I Live Here

 

I live here

in the pain and sadness

of triumphs then tragedies,

of broken dreams

and shattered expectations.

I live here

pushing through to the next

perceived bright spot

which may or may not be

what I expected it to be.

I live here

driving to Starbucks

on a rainy Saturday morning

in search of respite or rush 

to keep it together.

I live here 

wishing so much 

did not depend on me

and my feeble efforts

to be strong and true.

I live here, but I live.

***

Oranges & Blues

 

It is a strange and wondrous feeling 

to look out one’s window on a quiet

morning commute and be struck by 

such rich oranges and deep blues so 

unexpectedly while sitting at a stoplight.

***

The Hospital at Night

 

The golden glow 

of the hospital 

at night 

passed on my 

drive home 

to the car’s right.

I imagine seeing

suffering eyes 

without sight

where attempts 

to breathe 

are a losing fight.

***

When I Forget Myself

 

When

I forget myself

she reminds me

who I am,

always.

***

VIRULENCE

 

It denotes something that is particularly deadly

and has recently been tied to a new Covid variant,

but truly it can be tied to a darkening of our hearts

where we justify the unjustifiable and conceive of

the inconceivable: the destruction of our brother.

***

A Lonely Bird (early pandemic poem)

I feel like a lonely bird

perched high on a wire

seeing the world from 

a unique perspective.

Wave at me as you pass by.

***

Galápagos

 

(or “A Spoonful of Sugar”)

Can you say “Galápagos”

with the proper accent?

It is quite rewarding.

You should try it.

It’s almost as much fun 

as saying the alliterative

“blue-footed booby” which 

is sillier though less exotic.

Calling Kurt Vonnegut silly 

would be silly or at 

the very least misguided.

He is definitely funny

but in most cases he is 

serious as a heart attack

and a stopped heart

is no laughing matter.

Unless you’re laughing 

yourself to death and

that death is your ego or

sense of self-importance.

***