Speak not, lie hidden, and conceal
the way you dream, the things you feel.
Deep in your spirit let them rise
akin to stars in crystal skies
that set before the night is blurred:
delight in them and speak no word.
How can a heart expression find?
How should another know your mind?
Will he discern what quickens you?
A thought once uttered is untrue.
......
i cop a squat on a squared-off log,
to watch you ball on the community center court.
butt numb, i shift my weight
and shake mosquitos from my ankles,
but never take my eyes off the game.
yours follow the orange orb, your pupils
twin, brown moons reflecting its light.
your play is wild efficiency,
......
Either peace or happiness,
let it enfold you
when I was a young man
I felt these things were
dumb, unsophisticated.
I had bad blood, a twisted
mind, a precarious
upbringing.
......
My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk:
'Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,
But being too happy in thy happiness,---
That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees,
In some melodious plot
Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,
Singest of summer in full-throated ease.
......
I
The dawn laughs out on orient hills
And dances with the diamond rills;
The ambrosial wind but faintly stirs
The silken, beaded gossamers;
In the wide valleys, lone and fair,
Lyrics are piped from limpid air,
And, far above, the pine trees free
Voice ancient lore of sky and sea.
......
Sunflower Meadows was a place of mystical beauty, green and abloom.
That's where seven-year-old Ava lived, like laughter and spicy perfume.
Ava lived with her parents and three siblings, like stars dance together;
And she loved golden, nursery rhymes, like sunshine, carnival pleasure.
Their farm was small but busy, and all of the family had sundry chores.
Ava collected eggs and fed poultry, eating and picking berries, outdoors.
Faint flurries of wind cooled afternoon, and family came, in floppy hats;
......
Innocence of childhood,
Pure and untouched,
Like a blank canvas,
Waiting to be painted with colors of joy.
Giggles and laughter,
Fill the air with delight,
As little feet run freely,
Chasing after dreams.
......
“Good things come and go”
A pretty anarchist said to him
her white knuckles brushing
stringy brunette hair from her forehead
“But they always come”
She let out a sigh he could feel in his bones
and it reverberated to his core
She told me of the magic she found in this world
of spells we cast upon ourselves
......
I was a college music teacher, engaged in pitch, tempo, rhythm and melody,
As lavish planets dance around a golden star, with the zeal of fuchsia fidelity.
I taught harmony, vocals and singing, and how to play musical instruments,
Like the harmony of redbird's distant calls, entering into sunglow moments.
Teaching was thrilling and rewarding, a great way to share the love of music,
As roving stars ever return to grape, dusk skies, being apparently homesick.
Loving mysterious music as I did, it followed naturally that I loved to dance;
......
I was a sophisticated, world class traveler, like merry wind in green trees.
I had seen hottest deserts and rain forests, where songs will never cease.
I had traveled by planes and by trains, by luxury ship, fast car and camel;
And I had roamed mountains and valleys, like the comet, taking a gamble.
I had visited myriad cultured nations, meeting diverse, interesting people,
Like divers beautiful, sultry colors, with which the artist stains gilded easel.
Since I'd had various adventures, I was anxious that one day I'd be bored,
......