Before the church she knelt upon the street To pray, I thought: I won’t disturb her now; Yet, then she fell while struggling to her feet. To help the needy always is my vow. The widow coughed—she scared me to my core— I helped her up, but she did cough again; Her skin felt hot—I … Read more
To pause a moment in this darker time, When tiny strands with stealth do take their toll, Our stories freeze as in a pantomime; We must call “cut” and freeze the camera roll. This isolation has us hold our breaths; We practise distance six feet each from each. Was that a cough, is that a … Read more
The gods invisible have mantled Earth; They’ve spread their gospel of such grave concern That man must face his sins. This tragic dirge That ends all work and play, now takes its turn Dethroning Progess from her tarnished perch— Oh, where to look to find the new divine Where we might cherish meaning on our … Read more
Our Wheaten terrier passed away on July 27, 2019 just over ten years old. Two nights later, half asleep I lay awake listening to the wind through the large tree outside. It was then that I heard a quiet voice, and I knew Oliver was whispering to me. To My Dads, David and Leonard The … Read more
As tapeworms gnaw inside a starving gut, The monkeys on my back oft strangle me; My furies scream and chatter vulgar smut— This chorus wails in counter-harmony Oh, every morning they do greet me thus And paralyse and cauterise my will; I cannot rise for they are ponderous And so, my stagnant soul with dross … Read more
A Sonnet for a Birthday Old recollections are the strangest things: Those mem’ries seen in rear view mirrors’ glass They’re hard to catch but fade by darkening As time moves on receding—vague—alas! We treasure them and never let them go, Yet see what is to come each bright new day. The past dies not—sure more … Read more
The Turtle Who Wanted to be a Water Snake Oh, there once was a turtle named Freddy, To make friends he was never quite ready; He was terribly shy, And ne’er could he try To meet girl friends or ever go steady. He was paranoid, frightened and glum; To converse he felt constantly dumb, And … Read more
When hearts are mourning, pasts are realised, And truths come forth from depths to be addressed; The quiet passing of a man needs grief expressed. Time will claim the soul—that jewel prized, But through that cloud a shining light is cast And mem’ries vibrant chant a favoured name To all his people—for no one could … Read more