TIP LINE

Wilted

The

wilted

flower’s

perfumed

pause

potted

still abandoned

for to winter

on the sun room sill

in soil dry forgotten

less

fragrant

than the fall

rain and mildew

in the morn

petals

curled about

a yellow stem

tease frost-bitten bees

too weak to hasten.

Violence

Disguise

this thought

not fit to read

Dark

dress

Dark

eyes

She

meant

demean

The Quiet Year

In

the quiet year

when there’s

no crime

no

hurt worth

mention

only lovely chimes

flip pages

then the

photographs

we’ll take

will

all get dusty

sure as time

slips fast

chapters

changing without notice

never turning

back

never

slowly floating

through the savored

pause

The Lure

Pillow

on the floor

where she slept

last night

blanket

by the door

where she

fled first

light

steam

from the

bath where

she breathes

morning bright.

path

toward the

lure through

she thinks

full twice.

The Hammock

Lazy

hammer

knocking nails

to wood

all

the

live

long

summer

swiping sweat

that seeps in heat

fatigue that dreams a hammock.

Tainted Verse

tainted verse

the curse we

never mention

the pictures

in the purse

still up there

in the attic

where she

wept and

leapt toward

heaven sent

sunshine.

Sweat

A secret born

of blasphemy

in the shadow

by the sea

fire echoes from the

mountain where

blind brethren gather for

to toast forbidden fruits

pile gold

unto false Idol

heaps of praise

unworthy

love must

trespass

or never taste the salt of sweat

sweet upon pert lips.

Stumbles

Far could he see

depths he’d

regret

leaps

forward

runs

falls

to his

death

Stale as Time

Hurried

housework

till the guests

arrive

dusting,

mopping,

every sheen

should shine

on the mantle,

flowers, card,

corked bottle

shrine

she sneaks

a spirit sip disguise

her mood with

lifted edge

his

cigarette

smolders in the

ashtray.

Seasons

Dispirited

by such lengthy

yawns

those who yearn alone

along the path

of least resistance

await eclipse

crescent light bent

toward dark in tilted slumber

eye the clouds that funnel

days through weeks

through years

interminable

scrolls of time forever

& call them seasons.

Pleasure

Despair

stares in every glance

and gland

Perfume

parts the scent

of sweat

Wine

lines the heart

with lust

To dine would be a pleasure.

Of Freight and Rust

drunken

by the candle light

in the dust of moths

contemplating

rye on rocks

those days

post work

down at the

old rust dump

waiting

for the

freight

to

clear

the yard

oils

stain the sky

industrious.

Of Debts

To the people

owed in all

and owned

anon

who

never compensate

for faults

they stole

to mask

their doubts

and chains.

Obsessed

Envy

pricks the spine

a spindle

spinning

vertigo unrest

yearning

yarns

and yards

of sorrow

sold

for pretty

cents to

sense

the scent

of cruel obsession.

Maverick

Maverick steered

the ship upright

and won his share of praise

yet there were times

he keeled far right

and darkened many days

though steady as

the heavens go

wholly was his shame

to live to see

his country changed

now nothing is the same.

Lullaby

Lullaby

of the rare

thorn

pin-pricks

in the

deep

nightfall

strokes his

scar-steeped

back

to sweat-soaked

bitter sleep.

Lullaby

of the spare

spoon

hiding

in the

drawer

silver

kept to polish

shiny as the moon

hidden

for the hour

lurking after noon

Lantern

Try

to keep the

light still

shiver

not or all

will spill

come

the crescent

in the clouds

silhouette

vignette

enshroud

hush

to hold

the flicker of the lantern.

Lace

That

feather dress

light as flight

midriff to limbs

frills to

knees

she soars

high heights

showing skin

enough to

own the eyes

of passerby

who wonder

at the contours

of that dark

tattoo that

hides and spies

between the lines

of lace traced

along her spine.

Jonah

Drawn

from static

wind-borne foam

wet

& wearing

on the soul

soaked

through coarse

wool scarf & coat

cold

& crying

salt remorse

stall

the sea

with one harsh look

call

the gulls to caw

the fish to leap

the

mighty whale to breach

& swallow lies up whole.

In the Fog

Moon shrouds

cool clouds

sliced

upon

the axis

shadow

doused

in white

dimmed

yellow

dusk

drawls

nights

crawls

cat

calls

bat thralls

hoot

the shrieking owl.

Happy Hour

Sing of

noontide

swell lives

happy hour

a little earlier

each day

neighbors

jamming

back porch

the garden

fenced by

evening shade.

Father

Father,

will you ever

lift your anchor eyes

& let tomorrow

promise laughter?

Take your olden days

& olden ways

stow them in safe albums

seek forever

endless turns

The sure uncertain

darkened slumber

where old thoughts

haunt back at you

cold scenes & faded pleasures.

Disdain

All the

reason in

the world

is shame

light

is treason

come

the

season

of disdain.

Damned Huck

The choices

he’d made

at best

were daft

the

brilliance

of

luck

damned

Huck

on his raft

Big

River currents

Wide Mississip —

as the paddler

churning

all the mud

Shots fired

over bayou

will the

bodies float?

Crescendo

You keep silent

when I joke

sign to me

what I don’t know

is there music

building slow?

how your beauty

rises from the cold…

Conspiring

dim the lights now

I’ll drive slow

behind the hills

let us wind

our way

past midnight

find the field

that waits for us

and there

commit a secret.

Child’s Wish

trail

of cheerios

meow meow mix

pretty

little kitten

tricks

ears

perked, paws pert

whiskers slicked

scurries

toward the

litter bin.

Bottled Message

A longer poem

would wander off

The poet

can’t be trusted

So she jots her

coded thoughts

corks the bottle

throws it seaward.

Banter

Those

two chums

would chatter

banter back

and forth

as long as lunch

supplied

fine flavors

but turn the hour

twisting

thoughts in knots

idle talk dissolves to quiet.

Absolved

No muse

could star

his reverie

the flow

he saw

his flaws

and love

the flight

of time

his past

absolved

as all forgot.