Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sonnet 71

adapted from William Shakespeare for Vicki Fraser (1965 – 2023) I wrote this song when I heard you were dead. In hopes it will find you in the beyond and break the news that I’ve lost the thread that holds … Continue reading

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Letter to a Worried Citizen

Our long days shaped by wind and snow ice encasing limbs of the tallest trees dangerous sidewalks appear safe each step measured before taken We’re worried about rising seas we must do more than write letters officials obfuscate in the … Continue reading

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Ghosts of War

I hear them gearing up for battle – old war-horses brought back to drill us with intemperate speech. Mothers and fathers, wives and children urged on to crowd the roadsides and cheer. We’re here again, but this time, mourning. . … Continue reading

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Self-revision

a fateful time to fully live when ‘I’ is painful and ‘we’ is rephrased not by any mere revision or the replaying of old dumb shows we’ve had to peel a new layer of the onion not convulsively turning against … Continue reading

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This Hymn’s No War Cry

this hymn is no war cry, just lyrical phrases a humble song, performed without praises may these words speak for justice may these words seek what trust is the breath of the earth tells us what truth is may we … Continue reading

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No More Second-Hand Art

the advantage of beingnumerous selves a well-spoken choralesimplicity themselves carrying everything with themresting only occasionallypouring broken existencesinto versejuxtaposing silk curtainsand utensilsa tolerance for being lostontologicallyfinding themselves on the frontiermaking a lean-to

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A Tao in a Time of Covid

SEVENTY in my seventieth year my obscurity is my strength the poems come more easily the forms less complex though very few know my purpose or understand what I say I write from long practice and dig for deeper sources … Continue reading

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excerpt from wild uncertainties

not yet spring        and a cold wind blows through him to the bones words of elderly and dying residents of the hospice        stay with him voices of broken men        living on the streets        echo in him he listens to their … Continue reading

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ordinary clothes : a Tao in a Time of Covid

EIGHTY-ONE truthful words aren’t always beautifuland beautiful words can avoid the truth I argue, say ugly wordsthink I’m after the truth I swear I knowbut I don’t holding tight to my truthI’m wrong the Tao of Lao Tzu says do … Continue reading

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Our Agent

While we are watching Seinfeld reruns He is staring into the blue radiation of the news He’s the one who hears about a leak and gets the implications He’s among the ones who count (and recount) every vote Staying awake … Continue reading

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