

Grief, Incarcerated
Pathoses' sacrificial rainbow breath
solicits the unrivaled sternal ache
that spurns all just attempts to be confined
and levies shrill revenge for heart's Adored-
now sentenced to subjection without pause
to spend this lifetime in a noiseless cell.
Aphasic wails tattoo their glottal cell
with selfish blasts of frantic mourning breath
that riot pain, forsaking inward pause-
and mute alarms expose the guilty ache
that seeks escape to keen for its Adored,
hysterics solitarily confined.
Immobile airstreams choke on loss confined
by every suffocated larynx cell
within a sawdust throat that rasps 'Adored'
and thirsts for taintless, mountain-rainstorm breath;
alas, such punishment befits the ache
whose lonely penance segregates from pause.
Existence takes an anguish-sanctioned pause,
bemuzzled and unwillingly confined
in pity's dungeon edified by stony ache,
and empty years emaciate the cell
with secret weeping's paralytic breath
that cloaks in numbness to conceal Adored.
Unfocused memories obscure Adored
in fitful shadow smoke and whispered pause,
regret encumbering belabored breath
held hostage by a solemn life confined
to torment's dubious remembrance cell
that still abrades the scabby, ageless ache.
Faint murmurings bedim the hopeful ache
where love's resided, faithful and adored,
despite its rufous-speckled iron cell;
now wistfulness reclaims the will to pause,
surrender springing amnesty confined,
exhaustion reaches for joy's spectral breath.
Acquitted ache succumbed to astral pause;
at last, adored serenity's confined
and no one hears the cell's reposing breath.
Shadow Surfer
The Surfer stared at him. "Aren't we a joke?" Otto's gaze panned the fractured mirror tiles behind the bar. The young man speaking to him was colorful. On the outside anyway. The reflection turned his profile into a cubist interpretation. He turned to face him. "How do you mean?" The Surfer summoned the darkness for two more drinks. "Well, like, a Surfer and a German Expressionist walk into a bar......" The young man stopped. What at first seemed like a dramatic pause turned awkward. "That's all I've got," he said finally as he looked to Otto for more. It was in this moment that Otto became aware of his own grayness. Not his hair, or his gray tweed herringbone suit, but his grayness of being. He looked at the warped ashen forms that were his hands and quickly hid them in his coat. He wanted to sit closer to the young man but the one stool between them was an ocean. " I'm sorry but I don't know this one," said Otto. The Surfer spun around in his stool surveying the darkness around them. "There's a joke in here somewhere! I just know it!" His exuberance belied the encroaching resolution. Otto watched with regret as the youth sauntered into the black. The sound of his footsteps seemed to zig-zag. The remnants of this joke weighed heavily on Otto. He suddenly became aware of someone behind the bar. "Can I help you?" said the priest.
Shadow In My Eyes
Awakening crying
Wasn't what I planned for today.
Falling asleep plundering
The words I had to say.
A room full of people
Anticipating your return.
All the while each individual
Staring at your urn.
If only I had one more chance
To tell you how I feel.
I would shout it from the highest high on the widest hill.
I'm not perfect with the words I say
Nor do I show it in my smile.
A simple gesture in waving my hands
Doesn't slender my style.
All I get to do
For my last goodbye.
Is hum it with my tears
Or show a shadow in my eyes.
Loss
i waited for you
gazing out windows and door
listening to cars pass by
my heart cold on the floor
and somehow through tears
i caught a glimpse of you there
not a shadow or dream
table, chairs, and a ring
just things left behind
haunting the room like a ghost
just the ashes of love
tell me why did you go
1/4/2025
wail
violins' echoing
dreamlike in my spirit
they cry
they moan
they wail
stirs my soul to pain
tearing my beating heart
a voice sings
it floats with the music
like a specter,
a liquid like
dirge
now it swoons my heart
to melting
of its beating exudes,
a yearning
a haunting love
unbridgeable by unfathomable
distance
separation
the voice as it softly wails
in song,
overwhelms my soul,
it floats with the tune
it merges with melody,
this voice
and music,
softly
rising
to the strum
of mexican bass guitar
captivates me in chorus . . .
