BACKBURNER FRIENDSHIPS

Back Burner Friendships

Neglected &
Overlooked
Eventually get
To a boiling point

Steaming, stewing
While ignored
Crying out
Like a kettle whistle

A deaf ear
Turned to
Yet, again
Same excuses

Burnt & Charred
Beyond recognition
A hot soak &
Scouring pointless

The damage
Is done
The handy man
Can't fix it

No matter how
Gently sand blasted
Or elbow greased
The shiny patina

Is still too rough
To reheat anything good
It's time to give up
Being second griddle

Summer 2012

FREEDOM IS ANOTHER WORLD

 

Freedom is Another World

Free at last?
For the moment.

Free now lost.
Where to start?

Who am I?
I don't remember.

Who I was.
Or wanted to be?

I can relate
To paroled convicts.

On their own
From their cells.

Which fork to take?
Or use with certainty.

Does it matter?
Questions in me.

Late Spring 2012

CALLMA KARMA

I believe in Callma.


Not to be confused with Karma
(Although it was spelled out on the Car, Ma!)

The Golden rule of coming
And Going
Around
And about
A round-about
A rotary-phone
Callma.

Arriving safely
To Destination
Just-in-nature
To ease her
Wondering mind
Callma.


Mother's instincts
Stuck in past
Imagining wrecks
On the over-pass
Text Two Words or
Callma.

Easy riders
Some by tow
Stop and focus
Slowly go
Ahead then
Callma.

Karma's kicking
Back at me
I stopped calling
And so did he.
Callma!

I stopped calling
Quit the team
Of members craving
Self esteem
Both sides lost
Callma

By out of mind
And out of sight
The memories fade
But not at night
Heart aches both ways
Until sunlight
Callma

I will call
To be reminded
Why I stopped
Now wondering
Why did I (bother to) call!?
Callma... blues!

But, I do hope
If he does call
He'll wonder why
He doesn't call more often.
Callma x


Early Spring 2012

OUTLAWS SHOW DOWN

 

 

OUTLAWS SHOW DOWN


It had been a long while

Since I had visited the spot


Where the yankee out laws

Meet to swap, toast and eat


As I approached the counter

The vigilant grande dame


Was polite, but straight-faced

As her cold greeting told me


I knew I had been set up

Stabbed right in the back


By the sorted conniver

Twisting my words of truth


Into small darts of hate

To make her look better


Than she ever has been

To the naive very few left


Who still trust her spews

As she tries to protect


Her ring of fake junk

Paste and tarnished, full costume


As my partner finally entered

The show down became up


Because blood lines,  get no blame

For gossip & hearsay, true or not


One time this would have hurt me

But now, the joke's on them


For I want no part of their booty

Precious family jewels have gone


The honest and genuine gems

Are now displayed brilliantly


In safe and secure settings

A case of authenticity, at last


Some pearls, not cultured or real

Who chant "You should..." remain


Dependent on the rest, for now

Until they realize that


They don't have to be there

Banished in a hideout with


Some locked in the closet

With beards showing signs of wear


The miser boasts about favorites

Not counting present company


Who links the chain, so eager to please

The braggart, but is overlooked


The owner's gracious hospitality

Makes me feel welcome and loved


As I, stone sober, watch

The time slip by and slowly


All but the grande dame

Relax as the wine bottles drain


And I think it's too bad

She doesn't know the real truth


Yet, I'm too tired to worry

Because I know it, and


That's all I care about.

Summer 2012

TURNING POINT BREAK

Turning Point Break

Dark clouds
Swirling High

Bringing Chills
Flowers Dry

Sorrows grow
Eyes sting

Angry words
Phones ring

Crazed whispers
Drowning showers

Sleepless nights
Restless hours

Early rising
Skies now clear

Normal has now
Ceased the fear

Spring 2012

BAD DREAM -Conflicted-

Bad Dream


I wake with
High hopes
A lifetime flaw

My Dad passed on

Much too often
These hopes
Dissolve quickly

Extant no longer

The deep
Sudden plunge
Engulfs my sobs

My whimpers muffled

Duty-bound
Family burden
Becomes my charge

Presumed expected

It seems
A long time ago
I felt so alive

Must resuscitate

Emotional drains
Restless slumbers
Exhausting nightmares

Wake me up

Longing to feel
That glimmer
Of hope

 

Spring 2012

TRUE LIES WANTED

THE REAL TRUTH LIES WANTED


I want to know
But
Do I really?

The real truth
To
Set me free

Having no answer
Causes
Disappointment

That worried
Thought
Send doubts

Just answer
Me
I might cry

But I will
Know
It's not a lie

It's just not
The
Truth I wanted.

Spring 2012

RED WALLS

 

RED WALLS


Red Walls
Blew Balls
Pink Sheets
Fleece Pleats
 

Center Fold
Spreading Bold
Covers Slip
Biting Lip

Cashmere Throw
Hanging Low
Pillow Talk
Bodies Lock

Must Last
Time Passed
Next Thought
Sleep Sought

Cats Naps
Curtains Flaps
Shades of Day
End the Play

 

Winter 2011-2012