Old School

I knew them once as "fags."
Ought I now call them "gay?"

Why should I,
are they really gay?

Kosmos The Clown

"Quanto sento"
How I miss

"bajee ponto."
the Brooklyn Bridge, the Brooklyn fog
the parting horns of freight yard ships.

"Sois gitan."
Thou art Gypsy
Thou canst help it

"Soi valandolero"
I wander,too, the lower reaches
of Flatbush.

Mother of Provision

I love you
more than ever I loved.

You took my hand and lead me out of chaos,
In the simple you show me splendors.

You feed me when I hunger,
you stand by me in heavy weather.

You never entertain betrayal.
Of those who bless me, you are the truest,

wife
and mother of my children.

G

When men are weak,
women are strong.

When women behave like blushing brides,
the boys will strut about like bantam cocks.

Time after Time

I am enamored of Time.
Time after time, Time
has been good to me.

Time has been good to me?
What nonsense, Time is indifferent
as to if I exist.

If Time knew how I exploit it,
Time might take it personal,
and seek revenge.

Story of A Black Woman

Born in Siberia,
I grew up in Morocco,
where I considerably darkened.
In mixed up America, some people
take me for a black woman.
They should see me when I'm not.

No Love Lost

Who knows for sure?
Might the silent ones know for sure?
If you're correct, no one knows for sure.

None knows for sure while we are breathing
if indeed there is an after birth after death experience.
It might not be as I suppose (thinking it over)
that the stars are souls burning passionate for each other.

If, however, to bite the dust, means, to shake it off
and start all over,and God there is and God there was
between the worst and best of us,

we'll split Him even,
if you are willing.

Sky Altar

The tree on the hill
before it dips into the highway,
the tree my side of the easement,
the tree which stands candle stoic,
its leaf in yellow folding,
tinges of green remaining,
the tree where might live the bat
I haven't seen since late October,
the tree bridal dressed
now bare bone before the altar.

Garden

The walls, the door, the windows
the double "o" in the word room
like zeros gazing inward.

Be courteous, knock and wait.
Do not speak until you're undressed.

Native Beauty

She was an ugly little thing,
like the Ethiopian maid
of 500 thousand years ago.
Not a pretty sight at all.

Give her credit.
The power of visualization.
She saw herself beautiful,
and by Jove accomplished it.

Her body became female perfection.
The ointments made her skin like satin.
And this was before the time when surgeons
became Frankenstein and saline practitioners.

Mrs Palin

Should she run for president, I'd vote for her.
Why not? Her face reminds me of the Statue of Liberty.
Secondly, I could use a good laugh for the term of her presidency.

Moore

The still metallic twilight glints
the leafy calm of night

November's swan night
sinks me, dear.

I love you more
than I care to think.

The Hubble Example

I tried hard rock,
it was loud and frantic.

I switched to smooth jazz.
It was soft and practically tasteless.

In creative punctuation,
I at last founs my groove.

Succeed,
experiment.

Of Alien Origin in Quotes

Be a clean slate in observing nature ---
empty, empty of self that nothing of alien origin
may threaten such as spiders and yellow jackets.

The Envelope

Explain to Self and Self alone.
Take care not to be overhead.
Those apt not to misunderstand,
hear just what they want to hear.

Who Are They?

All they ask is that they be given the chance
to find their place in the sun and the shade,
and be recipients of food and compassion.
Furthermore, they delight in my company.

Who are they?
They are for me like little children,
who for my love, give me love back ---
the plants that sit upon my window sill.

Black Birds

Toned bells of blue
and autumn's fires salute in kind.

What better reason, we have no reason
to linger here more than we have.