* amor vincit omnia *



Night; City

Emergency vehicles cluster
facing me, opposing traffic stopped,
throwing multicolored motes
of light into the dark.

Airplane hovers heavy
hanging overhead
heartstopping huge
cruises low to land.

Tiny specks of brilliant
circle, awaiting clearance.

A slice of moon forms
a smile
without a Cheshire cat.

25 February 2004


Recovery

Someday
my face will cease
to light up when I hear your name.

Someday
my breath won't catch
in my throat at the sound of your voice.

Someday
my heart will beat
without skipping anytime I see your face.

Someday
my pulse won't race
whenever you walk into a room.

Someday
maybe even someday soon.

16 February 2004


Approach

Though I can see my breath
the angle of morning sun
the tone of cackling birds
whisper
"Spring is near."

Column of steam forms
a vertical cloud
issuing from distant
cooling towers
of the Power Plant
at Brandon Shores.

Hoppy yeasty scent
rides the clipping breeze
teasing at my nose:
Natty Boh at work today.

15 February 2004

* amor vincit omnia *


Winter Thistle

Patient by the window
watching silent snow blow
choke back my desolation
wait for inspiration
like forgotten mail upon a shelf
no, that's not it,
I cycle through myself.

Peel away tough outer leaves
little meat, work to achieve
the softer bits, and deeper
like waking of a sleeper
slowly taking me apart
gathering dust in cupboards with the Delft-
no, not at all,
I cycle through myself.

Leaves softer and more tender
more dense as they defend the center
chilly in the winter of my soul
understanding, empathy, elusive goal
drear seeping to the heart of me
pumped through every artery
wind wails over foghorn
watch night turn to mournful morn
doubt my mental health
as I cycle through
I cycle through myself.

At the last, a knife to scrape away
soft fuzzy bits exposed to light of day
my heart, cut into pieces
hard won morsels on a dish
to be eaten dipped in butter if you wish
chew savory flavored wealth
I cycle through
I cycle through
I cycle through myself.

6 February 2004

* amor vincit omnia *

"Only those who risk going too far ever find out how far they can go." T.S. Eliot

and

"There is no remedy for love but to love more." Henry David Thoreau