Sunday, January 22, 2023

Silent Lover

 


What kind of person are you?

Why don’t you care enough to get involved?

All these people suffer

And my family suffers

We all suffer

But, for what—your glory?

 

Then comes the satiation

Of fingers or fists

Raised up high

 

Life together

At first so sweet

Turns into life separated

Without a choice

Or with a choice

To keep it that way 

Since the other departed

 

Help from on high is then sent

To quote and comfort 

From our lover’s book

All things work together for good

His ways are not our ways

You will never be tested 

At least not beyond what you can endure

 

I’ve heard them all

I’ve even said many

Back when magic words were the only cure

 

Thus, when silence remains the only offering

And the only assurance one receives 

Comes from incestuous prayers and esoteric incantations

That’s when it’s fair to ask new questions

About not loving or respecting the silent treatment

Or the inanity of his children













 

Proverb

 




Prayer is an interesting exercise

One talks to the person in charge

And waits

To wake up

And discover the reality

That “He” listened

“He” stooped and heard my cry

“He” delivered me from the pit

“He” showed mercy to those who feared “Him”

 

But for those who are not chosen

Yet choose nonetheless

Like chicken soup or beef stew

And commit to entertaining the fantasy

Of a “He” who loves to listen

And has many things to say

But is mute

And struggles in popularity

With only one bestseller

 

“He” is merely the residue

The excuse

The guy up high who’s qualified

And highly recommended to fix existential leaks

Better than the guy down the street 

“His” credentials cover heaven and earth

 

When they pray

They wake up to the same reality

As those who parrot proverbs

And wash in lamb’s blood

The only difference between them

Is gratitude for the exercise













Friday, December 23, 2022

Acknowledgements



To my children

with new names, but anointed once

There is a new temple being built

 

The first is an author of hope undiminished, set on reaching God

The second, an Athenian heroine with angelic self-control

The third, a fighter willing to part ways and yet offer only two ways

 

For my father

A familiar saying

Frequently misunderstood

 

With a quick search one finds

Love enduring imprisonment

Faith and reason overcoming injustice

 

In place of a stone

some find a prudent jailor 

lighting gas with rigamarole

 

For my mother

A poem for a poet 

with gems inside


Hiding the Spirit

of the first, second, and third

as the new Temple is built












Saturday, December 3, 2022

Messengers

 


I cried this morning

I changed the wallpaper, too, because of you

It's the perfect picture of the crazy I remember

    with the glow of love for the Divine


All I could say in the moment was, 'I miss you.'

And thanks be to God that you can receive such greetings

    whispered to angels

        or those seated above them


I picture one of them saying, 'Go! Give this to her quickly.'

And at once each one darts off to run their own race

and eventually comes to your mansion


You sense the urgency, 

and so, rush to the door

    and listen intently

        and respond gently


Go tell my son, 'I love you too.'

That's when I cried

and changed my wallpaper

    to the perfect picture of crazy love for the Divine













Sunday, November 27, 2022

I really mean it

 



I really mean it
I can't believe you married me
I love life with you
I love you with every piece of me
And I will love you until
No pieces are left
After nothing is left
I will still be in love with you
And every piece of you that completes me
I would disassemble 
Just so I could put you back together again
It's the least I could do
For giving me all of you
I really mean it















Monday, October 31, 2022

The Prophet

 


There once was a man
Who told stories on mountains 
Before all great feasts

Underlings would gather round 
To hear the seated prophet
And watch his big book open

They would listen with reverence 
As spells were expounded
And the whole world outside his realm, cursed

Every mind was amazed
Every ear refreshed
Every eye dazzled by his authority

Because only he knew how to reform everything

His abilities, his somber tone
Crystal clear interpretation 
Archaic application 

Every true daughter fawned
Every doting disciple stood attentive
Even the queen mother by his side

No underling dared to question the prophet’s word
Each was fitly framed like apples of gold
In settings of silver 

They all knew their history 
And what happens to those who fall
They remembered the first man on a mountain long ago 

He, too, knew how to reform everything

A reptilian once approached festivities
Spoke rashly, argued, and berated the first man 
After listening to him read and teach for only ten minutes

Suddenly, a spell burst forth
Ex opere operato
Suddenly, earth opened its mouth

Swallowing the serpentine beast whole 
Demons dragged him down to the depths below
Torturing him until that last Great Day

An important lesson was forever to be remembered
Such temporal torments are only the beginning 
Of eternal end and unmitigated sorrow 
For those who question the prophet

But God, in his great mercy, spared compliant underlings that day
And so, we, too, listen and learn, and learn to listen
From the prophet and his word

Only in recent years 
has there been one other challenger like the slithering fiend
Another recreant, full of lies and popish schemes 

That one addressed the prophet candidly in his own home
Much to everyone's surprise
The demoniac received mercy

He knew how to reform everything

After the offense was made 
A time was allotted 
For prayerful consideration

A child’s cross brought to the table 
Would become the final straw
As the timer drew nigh to its chime

Opportunity for repentance waned
And waned
And waned

The heart continued to harden 
And harden
Until

Everything within became reformed like him

Then the prophet, rich in mercy
And abundant in redemption
For his great love wherewith he loved his underlings

Quickened him 
And made him sit 
in the heavenly places

So that in the ages to come
He might show the exceeding riches 
Of his favor

In his kindness toward those
He hath foreordained 
That they should walk in his ways











Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Rich Coast Gambling

 


You kept them alive. Now what? Seventy years in your pocket and you unashamedly invest in a sixth. But for what? The sixth doesn’t know you, yet pretends to while mimicking the real you. The real you is in their letters, followed by thirteen pages of gaslighting.

The real you doesn’t play by rules. The real game doesn’t require gimmicks or apologetics. Do you remember the technicolored dreamcoat of debate strategies? Yours do. What about the pen name deemed necessary to remain incognito, or the prodigal options of calls and puts, or the ozonating machines and rejuvenating powders?

Do you remember the emergency meeting about fleeing to Costa Rica? Yours do. They even wished you were serious. While you discover zealots in Uganda they remember your conceits. Apocalyptic delusions, unteachable spirits, and position papers only memorialize your folly.

They chuckle because you’re ridiculous. You grumble because they aren’t enamored by your conceits. At first they thought this imposition of a sixth was another Costa Rica. But then you doubled down in exchange for one more joker.