". . . take flowers, . . ."
his voice gently
flows
pleads,
with violins' cries
". . . to my tomb
take, . . .
i gently request,
your flowers,
that you
my beloved,
bring
be sure they're violets,
a wreath of roses
and gardenias"
"oh,
how i love you
my dear,
please do not forget me,
you and your flowers
and nothing more"
"perchance,
if you go to that remote,
the lonely,
that country place,
to the remote,
wherein lies my grave
where now,
the dead reside,"
"i say,
'again,
if perchance
you go to that,
in that lonely place,
there,
find
my solitary tomb,"
"take there
flowers,
gardenias, . . .
and a wreath of roses,
made by your own hands,
your flower gifts
with you,
and nothing more
and do not forget me"
" . . . oh,
how i love you,"
violins
echo in the distance
their subtle muffled trumpets,
softly sound
to wistful accompaniment,
of rhymical bass guitar
his voice
it wails pure,
swirling flows hypnotic
streams of a love
separated
. . . your voice,
my sweet friend,
i hear from your tomb,
your strong passion
resounds, . . .
"i love you,
if you go to the remote lands
if you go to the place
where i reside
therein in repose
lies my grave"
Filched formerly anatomical slender man - me! Thus I take a pot belly stance!
Absolute zero escape
velocity gutted dance
sing days (contra and square),
cuz metabolic full abundance
abdominal adipose tissue acceptance
not in accordance
with light as a feather
physique I sorely miss lost acquaintance
the boy within forced admittance
as sure man tanks of fat did advance
shotgun marriage demanded allegiance
to pledge lifetime alliance
no room for allowance
crushing lightness of being ambiance,
analogous to earth in the balance,
an uncomfortable truth
stares back at me
while looking in the mirror
a taunting reflection sneers
(strongly resembling the Grinch
who stole Christmas),
nor exist allies
(such as little Cindy Lou Who,
or any other member of the Wu-Tang Clan)
to help me combat
battle fatigue require
ring superman endurance
to muster strength
to stand erect else ambulance
(much to the EMTs annoyance)
will whisk away husky
embarrassing appearance
loose fitting clothing
jelly roll appurtenance
overnight digital readout,
asper body mass index
scaled quick ascendance,
thus when showering,
I look askance
fearing bulging balloon
will necessitate assistance
else... diet of worms
as only assurance
safeguarding body electric
against hecklers at open casket
no matter, a small populace
madding crowd in attendance
yea... eventual cremation
after life only fat chance
to alleviate present circumstance
heavy matter fails security clearance
the price for astute cognizance
weak willpower alighting countenance
esse pie ying sweet treats
now measures taken to counterbalance
to fight temptation and dalliance
overruling feasting craving delectation
to restore trim deliverance
love handles around equator
no magician can render disappearance
yes the discontinuance
of just dessert must maintain distance
without being weighed
down with disturbance
by heaviest haunch
ain't no elegance
lugging extra encumbrance
when throughout my early life,
skinny, yet able to steel glance
mirrored reflection now grievance,
where wistful memory
ha...ironic insouciance
more so than
today finds intolerance,
thus woebegone issuance
thorn in muss hide
to experience jubilance
hmm...maybe a strong
arm can lance
excess flab quite a nuisance
to defy gravity, why penance
sans unsightly paunch
yours truly laments when just a skinny lad
epidermis fit skin tight, thus petulance
lame excuse unwanted protuberance
necessitates dedicated pursuance
recollection of washboard
abdomen impossible, yes inconvenient truth,
nevertheless acquiescence to body dysmorphia
only death do me part will witness quittance,
yet I gladly welcome videre licet reassurance
regarding unconditional acceptance
nothing accomplished by remonstrance
against physically embarasing repugnance
thankfully the missus affects tolerance
of her hubby and practices vigilance
concerning buzzfeeding me healthy foods.