

tomorrow
comes next
and next
and next

in this
moment
you are the best

L

let me clench
your hand tightly
while you hold my
heart lightly

little child that
marvels at a lemon lollipop that lingers
on the linoleum floor

and the long light shadows
shapes that line the walls
with a loud lion's growl
and leopard spot clouds

love is the light
in a wide smile

a child's love
is a rainbow-lined
field of lilies

is lasting bliss