presumption

"If God is listening..."
she murdered the cigarette in the ashtray...
"then perhaps he'd like to explain..."
lipstick mark on the tip...
"...why something so good came to such a screeching halt."

And I didn't know what to say.

A tree strong enough to sit in is strong enough
to shake.
But I wish I could be stirred instead.


"Perhaps, he'd like to step forward and be held accountable..."


and I wanted--
with empathy for her
and malice toward none--
ok, malice toward her--
to defend Him,
my nonAmerican
nonrepublican
sexless God
of many colors

and He laughed

as I played with my straw paper.

These Thoughts and Feelings

And I will line my glasses in a neat, straight row on the top cupboard shelf,
and I will close the door and hide them safely behind white lacquered wood,
assured that they will not fall out to the floor
crashing in a million shards on the linoleum.
And they will not be seen by anyone but me
if I choose to use them.

They will never get dusty,
and, sadly, they will stay as new.

Consumer

It is the stuff we buy.
It is the need that is not quite a need.
It is the hollowness filled with chocolate.
It is the landfill on which I build my playground.

The plastic bag reads,
"Caution: Keep away from small children.
The thin film may cling to the nose and mouth and prevent breathing.
Atencion: Mantener alejado de los ninos pequenos.
Se puede adherir a la nariz y boca e impedir la respiracion. "
But the Spanish version adds,
"Esta bolsa no es juguete,"
a fact not given to English speakers.

No es juguete.
No es un chiste.
Se puede adherir e
impedir la respiracion
even for adults.

Just a note

This is just a note to those of you who read my blog. Thank you for keeping up with my poetry, published and unpublished, and for leaving a message now and then.

Bottom line: I need your prayers. I can't go into a lot of detail, but a lot of very stressful things have happened as of late, and I'm sinking fast. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. I am determined to keep my head above water, but sometimes it would be nice to see a boat in sight.

Regards,

me

To Find Words

There are unspoken utterances here:
the choked half swallowed indefinable emotions,
the “I have no more money left and may go bankrupt”
despair,
or the “she was five years old only yesterday”
regret.
Perhaps the “you are too beautiful to even be near”
love
is the hardest for which to find words.